JuJu Smith-Schuster wants to stay in Pittsburgh

[gmf1369]

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger apparently will remain in Pittsburgh. Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hopes that his future there eventually be secured, too.

Smith-Schuster recently told TMZ.com that he hopes to stay with the Steelers for the rest of his career.

“At the end of the day, I want to have my legacy in Pittsburgh and retire there,” Smith-Schuster said. “I don’t want to leave.”His rookie contract is expiring, and Smith-Schuster (a second-round pick in 2017 and the team’s MVP in 2018) will become a free agent on March 17, absent a new contract or application of the franchise tagged. It’s highly unlikely that the Steelers will tag Smith-Schuster. It will be very difficult for the Steelers to make a significant offer, given the team’s current cap situation.
Asked whether he can see himself in a different jersey next season, Smith-Schuster told TMZ.com, “Not right now. Until I actually get let go, other than that, I’m Pittsburgh for life.”

For Smith-Schuster, the question ultimately becomes whether he’d take less to stay in Pittsburgh than to play somewhere else — assuming that the Steelers want to continue the relationship. Given their other receivers and their ability to keep finding more of them in the draft, the team may be ready to move on.

JuJu Smith-Schuster wants to stay in Pittsburgh

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger apparently will remain in Pittsburgh.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[Old#15]

Money is the key, and with Pittsburgh's cap situation it might not be possible to fit Juju's $15+ million under their cap.

 

[gmf1369]

Money is the key, and with Pittsburgh's cap situation it might not be possible to fit Juju's $15+ million under their cap.

they restructured a couple other contracts as well

they should be able to retain a couple of big free agents

but for JuJu they have a solid core talent at the receiver position that might push him out

 

[TebowCan'tThrow]

Please let him stay in Pittsburgh. We don't need a TikTok diva.

 

[Tinstar]

Jets need a receive like this . Ju Ju s a big kid who's growing up right in front of the public eye . Growing up ain't always pretty, but as log as it don't include breaking the law, i can deal with it .

 

[gmf1369]

this team is not yesterdays Jets...
the structure and leadership from the coaches will have the players accountable and wanting to be better...
if he can not re-sign with Pittsburgh, the Jets with Sam Darnold will give him that structure from him becoming a nuisance...

 

[SackExchange]

I look at Juju if the Jets are keeping Darnold. I think the chemistry could be rekindled. If the Jets go another QB route, I would look elsewhere first.

 

[gmf1369]

I look at Juju if the Jets are keeping Darnold. I think the chemistry could be rekindled. If the Jets go another QB route, I would look elsewhere first.

I would draft two slot guys to go along with Mims
preferably Dazz Newsome & Amari Rodgers
also Nico Collins to give us a 2nd big target

 

[Gramoah]

Most players feel the same way about going to another team. Some actually want that but most don't like being uprooted, especially if they have family in the area that would be uprooted as well. You ex military guys know what I mean. In the end it's going to be about the money and the contract. It usually is. Big Ben has already agreed to restructure and as gmf1369 pointed out so have a couple of others. Even so, I still think it will hard for them to keep all the guys they want to keep and I'm of the mindset that he will be available, but, not cheap.

 

[Tinstar]

I know he would prefer to stay in Pittsburg but i wonder if this cat could duplicate for the Jets what Eric Decker did for the Jets when he came here . Throw in the fact that the Jets would be getting a much younger player and i think i could be all in on signing this cat.

 

[TebowCan'tThrow]

JuJu has proven that without Antonio Brown he is an average WR at best. I wouldn't pay much money for him.

 

[MiJetFan]

The only problem I have with signing Juju is that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. That is a huge red flag for me. Say Pittsburgh let's him go. Will he be as motivated to play in NY as he was in Pittsburgh? Or will it be a repeat of countless other FA's whom the Jets have paid(or overpaid) who basically took the money and coasted. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Especially if the guy is pining away for his former team. This is the dilemma IMO with signing big ticket guys. Especially after the comments Juju has put out there. One bitten twice shy I guess. In the Jets case they have been bitten in the ass so much by multiple FA's their ass must look like a babies teething ring. That's why it gives me pause after hearing a player make a comment like the one JuJu made. Buyer beware is all I'm sayin'.

 

[Gramoah]

The only problem I have with signing Juju is that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. That is a huge red flag for me. Say Pittsburgh let's him go. Will he be as motivated to play in NY as he was in Pittsburgh? Or will it be a repeat of countless other FA's whom the Jets have paid(or overpaid) who basically took the money and coasted. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Especially if the guy is pining away for his former team. This is the dilemma IMO with signing big ticket guys. Especially after the comments Juju has put out there. One bitten twice shy I guess. In the Jets case they have been bitten in the ass so much by multiple FA's their ass must look like a babies teething ring. That's why it gives me pause after hearing a player make a comment like the one JuJu made. Buyer beware is all I'm sayin'.

This is a solid and reasonable assessment for sure. I tend to be concerned about signing him as well. The kid has talent there is no denying that and as Tebow pointed out some of his success might have been because of Brown. I think that might not be an issue here because he will be paired with Mims who I believe will get better and better as time goes on. As far as pining away for his old team, as you put it, there is another possibility to consider. Maybe he will be so pissed that he was dumped that he will play even better just to make that team regret not keeping him. You never know which way it will go with these guys and it must be a real bitch of a job for any GM to make decisions about this kind of player. You are correct that the Jets have been ass bitten a lot but any player signing comes with risk. You never know if you are going to get what you see. You can only hope that you will. With that in mind, and considering his talent, in spite of my old fart reservations, I think you have to give him a shot if he becomes available to us. Receiver is a real position of need for this team. Hopefully we will pick up a couple of good receivers in the draft as well. RB has become an important position for us to address this off season as well because LeFleur's offense is based on a very good running attack. So this will likely have an impact on what they are willing to do for the receiver room.

 

[Oraelo]

The only problem I have with signing Juju is that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. That is a huge red flag for me. Say Pittsburgh let's him go. Will he be as motivated to play in NY as he was in Pittsburgh? Or will it be a repeat of countless other FA's whom the Jets have paid(or overpaid) who basically took the money and coasted. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Especially if the guy is pining away for his former team. This is the dilemma IMO with signing big ticket guys. Especially after the comments Juju has put out there. One bitten twice shy I guess. In the Jets case they have been bitten in the ass so much by multiple FA's their ass must look like a babies teething ring. That's why it gives me pause after hearing a player make a comment like the one JuJu made. Buyer beware is all I'm sayin'.

This could go the complete opposite direction though if we or anyone else signed him. Chip on the shoulder to prove how wrong Pitt was in getting rid of him. Similar to what we saw in Arizona.

 

[gmf1369]

think JuJu could be an addition but think the team will likely sign Kendrick Bourne before signing drama

 

[Gramoah]

think JuJu could be an addition but think the team will likely sign Kendrick Bourne before signing drama

Quite possibly. He was their #2 receiver last season and he is familiar with Saleh. He not really a special talent but he is good in the red zone and was very consistent all season. Jet's might go either way.