Steelers bests and worsts of 2024? Justin Fields the biggest winner? Cam Heyward best player?

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko hand out Driver awards for the team's bests and worsts in 2024.
Was Cam Heyward the team's best player? Or do T.J. Watt and others have arguments? Was Justin Fields the biggest winner, earning favor with his early victories before watching Russell Wilson and the offense struggle down the stretch? Was Cam Sutton GM Omar Khan's worst acquisition? Zach Frazier the best draft pick? Chris Boswell the best supporting player? And special teams coach Danny Smith coach Mike Tomlin's best assistant coach?
Our duo tackles those questions and more, including the best and worst performances of the season.
For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.

[@MrWellz412]

Worst quote without a doubt: Mike Tomlin - “That’s why I’m well compensated…” referring to being the lone wolf on switching from 4-2 Justin Fields to 6-6 Russell Wilson

[@rick.d]

Because averaging 137 yds/game passing was absolutely leading to massive playoff success.

[@kevinbell4464]

@@rick.d6-6

[@ManuelKimbrell]

Agreed

[@hybridgod7495]

Fields didn't start with the same o-line once in 5 games with a rookie center and LG mind you, should've won us the colts game if not for Frazier, and I watched Pickens and Jefferson drop more passes then they caught.

[@PatriotWatchUSA]

Was not in reference to being the lone wolf. That's a lie.

[@davecolvin310]

Only three good things happen this year.boswells performance.the punter position got fixed after 3 years of misery.and we all know for sure that Tomlin is a counterfeit.and creates most of the problems like massive amounts of injuries that almost always happens in practice....way to go .

[@hybridgod7495]

Bringing in sutton was a really bad call then playing him over beane was malpractice.

[@oskinooa]

Beanie was ballin too

[@Justin_Watson23]

I gotta agree with Chris on Patrick Queen, can't believe I'm saying that. I watched every all-22 (because I have thet little of a social life) & this team did their backers no favors schematically. Especially in the playoff game, the backers were playing with lineman climbing to them almost instantly in their big personnel, & try to stop the size the Ravens utilized w/o Zay Flowers, no one was set up to have success even if they played their techniques perfectly.

[@IvanSoto-l3m]

Great episode fellas

[@frankfischer1281]

It's a good thing that you guys are creative because it's gonna be a looooong offseason, perhaps spiced-up a little with the ever present "Will Mike Tomlin, or won't he break .500?

[@davidalum1325]

Justin will be ready this season. Remember that he barely ran in college with way better arm talent than Lamar Jackson at the time and Jalen Hurts. He has the potential to be a better passer than both of them on the NFL level.

[@davidalum1325]

@PatriotWatchUSA if you watch all 3 in college I promise you would draft Fields first.

[@PatriotWatchUSA]

@ JF is backup without a team as of this hour. His market value is 1 year 6.8M dollars. He is ranked the 27th best QB in todays NFL. The 335 best player in the NFL.

[@davidalum1325]

@PatriotWatchUSA and where was Sam Darnald before last season? Not even on the Radar.

[@PatriotWatchUSA]

@@davidalum1325 Hes been on plenty of peoples radar. Want the list? Let me ask you a dumb question. Would you like Sam to be your QB and get signed to 3 year 45M contract fully guaranteed? Hmmmm

[@davidalum1325]

@PatriotWatchUSA Hell no. He's a system QB. And could go copper at anytime. And Sam Darnald was trash every season but this one stop it.

[@closeredge5198]

Totally disagree with 'worst quote' award...not defending some his other actions (Pickens), but that reporter was out of line..I'd have walked away too

[@blairbrownie1223]

Yes to hating this Wilson Pollyanna garbage. It’s ridiculous

[@Justin_Watson23]

Thank you 👏 If anyone wants to know why people (fairly or not including myself) despise Russell Wilson, it's because people respect real emotion, what guys are actually feeling. As devastating as it was, Pouncey sitting on the bench with Ben after not playing well his last game, Ben & Hines saying they were getting Bussey a ring, & Justin Fields taking his move back to the bench with as much grace as a 25 year old could possibly have while still showing disappointment in the overall situation- are all real emotions that people can relate to. Not positivity for the sake of being positive, which feels more like a marketing strategy than real leadership.

[@C-Note_Staxs]

Hey Brian did you feel that way towards Big Ben when he caught that rap charge? that’s way worse then what Sutton did or was accused of, is it because of his skin tone? I know how people in Pittsburgh are, keep that same energy with your kind like you do with mines

[@allenberkebile8480]

Chris, are we being a little to hard on the Offense? After all, those last 5 games were against Super Bowl contenders. Excluding the Bengals of course. Although they were playing better down the stretch. I just think the offense may be a little better than what we are giving them credit for.

[@ManuelKimbrell]

Should be tough on offense they fell apart when it counted

[@exllbee4820]

@@ManuelKimbrell ....and the defense didn't? LOL

[@amsey3700]

@@exllbee4820ehhh… look at how much the offense turned the ball over

[@ManuelKimbrell]

@@exllbee4820 defense stayed on field to long too many 3 an outs towards end of season

[@rizzomatt]

Pittsburgh Steelers - Where dreams go to die. Thanks for nothing Stillers.

[@georgerodgers2732]

We have 6 super bowl rings

[@Crazyhansomeboymy97]

@@georgerodgers2732 Y'all Steelers fans starting more and more to sound like the Cowboys fans. 🤣

[@davidalum1325]

😂

[@Brooklynnpsl]

Underwhelmed???

[@exllbee4820]

Declaring JF the 'winner' is pure BS. Yes! He could wind up being the big winner IF the Steelers sign him instead of Russ and you're just assuming that will be the case. If they sign Russ instead (a real possibility according to Adam Schefter) then if all depends on his value as a FA, which depends on how his performance in those 6 games is viewed. So whether he is the season winner is TBD.

[@ManuelKimbrell]

I think its gonna be Russ looking for a job not Justin

[@exllbee4820]

@@ManuelKimbrell Could be, but just because you and these bozos think so doesn't make it true. ESPN's Schefter thinks differently.

[@ManuelKimbrell]

@exllbee4820 he's just a reporter with his own agenda he has been wrong before and I believe Justin will be starting an Russ be looking for job

[@joshfrye542]

I can't wait until they sign a QB and put an end to these bait topics end. Hopefully, it's Russ and Fields leaves because this infatuation with a backup QB is getting ridiculous.

[@RickyAceRozay]

I agree, i don’t want anything unproven, we know Russ is a pro , resign Najee and let’s run it back!

[@joshfrye542]

@RickyAceRozay I want them to tank and start the rebuild. Sign Cousins for league min, use that $ to start rebuilding the team, say you intend to compete, then win 3 games and draft Manning. The thing that annoys me is this unfathomable faith people have in Justin Fields. He's a year 4 QB that hasn't shown any capabilities beyond being a decent backup.

[@RickyAceRozay]

@ might not be faith per say , but if you start fields pay him 12 million a year , if he sucks you’ll tank naturally and if he does develop then you hit the jackpot. 🎰

[@joshfrye542]

@RickyAceRozay They're going to tank either way next year, that defense is worse off than people think.

[@exllbee4820]

@@RickyAceRozay The problem with that thinking is that the Steelers are going to go with the guy who gives them the best chance to win.