The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially won the Asante Samuel Jr. sweepstakes, and it became official on Wednesday. He even had his first practice session in an NFL game in over a calendar year. At this point, his goal is to just pick up this defense as fast as possible, so he can see as many snaps as possible in Week 11. He won’t need to play every down, but having that ability would be helpful. Kyle Dugger was able to do it right after being acquired via trade, so it’s not impossible for the newest Steeler.
In fact, Samuel might be even better than he was during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. During his first interview in Pittsburgh, he revealed that he got surgery for an issue that he had dealt with since he was drafted in the first place.
“I was playing with [the shoulder issue] for my whole NFL career,” Samuel admitted. “It’s nothing new. I just had to get it fixed.”
Despite playing with in an injury his entire career, Samuel was still a bright spot for a Chargers defense that was constantly hurt and in disarray. He only had one season where he allowed a completion percentage higher than about 62%, and that was his final year in Los Angeles where he only played four games and allowed 12 completions on 18 attempts against him.
Later on, Samuel was asked if this is the best he has felt physically. He gave a very confident answer on that front.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” Samuel said. “I feel great. It’s the healthiest I have ever been, because I’ve been dealing with it, and now I got it fixed, so I feel great.”
If Samuel was playing with that shoulder issue throughout his entire career, and it’s finally gone, there is a real chance that the Steelers see a level of play out of him that not even the Chargers saw. Of course, this is just a one-year deal for Samuel, who is currently on the practice squad. He would need to first be called to the 53-man roster. Not only is he going to play well because of his improved health too, but also the fact that his career is on the line. He needs to show everyone that he can still play cornerback at a very high level, whether it’s for the Steelers or for any other potential suitors in free agency. Of course, him staying in Pittsburgh is the hope at this point.
When the Steelers acquired Dugger prior to Week 9, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was forced to tone down his normally complicated scheme and build the gameplan around being as simple as possible so the new guy could understand. The result of that was the best game that he and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin called all season long, and many players expressed their desires to make that the normal thing.
If the Steelers want to get Samuel into the fold as soon as possible, it’s fair to expect that Tomlin and Austin do the same thing for his team debut. They keep the calls simple, everyone plays fast, and it will be easier to stop Ja’Marr Chase and not let him rack up 16 catches again. If that is the case, Pittsburgh can get back on track with a division victory in Week 11 and avoid getting swept.
There’s no denying that Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is highly respected, and deservingly so. He’s damn good at his job, with the individual accolades to back it up.
However, we hear it all the time: “The NFL is a results-driven business.” The bottom line is the bottom line, and in this business, it’s winning. Rubber eventually meets the road for everyone if a team isn’t prevailing; Stefanski’s no exception, regardless of his strong pedigree and sharp football mind.
Cleveland’s record and offensive ineptitude since their 2023 playoff run have ostensibly too much to ignore. It’s time for someone to be held accountable, and FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano latest hot seat rankings suggest that could be Stefanski in due time.
Stefanski comes in at No. 3 on Vacchiano’s updated list, which is notably one spot lower than his previous mark. Nevertheless, offseason turmoil in Cleveland feels imminent amid a second straight lost campaign, or at least that should be the case. It remains unclear whether the Browns want to make drastic changes, though new leadership would be a logical pivot if so.
Cleveland’s shortcomings over the past season and a half (and counting) don’t fall squarely on Stefanski, as Vacchiano notes. Yet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult “to hide from” the losing in this stretch and the overall lack of success during his tenure. Ownership may not see what’s happening, but the Browns are “crying out for a complete demolition.”
Knowing this, Vacchiano believes “there doesn’t seem to be much of a point in continuing the torture of Stefanski (and his career) much longer.” The logic is sound, but at the same time, can Cleveland find a better option? That’s up for debate.
As one of 13 multi-time Coach of the Year winners and the second-youngest to accomplish the feat, Stefanski is a historically esteemed sideline general. He’s been dealt a bad hand in Cleveland, particularly at quarterback. We’ve seen what his capabilities are with better options at the league’s most important position.
If the Browns ultimately decide to move on from Stefanski, or vice versa, it wouldn’t take long for him to land on his feet. The 43-year-old has an outstanding résumé that figures to be a highly sought-after commodity if available. He’d be among the top head coaching candidates for any opening, reportedly already emerging as a “name to watch” for the New York Giants’ vacancy.