Steelers/NFL category, Page 197
Tim Benz: Steelers finished strong in ’22, but their trend of awful starts needs to change
The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2022 season winning seven of nine games. As a result, some NFL fans and media members are lobbying for Mike Tomlin to win Coach of the Year. That’s ridiculous. Tomlin had a squad that was 9-7-1 last year and lost in the first round of...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger wants this Steelers TE to get more involved; Ravens keep Roquan Smith; crazy night in Metro
Ben Roethlisberger wants a certain Pittsburgh Steelers pass catcher to have an increased role next season. Former Steeler James Washington may have a new home soon. Tuesday night was on tilt in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division. Pitt and Duquesne are both on the men’s basketball stage Wednesday. And the Baltimore...
Steelers sign 10 to reserve/future contracts, including 9 of their 16-man practice squad
Nine of the players who finished the season on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-man practice squad were formally kept in the organization for the offseason when they were signed to reserve/future contracts Tuesday. The moves keep the players on the 90-man offseason roster. The Steelers on Tuesday afternoon announced deals with...
5 ways the Steelers can build around Kenny Pickett, return to postseason in 2023
The easiest way for the Pittsburgh Steelers to return to the playoffs in 2023 is to take an approach coach Mike Tomlin didn’t use this season. He needs to have his established starting quarterback under center from the first snap of the opener. He didn’t take that route with Kenny...
CBS NFL rules analyst on Cam Heyward’s roughing-the-passer call vs. Browns: ‘It was an overreaction’
During his weekly “Zebra Talk” segment on WDVE, CBS NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore described Sunday’s controversial roughing-the-passer penalty against Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward as an “overreaction.” The penalty against Heyward came on a second down at the Pittsburgh 11-yard line. Heyward appeared to simply tackle Deshaun Watson as...
First Call: Mike Tomlin calms talk about Cam Heyward’s status; Terrell Edmunds ponders ‘package deal’ with brother
Tuesday’s “First Call” checks on the future of Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward. We also get an update on the NFL’s Edmunds brothers and their plans. Gambling odds are already set for next year’s college football national championship game. The Penguins have a pair of tricky Western Conference teams coming...
Tim Benz: For Steelers, the ‘standard’ is now … pretty standard
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a 9-8 team in a league that wants everybody to be 9-8. There are 32 teams in the NFL, and 16 of them finished with win totals between seven and nine games. There are 16 teams in the American Football Conference. The Steelers finished eighth, one...
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth’s knee injury not significant
Pat Freiermuth had the benefit of a long offseason in the event the knee injury he suffered in the season finale was significant. He certainly must pleased he won’t have to utilize all of it. Freiermuth, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ standout tight end, suffered what had the look of a potentially...
Alex Highsmith likely the lone candidate for offseason contact extension from Steelers
This past offseason, three significant members of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster were given big-money contract extensions. This coming offseason, there’s seemingly only one player who fits the criteria to receive such a multiyear contract. And the timing might not be better for Alex Highsmith, the outside linebacker who in his...
Steelers criticized for CPR-like act after sackVideo
Some on social media have expressed disappointment or anger toward a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers players for appearing to mime a CPR act after a sack late during Sunday’s season-ending victory. In an apparent celebratory act that the Steelers have, at various times, performed this season after big defensive plays,...
Robert Spillane, Terrell Edmunds among Steelers’ 18 UFAs expressing eagerness to come back
It’s a rite of passage in the days after a season ends for a professional sports team. In public comments with the cameras and recorders rolling, soon-to-be free agents express how much they love being part of their current team and that they’d love to be back. Monday at UPMC...
Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin is ‘great’ just because. And that’ll have to do
The avalanche of praise began not long after the clock hit three zeroes in the Steelers’ victory Sunday: “Mike Tomlin is Coach of the Year, end of story. One of the best coaching jobs ever.” — ex-NFL GM Michael Lombardi, currently a podcaster. “Mike Tomlin is incredible. He has not...
Mike Tomlin won’t commit on retaining Matt Canada; Browns requested to interview Brian Flores
Mike Tomlin made clear two things when asked whether there will be any changes to the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff. One, he wasn’t going to use Monday’s season wrap-up news conference to divulge any details on whether he was considering any changes. Two, rest assured, head coach won’t be one...
Madden Monday: Reflecting on Steelers in 2022 — ‘I just don’t see it as a successful season’
The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2022 regular season in what has become very routine territory for them of late. At 9-8, they are .500-ish. This year that’s not good enough to make the playoffs. Last year 9-7-1 was barely good enough to qualify. All too familiar is the fact that...
Steelers vs. Browns: What they’re saying in Cleveland after 28-14 loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not headed to the playoffs. But their AFC North rival Cleveland Browns had nothing to do with ruining any postseason dreams. Both teams head into the offseason trending in different directions after the Browns’ 28-14 loss Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers began the season with...
First Call: Steelers get top pick in 2nd round; Watt brothers honor J.J.; Bengals mock NFL’s coin-flip idea
Monday’s “First Call” sees the Steelers’ draft fortunes improve. Derek and T.J. Watt reach out from Pittsburgh to support their retiring big brother in Arizona. We have AFC playoff odds. The Cincinnati Bengals make fun of the NFL’s coin-flip idea. And Jets coach Robert Saleh apologizes to (almost) everybody for...
Steelers relish keeping streak of non-losing seasons alive for Mike Tomlin
The goal of making playoffs? That was left unfulfilled. But the Pittsburgh Steelers were pleased with their consolation prize of continuing the franchise’s streak of non-losing seasons. Sunday’s 28-14 victory against the Cleveland Browns lifted the Steelers to a 9-8 finish. While that record won’t win the organization any trophies,...
Steelers win 7 of final 9 games but still fall short of postseason
Emotions were mixed inside the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room Sunday. The elation of winning a fourth consecutive game was tempered by the reality that the Steelers’ season won’t be extended into the playoffs. Despite a 28-14 victory against the Cleveland Browns that improved the Steelers’ record to 9-8, they fell...
Feats of Strength: Some individual applause for beating Browns, but big picture grievances as Steelers miss playoffs
Our biggest grievance this week is that this will be our final “Airing of Grievances” for the 2022-23 season. That’s because the Steelers didn’t get all the help they needed to qualify for the playoffs, despite beating the Cleveland Browns, 28-14, at Acrisure Stadium Sunday. But that’s not entirely true,...
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth leaves game with knee injury
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth suffered a knee injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns and did not return. Sunday’s game — a 28-14 victory — concluded the Steelers’ season, so the seriousness of Freiermuth’s injury perhaps is less relevant than if the team...
Steelers hit Vegas for 1st time; 2023 opponent schedule set
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas. It’s not just a sign along a median on a thoroughfare through that arid Nevada city. It’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers were (figuratively) told by way of their victory in their season finale Sunday. Based on the NFL’s predetermined schedule rotation, only three of the...
Steelers’ longest-tenured player, Cam Heyward: ‘Never know if (management) wants me back’
Less than an hour after a game in which he showed he still has it at age 33, Cameron Heyward was hesitant to express the Pittsburgh Steelers were committed to bringing him back for a 13th season. “I want to take time to think about what’s going on,” Heyward said...
Steelers keep their end of bargain, but Dolphins’ win will keep them out of playoffs
Just when it looked as if the Pittsburgh Steelers might shuffle off to Buffalo for the most unlikely of playoff appearances, they had their hopes gutted Sunday with the ferocity of Lucy yanking a football away from Charlie Brown. The Steelers held up their end of the bargain with a...
Steelers, fans show support for Damar Hamlin before, during game vs. Browns
The four white “3” digits marking the 30-yard-lines on each side of the field were painted with subtle outlines of red and blue, but that wasn’t the only recognition for Damar Hamlin during Sunday’s game at Acrisure Stadium. Hamlin, the former star at Pitt and Central Catholic, remains in a...
Steelers at almost-full health, but ILB Mark Robinson in uniform again vs. Browns
Despite being listed as questionable on the final league-mandated status report of the week, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and inside linebacker Myles Jack were in uniform and active for Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers regular-season finale. Fitzpatrick suffered an ankle injury and Jack aggravated a groin ailment during last week’s win at the...
