Andy Weidl's about to become one of Pittsburgh's most prominent sports figures.
Or, he's about to be ... utterly ignored?
Weidl, the Mt. Lebanon native who last year became the Steelers' assistant GM following two interviews for the GM job that instead went to Omar Khan, is about to embark on his first NFL free-agency period and his first draft on the South Side, this after six seasons in the Eagles' front office. And one would think, given his pedigree of scouting football talent for two and a half decades, capped by helping Philadelphia reach its current status among the league's elite, that he'd be a central figure in what's about to come.
One might be incorrect.
I won't take this too far, but a source close to Weidl -- not Weidl himself, I should add -- told me Weidl isn't being heard in the Steelers' offices the way he'd hoped, and the source speculated further that there's worry he won't be heard the way he should be through these critical upcoming months.
The source didn't say why, but I can add context here that, for many years, Khan's greatest perceived shortcoming in pushing for a GM job was that he was seen as a salary cap guy, someone who could uncover all manner of wizardry to manage a payroll, albeit without scouting experience. He didn't like that, any more than he appeared to like when I asked him last May at his introductory press conference, based on his reputation as a cap guy, what he'd bring to the football side.
"Look," he began his reply, "I think I'm confident in saying that I've touched every aspect of the football operations, obviously some more than others. But I think every good leader understands his strengths and his weaknesses, neither of which I'm going to discuss here publicly. But I think every good leader surrounds himself with smart people that are going to help him succeed, and that's my plan." And he mentioned Weidl in that same setting, saying, "I've known Andy for over 20 years. He's a strong evaluator. He's a very loyal person. I think he's a Steelers type of person."
A big part of the internally declared 'Steelers Way' is a group approach to decisions. Mike Tomlin talks about it all the time, welcoming all voices, hearing them with respect, and ensuring everyone's operating with the same motivation.
We'll see, I guess.
MORE STEELERS
• Speaking of the cap, the internal view of the coming spring isn't nearly as rosy as some -- myself included -- have portrayed. They point, primarily, to a current $1.76 million in cap space and suggest it'll be impossible to pursue big-ticket free agents such as, oh, say, Tremaine Edmunds.
Maybe they'll be right. But what's more important is whether they'll put themselves into that position.
When they cut never-used corner William Jackson III, for example, they'll have an instant $12.75 million in savings. If/when they cut Mitch Trubisky, that'll add another $8 million. If/when they do likewise with Myles Jack, who struggled through an injury-slammed second half, that'll add another $8 million. There's a slew of other possibilities, too, not least of whom are two corners, Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace, either of whom would save $4 million each.
I can envision as much as $42 million in cap space, even before Khan would approach any current veterans about restructuring.
Sorry, but that's as rosy as Rosie Nix.
• Hold up one of your fists. Look at it. That right there is the chance Mason Rudolph will return to Pittsburgh.
Don't ask how I know. I just do.
PENGUINS
• There's zero sentiment between Ron Hextall and Brian Burke, I've been told, to search for another backup goaltender. And I was told that before DeSmith made 43 saves Thursday night in Washington, probably stealing a point in the Penguins' 3-2 shootout loss to the Capitals. They just happen to really, really like DeSmith, and they seem to appreciate almost as much that he's a good teammate/partner for Tristan Jarry.
In other words, don't think for a second that anything's changed regarding the view of the goaltending from the top.
• Jarry and Jan Rutta both are out with upper-body injuries, but I've heard -- in one case from the player himself -- that they'll be back once the team emerges from the NHL's All-Star break next week.
• No one was ever going to witness some outright scratching/demotion of either Brian Dumoulin or Jeff Carter, as I'd reported in this feature two weeks ago. But that doesn't mean there aren't other ways.
That's clearly begun with Carter. Quietly, without any sort of scene that'd even spark a spare question, he was slid to the right wing on a new third line with Teddy Blueger centering, he saw his penalty-kill time slightly reduced and, maybe most conspicuously, he began getting sent out as a faceoff specialist in the three-on-three overtimes, only to rush right off the rink for an on-the-fly replacement.
In their world, trust me, that'll be as far as it goes. The respect for Carter, especially with Hextall, who's been with him for years and who, of course, signed him to the current two-year extension, is through the roof.
As for Dumoulin ... let's just say it'd behoove P.O Joseph to make that call for them. Which he isn't exactly doing, as our Danny Shirey dissected this week.
PIRATES
• If there's no Bryan Reynolds extension to be had, it's been broached inside 115 Federal -- and nothing beyond broached -- that there could be an approach to achieve that with ... Oneil Cruz.
Repeating with emphasis: Broached. Not more. Not contact. Not talks. Just conceptual.
(Heck, if it was more, try to explain why I wouldn't have it leading Insider this week, right?)
• Nothing new on Reynolds. Not one thing.
And get used to it. Every talk I have with anyone in that building points toward the team sticking to its stance of treating everything about him as business-per-usual once we're all in Bradenton. And that's fair: Reynolds has a signed contract for 2023, in addition to having his rights held through arbitration until 2025. His only recourse would be to not play, which would only hurt his own career.
• If Reynolds were traded, he wouldn't be replaced by anyone who's already here. If only because Ben Cherington's made clear to potential suitors that he's seeking top-end pitching prospects in return, and those wouldn't be of much use to the 2023 roster. But also because ... well, think of the outfield.
• Once more with gusto: He's not getting traded.
• And by the way, Reynolds wants out of here about as much as Andrew McCutchen does. Which is to say, not at all. Of all the players I've covered in that clubhouse through Reynolds' tenure, the only one who took a more intensive interest in the well-being of the organization/system was Cole Tucker. And Tucker's one of a kind. Reynolds is as invested as it gets.
• Agents can be excessively influential in sports. To an egregious extent, in my experience.
• I'm working on a very different type of Insider lede for next week. Not exactly about sports, yet relevant to the core. Just couldn't get it where I wanted for this one.
• So grateful for everyone who reads our franchise feature, as well as Mark Meighen and everyone at Point Park University who makes it possible. The response here this past month has been so uplifting.
