Steelers’ sales pitch becoming harder to buy

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By Alan Robinson

When coach Mike Tomlin met with backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, he gave him the traditional pitch the Steelers make to all free agents: You come to Pittsburgh to win, and not just once in a while.

“We are here to win championships,” said Gradkowski, the Dormont native. “You talk about other places, but here it's a reality.”

Only the reality for the Steelers on March 17, 2013 — six months away from their first game — is that more players are departing than arriving. The Steelers might be able to sell tradition and success and fan worshipfulness, but they're not able to buy players of substance — top-line, difference-making players — given their salary-cap straits.

“It's a challenge every year,” team president Art Rooney II said.

So who have they brought in? Gradkowski, who already has been with four teams since 2006 and certainly doesn't need a sell job to return home to Pittsburgh. William Gay, who was here before. Matt Spaeth (come Monday), who has been here before. (And you can add in Plaxico Burress, who was free to sign anywhere but chose to stay.) It's showing up on their depth chart, too. Regardless of the fact they lost five games by three points, the Steelers were an 8-8 team in 2012. And does anyone think the depth chart below signifies an upgrade?

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/3655933-74/steelers-alan-ball#ixzz2NmSG2XFD

I completely disagree with what this article is suggesting. The Steelers' message of winning hasn't changed. And going forward, they'll attempt to do it the same way they've always done it ... by building through the draft and making smart decisions. They never land big-name free agents. They get affordable role players and affordable missing pieces to the puzzle. If they can't get a good bargain in free agency, they'll fill the need through the draft. Nothing has changed in that regard.

This sentence from the article is totally wrong:

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The Steelers might be able to sell tradition and success and fan worshipfulness, but they're not able to buy players of substance — top-line, difference-making players — given their salary-cap straits.

Other than on the rare occasion (Farrior comes to mind), when have they ever signed "top-line, difference-making players"?

I don't think the Steelers really need to have a sales pitch.

The things that happen in Pittsburgh, in the town, in the training camps, during the season, and in the locker room are well known throughout the NFL.

What the hell does Tomlin or the FO have to sell to anyone?

Don't always need the biggest names to have a successful year.