Steelers' Ramon Foster Is Exasperated, We Don't Care Who Plays, "Step On Their Neck On Your Way Out Of The Building!"

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be meeting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, September 10th for their 2023 Week 1 matchup at Acrisure Stadium. The game holds a lot of expectations from both teams. While the first game of the season is always unpredictable, it feels like there's extra emphasis on this game, especially for an out-of-conference matchup. But what is really critical here? Are fans focusing on the wrong thing? Ramon Foster thinks so. 

During 2022 the Steelers found themselves in a bit of a rebuild. Longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season and they had uncertainty at the position until the then-rookie Kenny Pickett took over. They started out slow but gained momentum showing tremendous improvement as the season went on, ultimately they narrowly missed the playoffs. 

The 49ers had a bit of a quarterback issue themselves. They had selected "Mr. Irrelevant," or the last pick in the draft, in 2022, in Brock Purdy. Purdy started the season as the third-string quarterback but ended up winning the starting job after injuries took out Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. He shocked the world with his performance and helped the 49ers make it to the NFC Championship Game where they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Now as the two teams set to face off, the 49ers are favored to win but they have some challenges that the Steelers (knock on wood) do not have. For one, their incredible tight end, George Kittle, is battling a groin injury. Kittle is relied upon heavily to block and shore up the offensive line. 

On top of that Nick Bosa, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, did not sign his contract until the middle of the week prior to the game. He apparently spent little to no time with the team since the end of the 2022 season and had not reported to the facility yet this season. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said it isn't like Bosa has a beer belly, but it is more than just hitting the gym. There is a reason why teams have a carefully scripted preseason.  

So even if both players are set to play Week 1, it seems possible that one or both will not be at their best. Groin injuries such as the one Kittle has can linger for a while. The player might be able to run but once they set their foot to try to make a football move it can cause pain. As for Bosa, he hasn't taken the reps with this team that he needs to get acclimated to a new season. Bosa is a tremendous talent so if he plays it will definitely have an impact but maybe not the one they want. The Steelers have said they are prepping to have everyone there, better to be over-prepared.  

Steelers Ramon Foster Says "We Do Not Care" Who The 49ers Are Missing

Foster now co-hosts a podcast on DK Pittsburgh Sports called The Ramon Foster Show with reporter Dejan Kovacevic. On a recent episode, the subject of Bosa's holdout and Kittle's injury came up as well as the potential impact that will have on both teams. One of the questions was about the potential for T.J. Watt to have a huge game without Bosa playing. 

This is an especially interesting battle because Kittle recently called Watt out telling him to "run through him not away from him." Kovacevic and Foster both pointed out that the 49ers have a new starting right tackle, Colton McKivitz. McKivitz has had very little playing time and would likely rely on Bosa to help on his side of the line.  

Then the conversation shifted as fans began to complain about an opposing player being out or not a full strength. They say it dilutes the win. Foster said it doesn't matter whether we play them at 100%, wins aren't measured that way. There is no disclaimer next to win saying it counts less because of an injury. 

Like Head Coach Mike Tomlin always says, all of the players you encounter are excellent, they all made it to the most elite level possible, playing professional football in the NFL. When the Steelers' top defensive player Watt was out for the majority of the 2022 season with a pec injury we lost a lot of games. Did not having Watt have an impact? Sure. Did that make the wins the other teams made any less valid or real? Nope.   

"Who cares? Win the game! The world is not about commenting sections and social media and talk radio shows, it's just about the standings. Win the game!" yells a frustrated Kovacevic.

The number of people commenting during the show about the topic of a diminished win was blowing Foster's mind. For example, a fan said to Foster that we cannot see the true value of our own team if we are not going up against the best 49ers team possible. Foster said he totally disagrees, and that many fans look at this the wrong way. Does seeing them slightly dinged up change how he assesses the Steelers? 

"NO! Absolutely not man. This ain't ducking nobody. Your guys are injured? Sucks for you. You know how many times we've gone into games and guys are injured? Think about this for saying you want the best, think about the times Ben (Roethlisberger) got knocked out of the game and the crowd cheered. *mic drop,* exclaimed Foster."

This topic came up quite a bit during Covid. When teams lost players and sometimes several players at once, due to an outbreak or an exposure the media would complain that it wasn't fair. That is the nature of sports said Foster. Sometimes things happen and truly great teams find ways to overcome and adapt. He said this isn't a knock against the 49ers, it is just the reality of professional sports.  

"We're not trying to play it down DK but I think it's fair to say, if they've got issues over there, (shrugs) step on their neck on the way out of the building. We do not care what their team is shaping up to be," added Foster.

One thing is for sure both of these teams are looking like they could be excellent in 2023. They have both capitalized upon their strengths from 2022 and shored up their teams in the trenches. It also appears the trenches will be where a physical game like this, with two great defenses, will be won. It is shaping up to be an excellent matchup. 

What do you think about Foster and Kovacevic's comments? Do you think it minimizes the win if the opponent is down one or more of their best players? Should the Steelers and their fans just be glad for the win (if they get it) and move on? What impact do you think Kittle and Bosa will have Week 1? Do you think they will both be playing at 100%? Tell us what's on your mind! Click to comment below. 

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