The Pomp And Joe Show
Ray Fittipaldo doesn't think Ramsey or Queen will be back next season
23 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Listen to the Pomp and Joe show every Wednesday to hear about Starkey's Card of the Week from the Baseball Card Castle and Cranberry Contest run every Wednesday through Friday at noon at the 93.7thefan.com contesting page. Ray Fittipaldo, brought to you by the AV-rated super lawyers, LGKG, Luxembourg, Garbutt, Kelly, and George. All right, Ray.
And you know Ray's stuff, of course, from postgazette.com. And what a wonderful man he truly is. I went through, it's a Donnie Football Friday. I should add that as well because Donnie Football is right across from me here at Bowser Chevy in Monroeville. We're having a wonderful time. And Ray, two things jumped out to me. We're going to go through your cut him or keep him piece today.
Jalen Ramsey, trade him, you said. And Patrick Queen, cut him. Holy ostrich milk, Ray. Can you explain those ones?
Well, yeah, let's tackle Queen first because I thought he was much improved during his second season with the Steelers. But way back when he signed that three-year contract, the way it was structured, you kind of knew they could get out from under it if they wanted to. And I think this decision really is going to depend on who the new coach is, what kind of system do you run.
But you could actually save like $11 million in cap space for and put that towards your 2026 cap if you want to move on. And I think Peyton Wilson is ready for a full-time role. I think Malik Harrison can be your downhill run stopper if you want it to be.
So, you know, I think people, some people might've been a little bit surprised by that, but just going back to when they signed him, I kind of knew this was a possibility. If they wanted to move on, they would be able to do it with very little pain salary cap wise.
And then what about the, the Ramsey move to trade?
Yeah.
Yeah, listen, I still think there's some value there. And he is signed for a few more years, so it does not make a lot of sense to cut him. Again, depending on who the coach is, we'll see how he fits in the new system. Right now, I kind of view him as a safety only. I think there's a versatility where he could move back into the slot.
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Chapter 2: Why does Ray Fittipaldo suggest trading Jalen Ramsey?
So I don't think the new guy is going to come in and have final say over draft picks or anything like that. But his system does matter. I mean, if you hire Mike McCarthy or Nate Sheilhaus, why wouldn't you give him a lot of authority when it comes to the offense, especially ā a quarterback that you might pick in the draft or acquire via free agency.
So I think you kind of have to pick and choose where you let these guys make some of those decisions and personnel. But I think really this is a perfect opportunity for both Omar and Andy, if he stays, to really shape this roster the way they want to shape it. And I'm not saying they didn't have that chance.
the last three years but we all know mike was pretty involved in the process so i think this is you know going to be something new for them as they go through this with the new head coach well you and i have a different understanding then because chuck noel was definitely conferred uh those powers were conferred upon him when he got here um to make those decisions and and my understanding
Chapter 3: What are the implications of cutting Patrick Queen?
My understanding is it's always been that way, is that this is a coach-centric organization. Mike Tomlin's first two picks, Lamar Woodley. And Lawrence Timmons, I'm not saying they made the picks. I'm saying the coach gets final say, so that's okay. We just have a different understanding. His second pick, Rashard Mendenhall, I believe was absolutely a Tomlin pick in the first round.
But I guess the larger question is, we certainly agree this is more of a coach-centric organization than many others. Will it stay that way?
Yeah, I have no reason to believe it's not going to stay that way. I think Art was asked this during the news conference. Are you still going to have the head coach report to you? And he said, yes. So to your point, in a lot of organizations, the head coach will report to the GM and then the GM reports to the owner.
In Pittsburgh, the GM reports to the owner, the head coach reports to the owner, and there's really You know, there's really no second guessing. They both have, you know, have a direct line to the top there. So that's not going to change. Art said as much a week or so ago when he spoke to us, Don, at Acreshore.
Ray, ESPN put out a report that some coaches could have holdups with the Steelers job more or less because they're afraid that Art Rooney is cheap when it comes to a coaching staff. So what kind of say will the new coach have in putting together a staff that maybe includes more actual coaches and bodies than what the Steelers are used to paying?
Yeah, I'd like to know who that coach is or what coaches would turn down the opportunity to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers just based on the size of their coaching staff. I mean, not only is it one of 32 jobs, but it's been one of the premier jobs in the NFL for generations now. So, you know, I mean, these guys can have their opinions and speak to ESPN and
Off the record, but like I don't know what serious head coaching candidate would turn down the Steelers opportunity. So that's that's my point. But I will speak to, you know, to your topic just because I know it's been out there. for a couple of years now. I totally think, guys, and I don't know how many assistants the Rams have. The Rams might be one of these teams that have like 28 assistants.
If Chris Shula or Nate Sheohouse wants to have that big of a staff, I think it's entirely possible.
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Chapter 4: How much cap space can the Steelers save by moving on from Queen?
I mean, listen, they just got done paying Mike Tomlin like what, 16, 17 million a year? they're not going to pay this new coach that kind of money. They'll pay him whatever the going rate is for a first-time head coach, and then they could spend that money elsewhere on the coaching staff. So if they spend, let's say, $25 million on coaches,
The last couple of years, they can still do that, but it'll just be divided differently among the staff. So I don't want to say it's overblown because I know it's been a topic.
But I think the Roonies are willing to spend that money because they've been doing it the last couple of years when they've when they've when they made Mike Tomlin one of the highest paid coaches in the national football world.
Ray, I have a question here when it comes to Chris Shula that Nate tweeted in at me asking if they hire Shula, wouldn't it make more sense to keep Ramsey? Because by all accounts, they had a good relationship when they worked together with the Rams.
Yeah, absolutely. Ramsey helped them win a Super Bowl. Now, that was a few years ago when Jalen was still a really good outside corner. So I think Um, you know, I don't know if the views have changed, but I have no doubts. If Chris Shula comes in here, he has a previous relationship with Jalen Ramsey and it's a good one that they can work through any issues of, Hey, you're a safety.
Now, you know, this part of your career is in the rear view mirror. I think most coach player relationships are very honest and, uh, If Chris Shula feels that way about Jalen Ramsey, I think Jalen Ramsey would have a decision. Do you want to be a safety with the Steelers, or do you want to go somewhere else and still try to be a corner?
I think those are the conversations that have to be had here after the head coach gets hired.
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Mostly because people want to get a good look at Bob when he's on the show, or at least the Bob mannequin when he's not there. Ray, Brian Baldinger isn't really given to reporting things. He wants no part of that world. Yet he said yesterday the Steelers are, quote, very interested in Mario Cristobal. And as Andrew Filippone pointed out.
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Chapter 5: What factors influence the decision on Jalen Ramsey's future?
Are the Steelers going to go to L.A. on Monday to interview those guys? Or are those guys actually going to come to Pittsburgh? I know a lot probably depends on the outcome of that game. I would imagine if the Rams are in the Super Bowl, the Steelers would have to go to L.A. to interview them. So there's just a lot of moving parts here.
And this snowstorm, especially the timing of it, might complicate things.
What do you think of Anthony Weaver's chances to get this job?
I don't think the Steelers would be wasting their time bringing him in for an in-person interview. I think he obviously impressed them in the virtual interview. And I think he's a serious candidate. I think he's one of five right now. I think this group of five will be paired down to two or three, probably by Monday night or Tuesday.
And I think we'll have a really good sense of who the finalists are at that point. But I know he doesn't have a lot of coordinating experience. or anything like that. But I do know the Steelers were impressed by him in that initial interview. That's why they brought him in here today for a second interview. And we'll see where it goes after that.
But he's a very serious candidate at this juncture of the process.
Ray, going back to your cut him or keep him piece that you put out there at the Post-Gazette, electing to keep both Cam Hayward and TJ Watt, should there be a discussion, though, about a trade for either of those two guys? I feel like you at least have to have the conversation.
Well, I don't know how much trade value Cam has. You know, you could cut him without any pain. There's no guaranteed money there. You know, I think you might get like a fourth or a fifth round pick for him, but a 37-year-old defensive lineman, I don't think you're going to get much there. But, yeah, you certainly have to have that conversation, guys.
You could probably still get a second round pick for TJ, and you could kind of start anew there with a new group of outside linebackers. So, you know, we'll see how it goes. But just knowing how the Steelers are, you know, I think ā The new coach might want to have some veteran leaders on his team. What two better veteran leaders than Cam and TJ?
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Chapter 6: Who will be involved in the decision-making process for the Steelers?
So if there's an issue with a coach running a 4-3, then obviously you're going to have a lot of upheaval on your roster in a lot of different positions. So that's why Art has to get comfortable not only with the head coach, like he has to like him and think he can motivate the team and and command a room. But I think the system has to be right, too.
I just don't know if the Steelers want to go down the road where they're retooling their entire team because the new coach isn't a 3-4 guy. So we'll have to see how that plays out. I know the Steelers play a lot of 4-3 when they're not in base. I understand that. But there are still a lot of
guys who are specifically 3-4 players in this system, and it's hard to envision some of those guys, you know, in a 4-3.
Oh, boy, that's a bell ringer from Limits.
Chapter 7: What challenges do new coaches face in a coach-centric organization?
You're going to like this one, Joe.
What do we got, Limits? Joe, you're going to love this. Adam Schefter is reporting. Former Colts quarterback and the current head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School, Phillip Rivers, is interviewing for the head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills today. Oh, my God. The Buffalo Bills, Phillip Rivers.
How does a franchise go from that playoff game the other day to completely falling apart in less than a week? What are we doing here? Phil Rivers? And then did you see the news conference the other day, Ray, in Buffalo?
Yeah, that didn't shine a very good light on the Pagoulas. My question is, will he be the backup quarterback too?
Why not? Yeah. Mitch Trubisky will be out of a job. When is the last time there was a player coach in the NFL? That would be tremendous. Is that a serious question? That is serious. Like when did that happen last? Has it happened? I don't know, maybe like 100 years ago. Like, I don't know. When the league began.
Elroy Crazy Legs Hirsch. I know his baseball had happened a ton. I was there when he coached and played. I don't know, Donnie. Has it ever happened, Ray?
How about Norm Van Brocklin? Was he a player, coach?
I'm going to look it up.
I see you typing away there. I want to say it's happened. I want to say it's like the 50s or 60s, but I don't know.
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