Steelers/NFL category, Page 194
Former 4th-round pick Renell Wren jockeys to be part of 2023 Steelers defensive line
Not bad work if you can get it: a reported $207,000 for about 6 seconds on the clock. But that wasn’t necessarily what Renell Wren wanted out of the 2022 NFL season. A defensive tackle who entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, Wren...
Former Steelers running back Sidney Thornton dies at 68
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Sidney Thornton, who won two Super Bowls with the team, has died. The franchise announced the death of Thornton, 68, earlier this week. The Steelers selected Thornton in the second round (48th overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State University in Louisiana....
Friday Football Footnotes: If not for Tom Brady, how many more Super Bowl rings would Steelers have?
Every now and then, Pittsburgh Steelers fans love to put themselves through the exercise of determining how many Super Bowl trophies the franchise would have in its display case if it weren’t for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Usually that answer comes back at nine or...
First Call: T.J. Watt sidesteps question on Taylor Lewan; defensive line free agent idea for Steelers; Joe Mixon news
It’s a football-heavy Friday “First Call,” as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt gives his response to Taylor Lewan’s plea to patch over their past. An intriguing free agent name has been advanced for the Steelers to consider. We also are tracking Joe Mixon’s legal entanglement and the tracking future of...
Steelers TE Zach Gentry set to hit free agency after gradually becoming bigger part of offense
There might not be any greater “bro-mance” in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room than Zach Gentry and Pat Freiermuth. So when the Steelers posted a sideline interaction of the two tight ends from a December game that involved each saying to the other, “I love you,” it was fitting. But...
First Call: Titans player seeks forgiveness for ‘spitting’ at T.J. Watt; Pitt-UNC got tense during and after the gameVideo
If Taylor Lewan really wants to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, he better start making good with one of the franchise’s star players. Tom Brady’s retirement brought some fond memories to mind for a former Steeler. Kurt Warner has fun with a tough anniversary in his career. The Penguins got an...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans sound off about Rashard Mendenhall, critics of Kenny Pickett, NFL officiating, politics in sports
Pittsburgh Steelers fans want to be critical of Rashard Mendenhall, but they don’t want criticism of the team. Ex-officials are analyzing how other ex-officials are criticizing NFL officiating. Readers want journalism without critical analysis. But everyone wants to be critical of me. Just another, typical week for “U mad, bro?”...
Free agent Robert Spillane loves playing for Steelers, wants chance to play every down
Robert Spillane uses a creative metaphor to describe the feeling a professional football player endures at the sudden end of a season. “I’ve tried to describe this to lots of people,” Spillane said the day after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent season ended, “and the best way I can is to...
First Call: Return of a Heinz Field ketchup bottle; Twitter doubts Tom Brady’s retirement; Calvin Austin III runs againVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a return of an Acrisure Stadium favorite and a potential return to the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Pitt and Penn State both have big games Wednesday night. Tuesday was an exciting evening in the Metropolitan Division. And some fans are a bit dubious of Tom Brady’s latest...
Tim Benz: Bengals LB Joseph Ossai isn’t acting like a media victim, so let’s stop trying to turn him into one
Fret not for Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Joseph Ossai. He’s been positioned as a media victim by Twitter. It’s the safest, most protected spot in the world. No one can criticize him now. I mean, apparently, no media member can even ask him a question without a “DEFCON 1” online rebuke....
Kenny Pickett ‘snubbed’ for Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley as Pro Bowl replacement — and it’s not going over well in Pittsburgh
Maybe someday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will get to a Pro Bowl. He’s a first-round pick. As a rookie, the Pitt grad won six games as a starter after the bye to help the Steelers to a 7-2 record down the stretch. Plus, he only threw one interception during...
Steelers’ WR3 over the 2nd half the season, Steven Sims makes case to keep role in ‘23
The longest passing play of what was arguably the biggest win of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season wasn’t thrown to whom you might expect. The clutch, skillful 28-yard catch over the middle at the two-minute warning of the Jan. 1 primetime victory at the rival Baltimore Ravens wasn’t by Diontae Johnson,...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward added to Pro Bowl roster
Cameron Heyward is about to get a chance to show off his dodgeball skills. Heyward, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime co-captain, was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster Tuesday. Heyward initially was listed as an alternate at defensive tackle, and he was summoned when Chris Jones became unavailable because his...
First Call: Pat Freiermuth says Steelers offense ‘didn’t have hots’; Cam Sutton wants to stay; NFL salary cap revealed
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Pat Freiermuth has an interesting detail about the Pittsburgh Steelers offense in 2022. Cornerback Cam Sutton expresses a desire to stay in Pittsburgh before hitting free agency. Plus, a Penn State wide receiver is starting to get some attention from scouts. Also, the NFL has revealed...
Via big plays, eye-popping catches, George Pickens delivered during rookie season for Steelers
By the nature of how quickly George Pickens showed he could be a playmaker in the NFL, it was fitting that he produced the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longest touchdown of the season in what was the final game as a rookie. After that win, during which he had a 31-yard score...
First Call: Pittsburgh products impact AFC, NFC title games; Steelers fans mock Mayor Gainey’s tweet congratulating Eagles
In Monday’s “First Call,” we learn of a linebacker the Pittsburgh Steelers are watching in advance of the NFL Draft. Brian Flores has been passed over for a job on an NFC coaching staff. There was a Pittsburgh imprint on the AFC and NFC Championship games. Adam “Pacman” Jones recalls...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: JuJu’s side hustle has been muted in Kansas City, and success followed
The Steelers are reportedly glad to be rid of JuJu Smith-Schuster because he’s “me-first.” They’re likely happy that Chase Claypool also left, citing similar reasons (and the second-round draft pick he fetched from Chicago, too). But Smith-Schuster is a decent receiver, as evidenced by 78 regular-season catches for Kansas City....
Steelers’ T.J. Watt withdraws from Pro Bowl to recover from lingering injuries
T.J. Watt won’t participate in this year’s Pro Bowl games so he can recover from injuries that nagged him during the 2022 season. Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano will replace the Steelers outside linebacker, who missed most of the first half of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. He...
Friday Football Footnotes: Art Rooney II says Steelers will keep Mitch Trubisky, pursue NFL Draft
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” looks at Mitch Trubisky’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also discuss the prospects of the city hosting the NFL draft, and potentially keeping the prospect of AFC Championship home games. Speaking of AFC Championship games, we also have an update on Patrick Mahomes’ injury...
Tim Benz: Ranking the Steelers’ 6 wins, 5 losses in home AFC Championship games
On Thursday, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II came out against the idea of having neutral site AFC and NFC Championship games. “I hate the idea,” Rooney said. “I don’t like that at all. My sense is that if you put that up for a vote it wouldn’t pass today,...
Art Rooney II mum on potential contract extension for Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin has two years remaining on his contract as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which historically is when he is in line to receive an extension. An exception occurred in 2021 when he was heading into the last year of his deal, and team president Art Rooney II gave...
Art Rooney II: Improved offense in 2nd half of season led to Matt Canada’s return as offensive coordinator
The way the Pittsburgh Steelers offense in general and rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett in particular finished the 2022 season were factors in the organization retaining offensive coordinator Matt Canada for another year. Given those strides the Steelers made, team president Art Rooney II said Thursday he didn’t want to start...
First Call: Another interview for Brian Flores; Steelers ‘unsung’ hero; Clint Hurdle on Bryan Reynolds
Thursday’s “First Call” has another job interview for Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores. One Steeler is highlighted as an “unsung hero” in the NFL. We recap another busy night in the Metropolitan Division while the Penguins were idle. And former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shares his thoughts on Bryan Reynolds....
U mad, bro?: Readers angry about Steelers criticism, Tremaine Edmunds speculation, Ivan Provorov column
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are still trying to rationalize another season without a playoff win. We’re already making excuses for the team chumping out in free agency. Some Pirates fans are dubious of Andrew McCutchen’s return. And my Ivan Provorov column was a big hit! What I mean by that is...
First Call: Comments from Bills GM as Steelers fans track Tremaine Edmunds news; Quincy Roche celebrates return
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some intriguing news concerning a potential Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent target. An ex-Steelers linebacker is coming back to Pittsburgh. The Pitt basketball team is set for an evenly matched ACC clash. And a former Robert Morris hockey player gets quite a conference honor. Keeping an eye out...
