Chris Adamski stories, Page 169
3 teams have already reached out about Antonio Brown, Steelers’ Kevin Colbert says
The process of trading Antonio Brown is off and running in earnest. Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said “let’s say three teams have touched base” with the Steelers regarding a trade for Brown, the disgruntled All Pro wide receiver who is seeking a new team. Colbert was speaking in...
Steelers re-sign veteran DL Tyson Alualu to 2-year deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers have remained remarkably stable along the offensive and defensive lines in recent years, and that will continue to Friday’s announced re-signing of veteran defensive end Tyson Alualu. The 31-year-old Alualu inked a two-year deal. He had served as the top backup at all three starting defensive line...
Jon Bostic hopes he found a home with Steelers, who have decisions to make at ILB
It’s not difficult to track the trend of Jon Bostic’s role in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense last season. The veteran linebacker played a season-high 59 defensive snaps in the season opener. He played a season-low six snaps on defense in the finale. At least Bostic appeared in all 16 of...
Steelers’ Chuks Okorafor confident after rookie season
On New Year’s Eve, less than 24 hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers season ended, Chuks Okorafor paused for a moment as he stood in the locker room at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Looking back on 2018 caused the eyebrows of the Steelers’ young offensive tackle to rise. “Honestly it’s been...
Steelers OT Jerald Hawkins moving past losing 2 seasons to injury
Spring can’t get here fast enough for Jerald Hawkins. He is certain his torn quadriceps injury will be fully healed in time for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ organized team activities that take place between late April and early June. “Oh yeah, most definitely,” the affable offensive tackle said just after the...
Steelers’ Josh Dobbs proud of 2018, vows to progress more in ’19
It was only 12 pass attempts spread out over 30 snaps, mostly in six possessions, in five games. But to Josh Dobbs, the satisfaction of getting his first taste of NFL regular-season action outweighed its brevity. “It was great to get out there, and I am definitely fiending for some...
‘Scary’ pitching staff offers hope for Pirates this season
Clint Hurdle referenced the baseball axiom that arguably is the oldest in a sport that has no shortage of them. Good pitching will beat good hitting. “Over 140 years of baseball,” Hurdle said at PiratesFest late last month. The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping that cliché proves true in 2019 because...
Linebacker L.J. Fort hits free agency after breakout season for Steelers
At age 29, seven seasons after a memorable NFL debut in 2012, L.J. Fort finally has achieved a level of workplace-choice freedom. “It’s wild,” the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker said soon after this season ended. “Seven years in the league, and this is the first time I have been a free...
5 things to watch at Pirates spring training
An optimist would point out the Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a season in which just six National League teams had better records. But in a town in which the World Series drought reaches four decades this year, cynicism reigns — so it’s probably more appropriate to say just five...
Clint Hurdle confident Pirates lineup ready for power move
Clint Hurdle smiled. After 16 seasons as a major league manager, he is at ease in addressing tough questions. Plus, he just faced a group of inquiring season-ticket holders, so Hurdle expected the gathered media at PiratesFest to ask him about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lack of power. “It’s a great...
Mason Rudolph reflects on rookie season on Steelers’ bench
It wasn’t easy, Mason Rudolph acknowledges, serving as a No. 3 quarterback and not playing in meaningful football games for the first autumn of his competitive life. But as his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers was ending, Rudolph was able to reflect on how far he came in 2018....
Lonnie Chisenhall notes similarities between Pirates, perennially playoff-bound Indians
When Lonnie Chisenhall made his major-league debut in 2011, the Cleveland Indians were on the verge of following up two losing seasons with one in which they won 80 games. He’s recently joined the Pittsburgh Pirates under similar circumstances: the Pirates just followed up two losing seasons by last year...
After 4 years with Steelers, B.J. Finney mentally prepared for anything
After four full seasons of camps and practices, 44 meaningful games in uniform, nine starts and more than 700 regular-season offensive snaps, B.J. Finney is prepared for anything the Pittsburgh Steelers could need or ask of him going forward. “Obviously, I feel like I am progressing and getting better every...
Nick Kingham recognizes his career with the Pirates is at a crossroads
Nick Kingham leaned back against a chair in a PNC Park dining area, at ease in chatting with a handful of reporters at PiratesFest late last month. “I love this right now,” Kingham said of relaxed conversation with a group of people who ranged between casual acquaintance to total stranger....
Jung Ho Kang among 3 Pirates players to watch during spring training
Looking at the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training roster, it is likely 20 or more of the players who are there for Opening Day will be holdovers from last season. As such, Pirates fans figure to be familiar with the 2019 roster. That does not mean there won’t be any intrigue...
Pirates sign injured veteran RHP Tom Koehler
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms on a minor league contract with former Marlins starter Tom Koehler on Wednesday. The right-hander will report to minor-league camp and spend most of the 2019 season continuing rehab from surgery on right shoulder last summer. Koehler, 32, had a 4.39 ERA in 161...
Pirates sign veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin to minor-league deal
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin to a minor-league contract Wednesday, adding another bench option to their spring-training roster. A former first-round pick, the 27-year-old Franklin has appeared in 301 major-league games for four teams over the past six seasons. He’s played at least an inning at...
Steelers’ Matt Feiler looks ahead after establishing himself in 2018
Matt Feiler entered his fifth NFL training camp last year with all of five regular-season games and 75 offensive snaps to his credit. So it had to be gratifying to Feiler that in 2018 for the Pittsburgh Steelers he proved he was a viable, NFL starting-caliber player. “It’s nice to...
Pirates’ Corey Dickerson optimistic entering ‘contract year’
During this month last year, Corey Dickerson was joining his third team over a span of 37 months. As he enters his final season before hitting free agency, it’s very possible – likely, even – that Dickerson will be on a fourth team in five years by this point next...
Once again, Pirates’ Opening Day outfield will change
The Pittsburgh Pirates have used 18 Opening Day outfield alignments over the 19 seasons since the turn of the century. An injury will force them to make it 19 combinations in 20 years. With Gregory Polanco expected to miss the first one to two months of the season as he...
Steven Brault back in familiar spot: competing for fifth starter in Pirates’ rotation
Groundhog Day was Saturday. But Steven Brault can relate to Bill Murray’s iconic Phil Connors character every time he reports to Bradenton, Fla., in the spring. If the Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing for a season, it must mean Brault is competing for a spot at the back end of their...
Pirates lineup gets jolt from ex-Indians Lonnie Chisenhall, Erik Gonzalez
Twenty-two percent of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 projected opening day lineup was imported during the offseason down Interstate 76. Barring injury or an unexpected spring roster move, Lonnie Chisenhall and Erik Gonzalez are expected to be the names manager Clint Hurdle writes in at right field and shortstop, respectively, when...
Pirates prospect Cole Tucker could add flavor to infield
With his bushy hair, wide smile and gregarious personality, no one would describe Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Cole Tucker as vanilla. “I’m not that vanilla,” Tucker said at PiratesFest last week. “I’ve got some sprinkles in my game.” Tucker, though, considers “vanilla” a compliment. After all, two of his role...
Pirates want new hitting coaches to ‘recalibrate’ offensive philosophy
The Pittsburgh Pirates exceeded most expectations in 2018, but within 24 hours of the season’s completion they fired both of their hitting coaches. The result of an offense that ranked 20th in the majors in runs, 25th in home runs and in the bottom half of MLB in slugging percentage,...
Pirates expect better Kevin Newman for spring training
Kevin Newman’s baptism into the majors was less than inspiring for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After fans watched Newman post a .209 average and .478 OPS with 23 strikeouts, no stolen bases and underwhelming defense in 31 games over seven weeks, many wondered if he was just another overhyped...
