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You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. In the mailbag two months ago, we suggested the Steelers sign Nick Herbig. Within hours, they did. Our influence is real! Let’s gooooooo …. Steve, @Steve3209839331: What is the logic behind the Steelers doling out massive contracts to situational players? Starkey: That’s an easy one, Dr. 3209839331: They don’t see two of those players as “situational” for long — and I happen to think the contracts for Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington make sense. How often have we complained in sports about contracts given to players based on what they’ve done instead of what they might do? The bloated T.J. Watt deal was based on the past. These deals are based on the future. They are bets. I happen to believe they are good bets. I loved the Herbig deal. I urged the Steelers to prioritize him this offseason. They did. Herbig might be a “situational player” but he also led the team in quarterback pressures (29) and hurries (11), according to profootballreference.com, tied for the team lead in quarterback knockdowns (10), finished second to Alex Highsmith in sacks with 7½, had 13 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, recovered a fumble for a touchdown and had an interception despite playing just 60% of the snaps. NFL Next Gen Stats says Herbig also led the league in pass rush win rate. Did I mention he’s just 24? I think that’s a pretty great bet. And his new deal won’t even put him in the top 15 in average edge-rusher salary. By the time his four-year deal hits the halfway point, he won’t be in the top 25. Benton is a different story. He hasn’t truly arrived yet. Will he? That’s the bet, right? He just turned 25, and here’s the key: The new defensive coaching staff will be moving him around to better extract his potential. The old staff pigeonholed Benton as a true nose tackle — like they did with Javon Hargrave — and he wasn’t great against the run. I want to see what Benton can become. I don’t want to see the Steelers lose his best years like they did with Hargrave, who became a two-time Pro Bowl player and who racked up 11 sacks one year in Philly. Benton needs to be used the right way. His salary is only going to put him 20th among interior defensive linemen. Before long, he won’t even be in the top 30. Washington, to me, was the most curious one, because his receiving role appears to be lessening. But his was also the smallest deal, at $10.5 million per season, and he might be the best blocking tight end in the NFL. He’s a good player. He won’t even be among the 20 highest-paid tight ends a few years into his deal. The question now is, what about Joey Porter Jr.? It seems obvious that Porter has put a higher price on himself than the Steelers are willing to pay — but one could argue that the price just goes up as other top cornerbacks sign huge deals. They need to get this one done. Ronald Bilak, @BilakRonald: Why do you activate (Oneil) Cruz to have him sit on the bench? I just don’t understand. Starkey: Me neither, Dr. B. They mounted a comeback in the sixth inning and needed a left-handed pinch hitter and instead of Cruz or Spencer Horwitz, Don Kelly went with Jacob Gonzalez? What? I’m with you 100%. Neither guy ever got an at-bat. WHY IS CRUZ HERE IF HE’S NOT USABLE????? Then you had Yohan Ramirez throw 44 pitches in the inning that lost the game. What are we doing here? I realize the previous day was a bullpen game, but didn’t they just acquire 27 relievers at the deadline? You leave him to die on the vine? Oh yeah, and Jared Triolo — on a 1-for-11 skid — batted leadoff. That really happened. Until he was pinch-hit for. Tom Mosser Design, @tommosser: Hi Follicle King. We all root for the good sports story. What do you think would be the better story: (Aaron) Rogers plays well and leads the team to 10 wins and a playoff win or… Rogers is injured in game 2 and Drew Allar or Will Howard lead the team to 10 wins and a playoff win? Starkey: Somebody getting injured is never a good story, Dr. Design, but clearly the latter would be more compelling. Are we sure, by the way, that Howard wasn’t the bigger story coming out of that first exhibition game? He was playing against slightly better competition and led a nice two-minute drive in his first real game action since the national title game two years ago. I’m pretty sure if Howard stays in the game, he has a huge second half. Josh Howard, @jhow2687: All things being quiet on the JPJ contract front. Could we see a Mike Wallace type of situation play out? Lots of talk out of camp is the play of Asante Samuel Jr. and Daylen Everette. Obviously those men are not to the likes of Antonio Brown waiting in the wings to pick up any money that Wallace didn’t want. But maybe the gap between where JPJ values himself and where the team sees him is too big to bridge and someone like Asante Samuel Jr. could benefit if he plays well this season and the JPJ contract doesn’t get done. What do you think? Starkey: Samuel Jr. could benefit down the line, for sure, Dr. 2687, but nobody behind Porter is getting paid his money now or anytime soon. This might be one of the few times in mailbag history that the question is way longer than the answer. Pay Porter. Gooseheimer2023, @gooseheime83054: Greetings Lord Starkey of Buffalo. How many RBs are the Steelers keeping and who are they? Starkey: Maybe only three, Goose, and none named Kaleb Johnson. I’m including Riley Nowakowski with fullback/tight end types. The actual running backs would be Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer, the latter on account of his special teams contributions. BigDTigerBurgh, @TigerBurgh9798: My @Pirates attire has officially been retired to my basement sports bin (not good). Made it a month further than last couple years, but not acceptable. Saving grace is I didn’t burn it while cursing almost the entire pitching staff. Starkey: To paraphrase one Derek Shelton, is there a question there? David Anthony Castelveter, @AviationVet: Simple. Concede season. Sell the team Bob. Fire Cherington, Kelly and send cheerleader Mears packing. DFA worst hitting catcher in baseball — (Henry) Davis. Send Triolo too. Totally restructure starting and relieving pitching staff. Bye bye Gonzales. Discount all remaining games 75%. Starkey: That seems harsh, Dr. C, especially with Hannah Mears, whose role — to be fair — is not to be that of a critic. And are you talking about Nick Gonzales? Yes, he has fielding issues, but he’s also among the leading hitters in baseball. SHRIVER, @shriver_joseph: Joe, the @Penguins were top 3 in scoring, the @Pirates are top 3 in scoring; don’t think the Steelers under McCarthy can keep the trend? Starkey: No, I don’t, Dr. Shriver, but that is a keen observation on Penguins and Pirates. I’m not sure the offensive line and quarterback are up to the task of becoming a top-3 offense. That doesn’t mean it’s bound for failure, just that it’s a bit unrealistic. Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: In your opinion Dr. Starkey, what’s currently bothersome about Pittsburgh sports? What grinds your gears? Starkey: The Pirates. Period. Just one of the more frustrating Pittsburgh sports teams I can remember. Even many of their wins just leave you dumbfounded. Sandip, @sjain316: Are these Pirates one of the more unlikeable Pirate teams of recent memory? Starkey: I’d use the word frustrating, but I’m not you, Dr. 316. Sometimes I wish I was.