Hypothetical, but worth looking into?

Former coach Bill Cowher knows a thing or two about the Pittsburgh Steelers and how the organization reacts to a down season -- they were 8-8 in 2012, their worst run since posting the same record under Cowher in 2006 -- and he thinks that while they won't panic, they likely will shed some players from their roster this offseason, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette.

"Cowher suggested players such as outside linebacker James Harrison, nose tackle Casey Hampton, inside linebacker Larry Foote and even safety Troy Polamalu could fall under that umbrella," Bouchette wrote, "and that wide receiver Mike Wallace and running back Rashard Mendenhall would leave as free agents."

Those defensive players all are aging, Mendenhall butted heads with coaches this season and Wallace will cost a lot of money to keep in the fold going forward. That means there is a very real chance that some or many of these guys will be playing elsewhere in '13.

Interest level in Troy?

I would love to have Troy. Dude is a beast when healthy. I wish they would be dumb enough to let him go. Make our lives a little easier.

Hell, I'd take any of them except Mendenhall

Uh no to James Harrison.

Screw him.

This is a rhetorical question right??????

Best player in the league at the position we are most desperate for. Hell Yes!

Even though Troy is slated to make a bunch of money this year, there is no way they cut ties with him this offseason. The fans would riot at Heinz Field. However, if he goes another year of only playing in like half the games, things could change.

Yea, of course we'd all be interested in Polamalu, but he isn't going anywhere.

Ed Reed may walk, but he wouldn't come here.

Who wouldn't love for Troy to come here but lets be honest we have to pay higher than some clubs to entice players at this point and for how injury prone, getting older, it would be a huge risk. We need to start winning games and get a competent coach before players want to come to Tennessee again.

do you guys think we would or even should make a run at ed reed?

Ed Reed is like 35/36. Do Not Want.