Joe Rutter stories, Page 100
Reunion with little brother was secondary reason for Derek Watt signing with Steelers
When Derek Watt hit free agency for the first time last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers were among a handful of teams to show interest in the 27-year-old fullback. He didn’t know how much interest until the 48-hour legal tampering period was over. It turns out his agents spared his nerves...
Chance to play at Heinz Field led Stefen Wisniewski to join hometown Steelers
Growing up in South Fayette and playing football at Central Catholic, Stefen Wisniewski always dreamed of suiting up for a meaningful game at Heinz Field. It will take 10 years into his NFL career, but that wish will finally come true in 2020 for the Pittsburgh Steelers newest offensive lineman....
Steelers agree to deal with XFL sack leader Cavon Walker, add OT Jarron Jones
While Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday the organization was putting free agency on the back burner, that edict apparently didn’t apply to XFL players. Defensive lineman Cavon Walker, the XFL sacks leader with the New York Guardians, agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Steelers,...
In 2nd week, free agency taking backseat to draft preparation for Steelers
After being active in the first week of free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to preparations for the NFL Draft next month. In a video interview with the team’s website, general manager Kevin Colbert said the Steelers are on “pause” in the free agency process. The Steelers agreed to...
Penn State WR KJ Hamler does best to prepare for NFL DraftVideo
Among the initiatives taken by the NFL at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic was eliminating in-house visits by draft prospects. That decision, coupled by most college programs canceling their pro day workouts because of the outbreak, has limited the opportunities for players to impress scouts and coaches heading into...
Recent moves put Steelers in good spot to address needs in draft
Entering the NFL’s legal tampering period last Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew some difficult decisions needed to be made. They had to restructure contracts to fit Bud Dupree’s franchise-tag tender under the salary cap. They prepared to say goodbye to the second-longest tenured player on the roster. They faced cutting...
Former Steelers 1st-rounder Artie Burns signs with Bears; Nick Vannett to Broncos
The final member of the 2016 draft class departed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday when cornerback Artie Burns agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Burns, the team’s first-round pick that year, was the fourth member of that draft class to leave in free agency this...
Steelers sign TE Eric Ebron, trade for Ravens defensive lineman Chris Wormley
At a midseason news conference last year, Mike Tomlin was asked to explain the reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ declining production in the red zone. “What do you think?” Tomlin retorted. The inference was clear: Without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, the team’s red-zone efficiency, which finished the worst in the...
Steelers bring back Jordan Dangerfield on 1-year contract
Jordan Dangerfield wasn’t tendered a contract as a restricted free agent, but it turns out his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn’t quite over. The team announced Friday they signed Dangerfield, a valuable special teams player and backup safety, to a one-year contract. Dangerfield was one of four restricted free...
Central Catholic grad Stefen Wisniewski set to fill void on Steelers offensive lineVideo
Stefen Wisniewski is ready for a homecoming, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to fill a vacancy on their offensive line. Wisniewski, a Central Catholic graduate and Penn State product, announced on his Twitter account he has signed a contract with the Steelers to provide help on the interior of...
Steelers cut FB Roosevelt Nix, re-sign long snapper Kameron Canaday
The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their long snapper from reaching free agency and said goodbye to their former Pro Bowl fullback. On the first day of NFL free agency, the Steelers signed Kameron Canaday to a two-year, $2.425 million contract that includes a $450,000 signing bonus and salaries of $910,000 and...
Steelers tender restricted free agents Mike Hilton, Matt Feiler
As the new NFL calendar year began Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they had tendered offers to two of their restricted free agents. Right tackle Matt Feiler and slot cornerback Mike Hilton each received a second-round tender worth $3.259 million. If another team tries to sign Feiler or Hilton...
Steelers sign backup tackle Zach Banner to 1-year contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers got one of their restricted free agents under contract Tuesday when tackle Zach Banner agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million. Banner signed a deal for less than the lowest tender amount — $2.133 million. He earned $645,000 last year as an exclusive rights free agent....
Derek Watt to join brother T.J. on Steelers when free agency begins
The Pittsburgh Steelers already have cornered the market on Edmunds brothers, and they apparently are bringing a second Watt into the fold. The Steelers will sign fullback Derek Watt, brother of the Steelers’ T.J. and Houston’s J.J., to a three-year, $9.75 million contract when free agency begins Wednesday at 4...
Steelers place LB Ryan Shazier on reserve/retired list
In a procedural move that enables him to continue working with the organization, Ryan Shazier was placed on the reserve/retired list Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shazier hasn’t played since December 2017 when he sustained a spinal cord injury making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals. He has spent the...
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger restructures contract to provide salary cap relief
To create more salary cap space before the NFL calendar year opens Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured the contract of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, according to a source. Roethlisberger, 38, had his $8.5 million base salary and $12.5 million roster bonus converted into a signing bonus that will be...
Steelers LB Tyler Matakevich signs 2-year deal with Bills; B.J. Finney to Seahawks
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to replace one of their top special teams players and their top backup interior offensive lineman for the 2020 season. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. The deal reportedly is worth up to $9 million. Then, guard/center B.J....
NT Javon Hargrave leaves Steelers for $39M deal with Eagles
The Steelers will be in the market for a nose tackle for the 2020 season. Javon Hargrave, who has started in the middle of the defensive line since his rookie season in 2016, left via free agency Monday, agreeing to a three-year, $39 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The...
Steelers guard Ramon Foster announces retirement after 11 NFL seasons
Faced with being a casualty to the salary cap, Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster announced his retirement Monday after 11 NFL seasons. “When the time comes, you just know, and now is the time for me to take a bow,” Foster said in a statement released by the Steelers. “I’ve...
Steelers release OLB Anthony Chickillo, ILB Mark Barron, WR Johnny Holton
Inside linebacker Mark Barron, backup linebacker Anthony Chickillo and backup wide receiver Johnny Holton were the first casualties as the Pittsburgh Steelers try to get under the salary cap by the start of the NFL calendar year. All three players were released Monday, providing $11.075 million in salary cap relief...
NFL Draft to go on as scheduled, but it won’t take place in Las VegasVideo
The NFL Draft won’t be postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, but it won’t be held in Las Vegas, either. The league announced Monday that after conferring with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it will “modify” its plans for the draft, which will be held April 23-25. The...
Steelers use franchise tag on linebacker Bud Dupree
Bud Dupree will remain under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least one more season. The Steelers applied the franchise tag Monday on the 27-year-old outside linebacker, keeping him from reaching unrestricted free agency. The tag will carry an approximate value of $16 million in 2020. Dupree earned $9.232...
NFL players approve CBA that calls for expanded playoffs, 17-game seasonVideo
The NFL is guaranteed labor peace through the 2030 season thanks to players approving the collective bargaining agreement. The CBA was approved by a majority of the league’s players in balloting that ended at midnight Saturday. With the NFLPA announcing Sunday that 1,019 players approved the proposal and 959 voted...
With other leagues shuttered, NFL continues march to new league year
The day after the sports world stood still, the NFL continued chugging along with some of its offseason business Friday. The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens used the franchise tag on players, and the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans cut veterans in advance...
Steelers RT Matt Feiler receives $600K in bonus compensation from 2019
Right tackle Matt Feiler was the lowest-paid starter on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2019, but he nearly matched his compensation in performance-based pay, according to figures released by the NFL on Thursday. Feiler earned $387,578 in performance-based pay for his play last season, but he also was awarded...
