JuJu Bids Farewell…???

[teegre]

JuJu posted a cryptic message on Instagram. It was a picture of a car (his car?) going the wrong way on a street with the caption “It’s been real Pitt!”

Your thoughts…

[EzraTank]

He's following the money, and can you blame him? The guy gave his all here but his window of earning $$ is very small so he has to do what's best for him.

Good luck, it's nice to see a great player with a good head on their shoulders.

Now we have more CAP space to get Rodgers and Adams! :)

[86WARD]

He lives in California in the off-season. So that’s where he is going. Will he return? That’s up to the Steelers. I’m sure they didn’t say to him that they aren’t re-signing him and he’s last said he wants a 4/year deal. Shouldn’t be too difficult unless someone loads up a contract…which is highly possible. IMO, it will be a huge mistake to let him walk and not replace him with something better.

[Born2Steel]

Steelers rarely re-sign WRs to 2nd contracts but I do hope JuJu is one of the exceptions.

[polamalubeast]

He lives in California in the off-season. So that’s where he is going. Will he return? That’s up to the Steelers. I’m sure they didn’t say to him that they aren’t re-signing him and he’s last said he wants a 4/year deal. Shouldn’t be too difficult unless someone loads up a contract…which is highly possible. IMO, it will be a huge mistake to let him walk and not replace him with something better.

I agree with you,this is up to the steelers....I hope he will stays since he is a class act player and a very good WR, especially when he is used as a true receiver and I believe he want to stay but it will be up to the steelers.They can't be cheap on that with all the cap space that the steelers have...If JuJu want to leave it would be because of the huge question mark of the QB position that i can understand and i'm gonna wish him the best for the future but i'm sure his number one option is to stay with the steelers

[Born2Steel]

I agree with you,this is up to the steelers....I hope he will stays since he is a class act player and a very good WR, especially when he is used as a true receiver and I believe he want to stay but it will be up to the steelers.They can't be cheap on that with all the cap space that the steelers have...If JuJu want to leave it would be because of the huge question mark of the QB position that i can understand and i'm gonna wish him the best for the future but i'm sure his number one option is to stay with the steelers

Valid point. Ben's retirement may have changed JuJu's view on where he wants to play.

[steelreserve]

I wish we could keep him, but I just don't see how it makes sense. Either for him or for the team. Even if he's good, there's not much point in us spending money on a veteran WR when we are in the process of overhauling the offense and we already have a room full of guys on rookie deals. He's worth more to someone else than we can realistically justify paying here. Plus he already took a team-friendly deal once. It sucks, just wrong place wrong time.

[Born2Steel]

I wish we could keep him, but I just don't see how it makes sense. Either for him or for the team. Even if he's good, there's not much point in us spending money on a veteran WR when we are in the process of overhauling the offense and we already have a room full of guys on rookie deals. He's worth more to someone else than we can realistically justify paying here. Plus he already took a team-friendly deal once. It sucks, just wrong place wrong time.

Agree

[Edman]

Ben's retirement likely changed his mind.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Ben's retirement likely changed his mind.

Yeah, his options were 1. Come back and play with a beat up 40 year old QB that is in rapid decline or 2. Go to California for the offseason, train and see if the Steelers get a real QB before talking with them about a contract.

I think this is just JuJu playing and creating discussions like this among Steeler fans.

[polamalubeast]

Valid point. Ben's retirement may have changed JuJu's view on where he wants to play.

Everyone knew including him that it was the last season for Ben, so it won't change his mind on that.... But it's sure that if the steelers would be certain to have a very good QB, he would be a lock to stay, especially if the steelers want to keep him....Right now, I still think he wants to stay, but it will be up to the steelers too

[Mojouw]

Yeah, his options were 1. Come back and play with a beat up 40 year old QB that is in rapid decline or 2. Go to California for the offseason, train and see if the Steelers get a real QB before talking with them about a contract.

I think this is just JuJu playing and creating discussions like this among Steeler fans.

Agreed.

It’s just social media branding not the Enigma cipher.

Juju will play where he gets the best long term offer.

[tube517]

Was this on TikTok? If not, then it's void and not worth discussing. :nono: :chuckle:

[Shoes]

What's Tee-Tee think of all of this? :chuckle:

[Dwinsgames]

I'm ok with it if he is gone ...

spend a pick and save some cash

[polamalubeast]

I'm ok with it if he is gone ...

spend a pick and save some cash

The steelers are not in the cap hell like last year

[Dwinsgames]

The steelers are not in the cap hell like last year

no but we have a boatload of free agents and will have a large roster turnover , if we can upgrade some of the middle of the def to help stop the run with proven pieces DT /ILB and get a WR on the cheap in the draft to grow up with a likely QB drafted I am all for that

[fansince'76]

He's following the money, and can you blame him?

Not at all. I wish him all the best.

[ThorndikeFFA]

Not at all. I wish him all the best.

Yep. 100%

I don't see him wanting to come to an offense in serious flux. I don't see the Steelers paying him what he will want, or offering a four year deal.

Seems like a good kid.

Best of luck and thanks for your effort, JuJu!

[Steeler-in-west]

Don’t know what to make of it. He may just be leaving the city for the west coast like he always does. But yeah, this time he may not come back depending on FA. I hope the Steelers resign him. We don’t have another receiver who’s reliable (claypool and DJ? meh). If we let juju go we have to sign another receiver in FA or spend a draft pick anyway (which we may not hit on), might as well give him a good offer. Maybe Rodgers will send Tomlin a text…….:uhoh:

[DesertSteel]

IMO no big loss. He's a replaceable part. At a much cheaper price - i.e., the 3rd round of the draft.

Use that $8-10M on a O or D lineman, or inside linebacker.

[Steeler-in-west]

Ben's retirement likely changed his mind.

not sure about that, everyone knew Ben’s days were numbered for a couple years now. When juju resigned for that one year deal - it was for one last run with Ben. A good deal from the Steelers and Mason will be his guy in 22. Maybe he’ll sign for less if we get Rodgers

[Orion]

JuJu gambled coming back to pittsburgh and he lost. he aint gonna make that mistake again. i can see him taking another even cheaper one year deal, but it wont be in pittsburgh. i can see him replacing mike williams in LA , or emanuel sanders in buffalo. KC could use a better number 2. maybe even the raiders.

[DesertSteel]

He better be willing to take a one-year prove it deal from a team, unless he's looking for a multi-year small guarantee. Right now, he's an 8-9 YPC possession receiver coming off an injury.

[Born2Steel]

Losing JuJu and Ray-Ray creates a big hole at the slot position. Unless it becomes a much improved Cody White/Anthony Miller.

[polamalubeast]

He better be willing to take a one-year prove it deal from a team, unless he's looking for a multi-year small guarantee. Right now, he's an 8-9 YPC possession receiver coming off an injury.

It was because of the way he was used.....

[Orion]

i dont even see him getting the 8 million he got this year. he is in AJ green , sammy watkins 5 - 6 million territory.

[steelreserve]

Losing JuJu and Ray-Ray creates a big hole at the slot position. Unless it becomes a much improved Cody White/Anthony Miller.

Losing both him and Ray Ray - did I miss something? Unless we're idiots, we'll try to bring McCloud back, and I doubt the market for him is going to be super expensive. Did something happen recently, like he announced he's pissed off and won't re-sign with us?

[Orion]

Losing both him and Ray Ray - did I miss something? Unless we're idiots, we'll try to bring McCloud back, and I doubt the market for him is going to be super expensive. Did something happen recently, like he announced he's pissed off and won't re-sign with us?
his tik tok videos are getting 15% less views .

[Born2Steel]

Losing both him and Ray Ray - did I miss something? Unless we're idiots, we'll try to bring McCloud back, and I doubt the market for him is going to be super expensive. Did something happen recently, like he announced he's pissed off and won't re-sign with us?

Not that I know of. Both are UFA and neither is currently on the roster. As of today. Unless I missed something.

[DesertSteel]

It was because of the way he was used.....
Thus, he needs a prove-it contract to prove that.

[86WARD]

I wish we could keep him, but I just don't see how it makes sense. Either for him or for the team. Even if he's good, there's not much point in us spending money on a veteran WR when we are in the process of overhauling the offense and we already have a room full of guys on rookie deals. He's worth more to someone else than we can realistically justify paying here. Plus he already took a team-friendly deal once. It sucks, just wrong place wrong time.

Stability for a new and young QB.

[Dwinsgames]

https://i.postimg.cc/KkgWfLFc/272844501-693228882050656-6273511340925062143-n.jpg (https://postimg.cc/KkgWfLFc)

[86WARD]

Too blurry to see the writing? Where is it from?

[Dwinsgames]

Too blurry to see the writing? Where is it from?

click on it to make big ....

[Moose]

I'm kind of mixed on JuJu situation. He is a good player definitely, worth the money is the question. He has seemed to have grown up some from some of his childhood antics. But he seems to be getting injury prone, which doesn't help the team when needed. True, there are young player's available out there that could help us, at cheaper price. JuJu was a great community achiever for the team. Seems a good player, and good person. I guess my feeling now would be if he stays, good we can use him..... but if he leaves best of luck to him (except when playing the Black /Gold).

[Orion]

JuJu's sophomore season shine has expired. that is no longer a consideration for future contracts. for now he is just an injury prone possession receiver. he absolutely needs another prove it contract.

[teegre]

JuJu is younger than DJ.

When JuJU had AB, JuJu was phenomenal. Pair him with Tyreek Hill, and JuJu puts up insane numbers.

When AB missed games, JuJu's stats would have extrapolated over a full season to 108 receptions, 1476 yards, and 12 TDs.

When JuJu moved to the slot, he has the best (statistical) season of ANY slot receiver for the five seasons prior.

JuJu knocked Burfict out.

SUMMATION:
Re-sign him. We have the cap space. He wants to be here.

[86WARD]

JuJu is younger than DJ.

When JuJU had AB, JuJu was phenomenal. Pair him with Tyreek Hill, and JuJu puts up insane numbers.

When AB missed games, JuJu's stats would have extrapolated over a full season to 108 receptions, 1476 yards, and 12 TDs.

When JuJu moved to the slot, he has the best (statistical) season of ANY slot receiver for the five seasons prior.

JuJu knocked Burfict out.

SUMMATION:
Re-sign him. We have the cap space. He wants to be here.

Second the motion.

[Orion]

JuJu is in dallas hangin out with dak prescot gushing over the cowboys facilities.

JuJu Smith-Schuster Jabs Steelers, Hints at Free-Agent Signing with Dak Prescott's CowboysSays Juju of Prescott and the setup at The Star: “He’s a great quarterback. Catching balls from him in a facility like this, I wouldn’t mind it. …''

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-signs-juju-smith-schuster-dak-prescott-pittsburgh-steelers-free-agent

[Orion]

the cowboys have 2 free agent receivers this year. michael gallup and cedrick wilson. i dont see either going back to dallas.

[86WARD]

Context.

[Orion]

:uhoh:...im sure they'll file this right along with the music in practice suggestion.


JuJu Smith-Schuster (https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/football/nfl/player/11412/juju-smith-schuster) is, for now, still a Steeler. But he’s expecting to hit free agency (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/03/juju-smith-schuster-most-likely-hitting-free-agency-next-month/) next month, and he’s letting the Steelers know he thinks they should step up their game in more than just the contract they offer him.

Smith-Schuster was at the Cowboys’ facility to shoot a commercial this week, and he raved about the “amazing” work environment that Cowboys players had, and then said the Steelers have a long way to go before they’re in the same class.
“It’s unbeatable,” Smith-Schuster said of the Cowboys’ facility, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “The Steelers are still working on trying to get out of the wooden locker rooms (https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2022/02/02/steelers-wr-juju-smith-schuster-talks-up-cowboys-facilities-playing-with-dak-prescott/). And over here, it’s very prestige. Oh, they’ll definitely hear this. I want them [the Steelers] to hear this.”
The Steelers surely will hear that, and it may lead them to decide not to make a competitive contract offer to keep Smith-Schuster. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has said he wants players to feel like volunteers, not hostages (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/11/02/mike-tomlin-on-trading-melvin-ingram-better-to-have-volunteers-than-hostages/), and if Smith-Schuster doesn’t like the facilities in Pittsburgh, the Steelers may decide it’s better if he leaves.

[Born2Steel]

:uhoh:...im sure they'll file this right along with the music in practice suggestion.

I don't know....The WR corps could be in serious trouble this coming season. No real veteran presence, and who's the star in this room?

[Steeler-in-west]

I don't know....The WR corps could be in serious trouble this coming season. No real veteran presence, and who's the star in this room?

Juju is the closest we have to a star, DJ could've been but he 'dropped' the ball in the playoffs

Ben injured his elbow around the same time AB left town. Our WR corps and passing game has not been the same since - not close. Yeah, the 'we want volunteers not hostages' sounds all cavalier and badass, but sometimes you got to be realistic and know what you have and what you need. We don't have a dependable receiver if juju leaves. The cup is pretty bare (DJ, Claypool???) We have the cap space, we can also cut a couple non productive guys and free up more. If we had an AB and MB still on the team its a different story but we don't, not even close - they need to pay him.

[Orion]

I don't know....The WR corps could be in serious trouble this coming season. No real veteran presence, and who's the star in this room?

you dont need bullets if you dont have a gun.

JuJu did play 5 games (222 snaps 28 targets) this year. before he got hurt. he contributed a whopping average of 3 catches (15 total) for 25.8 yds a game. im thinking they can find someone on this extensive list of free agents that can pick up that massive slack
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/wide-receiver/all/

[Steeler-in-west]

JuJu did play 5 games this year. before he got hurt. he contributed a whopping average of 3 catches for 25.8 yds a game.


That's not his fault.

[Orion]

That's not his fault.
well then that leaves the QB or OC to blame.
so what do you think will be different next season ? same OC with either a bottom shelf QB or a rookie. will JuJu being here really make a big difference ?

[fansince'76]

Any chance JuJu met "Jerruh" while he was there? There's the huge downside of the Cowboys' "awesome work environment"...

JuJu's statement about the differences between the Steelers' and the Cowboys' facilities also shoots the shit out of the notion that all teams are equal financially due to revenue sharing.

[Steeler-in-west]

well then that leaves the QB or OC to blame.
so what do you think will be different next season ? same OC with either a bottom shelf QB or a rookie. will JuJu being here really make a big difference ?

bottom shelf QB for a season max, you have a WR like juju there for the next franchise guy after that. Anyway, the O line was a big reason we couldn't take advantage of WR's like juju and DJ, if they fix the O line that gives MR or the rookie time to look downfield and make plays. Any comparable receiver off the FA list is going to command similar money. Just go with the guy you know - plus he's comes from the Hines Ward school of blocking.......

[Orion]

bottom shelf QB for a season max, you have a WR like juju there for the next franchise guy after that. Anyway, the O line was a big reason we couldn't take advantage of WR's like juju and DJ, if they fix the O line that gives MR or the rookie time to look downfield and make plays. Any comparable receiver off the FA list is going to command similar money. Just go with the guy you know - plus he's comes from the Hines Ward school of blocking.......

LOL.....i love your optimism , but i'm old enough to remember everything between bradshaw and Ben. you should probably mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that it may take awhile to find a franchise QB or even a good QB . even eventual franchise QB's dont normally come out of the gate playing like probowlers. guys like bradshaw, manning, elway, and troy aikman had hideous rookie seasons. then there is this years rookie crop. jones had by far the best seaon of them , but he didnt "wow" anyone. i suspect it had more to do with the system than talent. which brings us back to Canada.
replacing or finding a talent like AB is difficult. replacing JuJu not so much.

[Steeler-in-west]

LOL.....i love your optimism , but i'm old enough to remember everything between bradshaw and Ben. you should probably mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that it may take awhile to find a franchise QB or even a good QB . even eventual franchise QB's dont normally come out of the gate playing like probowlers. guys like bradshaw, manning, elway, and troy aikman had hideous rookie seasons. then there is this years rookie crop. jones had by far the best seaon of them , but he didnt "wow" anyone. i suspect it had more to do with the system than talent. which brings us back to Canada.
replacing or finding a talent like AB is difficult. replacing JuJu not so much.

I was thinking like you before, but I now agree with a couple others here that it may not be as hard to find a franchise guy. More colleges are modeling their offenses after NFL pass offenses. I just threw out one year lag as a best case scenario, but it could be a few. And I think the Steelers will pay more attention to getting a franchise guy as well and won’t spend only one first round pick on a QB between Bradshaw and Ben. It’s not going to take 24 years to find our guy (I lived through all that too)

As far as the receivers how many of our recent FA receivers were as good as juju? Lance Moore? Ryan Switzer? Donte Moncrief? I don’t think it’ll be that easy.

[pczach]

LOL.....i love your optimism , but i'm old enough to remember everything between bradshaw and Ben. you should probably mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that it may take awhile to find a franchise QB or even a good QB . even eventual franchise QB's dont normally come out of the gate playing like probowlers. guys like bradshaw, manning, elway, and troy aikman had hideous rookie seasons. then there is this years rookie crop. jones had by far the best seaon of them , but he didnt "wow" anyone. i suspect it had more to do with the system than talent. which brings us back to Canada.
replacing or finding a talent like AB is difficult. replacing JuJu not so much.




The thing is, you can't build your team like you're never going to find a great quarterback. What happened between Terry and Ben may not be the story this time. You build and construct your roster with the ultimate goal in mind or you will never get there.

[Dwinsgames]

I was thinking like you before, but I now agree with a couple others here that it may not be as hard to find a franchise guy. More colleges are modeling their offenses after NFL pass offenses. I just threw out one year lag as a best case scenario, but it could be a few. And I think the Steelers will pay more attention to getting a franchise guy as well and won’t spend only one first round pick on a QB between Bradshaw and Ben. It’s not going to take 24 years to find our guy (I lived through all that too)

As far as the receivers how many of our recent FA receivers were as good as juju? Lance Moore? Ryan Switzer? Donte Moncrief? I don’t think it’ll be that easy.


it didnt have to take all those years tho.... Marino aside

maybe not the greatest guy but a huge step up would have been Boomer Esiason in 1984 , he went top 1/3 of round two steelers could have taken him earlier or traded back to get him before the bengals did ...

Randall Cunningham was the 9th pick in round 2 1985 , steeler passed in rd 1 and could have taken him or traded back to get him a bit later than their original selection point but they didnt ....

in 1991 we drafted Huey Richardson in rd1 when we could have just as easily drafted Brett Favre who didnt go till early rd 2

again not " great" but we took chad scott with Jake Plummer on the board yet in 1997......

in 2001 we took Big Snacks when pick 1 of round 2 was Drew Brees ............


so while it took the Steelers a long ass time to get HoFer Big Ben , it didnt need to take that long

[Mojouw]

it didnt have to take all those years tho.... Marino aside

maybe not the greatest guy but a huge step up would have been Boomer Esiason in 1984 , he went top 1/3 of round two steelers could have taken him earlier or traded back to get him before the bengals did ...

Randall Cunningham was the 9th pick in round 2 1985 , steeler passed in rd 1 and could have taken him or traded back to get him a bit later than their original selection point but they didnt ....

in 1991 we drafted Huey Richardson in rd1 when we could have just as easily drafted Brett Favre who didnt go till early rd 2

again not " great" but we took chad scott with Jake Plummer on the board yet in 1997......

in 2001 we took Big Snacks when pick 1 of round 2 was Drew Brees ............


so while it took the Steelers a long ass time to get HoFer Big Ben , it didnt need to take that long

It’s almost like they weren’t trying. Maybe an organizational philosophy that was only broken when a certain recently retired player was drafted…

I agree with you. It doesn’t have to take decades as long as you make an effort.

[Born2Steel]

it didnt have to take all those years tho.... Marino aside

maybe not the greatest guy but a huge step up would have been Boomer Esiason in 1984 , he went top 1/3 of round two steelers could have taken him earlier or traded back to get him before the bengals did ...

Randall Cunningham was the 9th pick in round 2 1985 , steeler passed in rd 1 and could have taken him or traded back to get him a bit later than their original selection point but they didnt ....

in 1991 we drafted Huey Richardson in rd1 when we could have just as easily drafted Brett Favre who didnt go till early rd 2

again not " great" but we took chad scott with Jake Plummer on the board yet in 1997......

in 2001 we took Big Snacks when pick 1 of round 2 was Drew Brees ............


so while it took the Steelers a long ass time to get HoFer Big Ben , it didnt need to take that long

Excellent point. I'm curious how much these draft decisions were due to this was before the rookie pay cap era. This is why I do believe the Steelers 1st round pick this year will be a QB. Whatever the other needs may be, a starter quality QB is a must have.

[teegre]

I’ve said it a few times, Cowher’s philosophy was to spend the “QB money” on two or three extra defenders.

It almost worked… if a certain QB hadn’t taken a bribe from Jerrah.