A Letter From the Editor: The Steelers avoided the off-field distraction in 2025

If you follow the NFL on any social media platform, you’ve heard about some big news recently with some very disgruntled players. Earlier this week it was Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin requesting a trade from the team after they refuse to give him a new contract.

Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn said wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s trade request is not a distraction, calling it a normal part of business in the NFL.

Story via @john_keim:https://t.co/X2iXCvIZS1

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2025

Just over a day after was when Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons put this statement out on his personal Twitter/X account regarding his desire to be traded from the team who drafted him out of Penn State.

Thank you Dallas 🦁👑 🙏🏾! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025

Then there is the long-standing hold out of Trey Hendrickson and his contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here’s your obligatory Trey Hendrickson is here and not practicing video.

Spent a good amount of time talking to B.J. Hill.#Bengals | @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/qKZgLxbN1x

— Regan Holgate (@HolgateRegan) August 2, 2025

It seems at every turn there is a contract dispute happening with high profile players. To be honest, I don’t see any of these players being traded, or even holding out when the regular season comes around, but it doesn’t mean this hasn’t been a huge distraction and detractor from what their individual teams are trying to accomplish. The barrage of questions can’t be fun, not just for the head coach, but also the team as they try to answer questions surrounding their teammates’ decision to hold out and/or request a trade.

What’s the point of all this? Simple, the Pittsburgh Steelers and their best defensive player, T.J. Watt, avoided this distraction this preseason, and I’m thankful.

Go back to the image attached to this article.

The famous image of Watt walking off the field giving the peace sign to the fans in attendance at the game. The same image which Watt used to stir up quite the commotion within the media. The image which Watt said he used intentionally to kick up dust and to potentially get the two sides talking more in earnest.

If you think for a second the T.J. Watt and Pittsburgh Steelers situation wouldn’t have gotten ugly, I think we aren’t following the same situation. It absolutely would have been more tenuous compared to the last time these two entities hit negotiations. It would have likely resulted in the team dealing with their star pass rusher not doing anything outside of individual drills again, along with a myriad of questions surrounding his hold in approach.

Sound familiar?

Thankfully the two sides got a deal done before the players even reported to training camp, and avoided the potential distraction. For the record, this wasn’t a “T.J. Watt storms into Art Rooney II’s offense without his agent to sign a contract.” situation, but two sides who felt a deal was able to be done, and they got it done in a way which both felt was fair.

Watt was paid handsomely, and the Steelers will be able to absorb the cap hit of Watt’s new deal with relative ease without having a veteran quarterback taking up the vast majority of their salary cap. But that’s not the point here. The point here is how the Steelers, mainly Omar Khan and Art Rooney II, decided to get a deal done to avoid what could have been a giant, and ongoing, distraction. Did the Steelers give more than they would have liked? Probably. Did Watt get the deal he coveted? Absolutely.

But the fact of the matter is the deal was done. You, the fan, might bemoan the deal as too rich, but the truth behind the deal will come as Watt now tries to prove his worth as the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL. If he goes out and has 20 sacks in 2025, on his way to another All-Pro season and helps the Steelers win a playoff game(s), would it be a bad deal? If he stays productive for the duration of the contract, would it be a bad deal?

Those factors have a to be determined in time, but for me I’m just happy a deal is done and the Steelers can focus on winning in 2025…not whether their superstar defender wants traded or is holding out for a new deal. The Steelers avoided that distraction, now it’s time to go win.