Otherwise, following a poor season and with their quarterback situation in flux, they would be squandering a prime opportunity to draft Roethlisberger’s successor. 1 being 20th or 25th again, we probably made a good trade,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. Before Fitzpatrick had practiced with the Steelers, Tomlin announced that he would start that week at San Francisco. Every week the Steelers have layered on more responsibilities, and Fitzpatrick has conquered them all. But they haven’t had a player with Fitzpatrick’s acumen and athleticism since Troy Polamalu, curly locks flowing from beneath his helmet, last patrolled the secondary in 2014.

Source: New York Times December 04, 2019 12:33 UTC