Steelers/NFL category, Page 253
Madden Monday: Mitch Trubisky could be biggest factor if Steelers contend for playoffs
During many of our “Madden Monday” podcasts throughout this NFL offseason, Mark Madden and I have both expressed our skepticism about the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. But in this week’s edition, Madden advanced an optimistic scenario. And it has to do with new quarterback Mitch Trubisky. “Do you know the...
Mark Madden: NFL gets more distasteful in its rising popularity
The Toxic Twins are back at it. Marvel at their rare blend of stupidity and narcissism. (Actually, that’s a common combination.) “I still feel like I can put up big numbers, and I see what (other receivers) are getting paid,” Antonio Brown said. “I just wonder why my value isn’t...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s embrace of quarterback hype has many purposes
It’s not in the nature of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to feed media hype. Generally, the more spin a story is getting, the more Tomlin tends to downplay it. Not when it comes to the team’s ongoing study of this year’s draft-eligible quarterbacks, though. During NFL owners meetings interviews, Tomlin...
Steelers bring back former WVU safety, 1st-round pick Karl Joseph
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Thursday that they were bringing back one of their safeties. Not their former starter, though, who remains a free agent. Former West Virginia safety and NFL first-round pick Karl Joseph was brought back on a one-year deal. Joseph, 28, appeared in two games for the Steelers...
Domination of IM flag football inspired Steelers CB Levi Wallace to walk on at Alabama
The University of Alabama is known for having what is considered the best college football program in the country. And as a true freshman, new Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace dominated while playing on that campus. “It freaking felt like I was Lamar Jackson before Lamar Jackson,” Wallace said during...
First Call: Tyrann Mathieu says he got a call from Mike Tomlin; multiple theories on Bruce Arians’ latest ‘retirement’
A big-name free agent reveals that he has been in touch with the Steelers. We debate the reasons behind Bruce Arians’ latest retirement. Lamar Jackson is getting testy in Baltimore. Alex Goligoski just keeps on playing. And the New York Rangers just keep winning. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”...
U mad, bro?: Football fans attack overtime changes, ‘MNF’ booth; defend Steelers QB strategy; Kenny Pickett’s hands
We have quite the cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports fan complaints this week in “U mad, bro?” Folks are angry about NFL overtime and the new “Monday Night Football” booth. Pitt fans are getting defensive about Kenny Pickett. Steelers fans want to defend the wall when it comes to second guessing...
First Call: Steelers scouting under-the-radar QB prospect; Browns holding on Baker Mayfield; Ravens extend coach, not QB
Wednesday’s “First Call” introduces us to an off-the-radar quarterback that may be of interest to the Steelers. We’ve got updates from Baltimore and Cleveland on their QB situations. Eastern Conference chaos wasn’t restricted to the Penguins and Rangers Tuesday. And a familiar football name is coming back to Pittsburgh to...
Tim Benz: Something to love, something to hate about NFL’s overtime rules change
I suppose Steelers coach Mike Tomlin won’t be happy with the NFL rule change altering overtime in the playoffs. Then again, based on his comments Monday, Tomlin wasn’t all that happy with the rule as it stood last year anyway. Tomlin wanted to go back to old-fashioned, pre-2010 “sudden death”...
Ex-Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops puck for ceremonial faceoff before Penguins-Rangers game
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff before Tuesday’s game between the Penguins and New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby “won” the faceoff against Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow. During warmups, all the Penguins wore No. 7 jerseys in recognition...
After testing waters in free agency, Ahkello Witherspoon embraces return to Steelers secondary
Ahkello Witherspoon took a patient approach to his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it led to a starting job at cornerback by the end of the season. Things worked out so well for the 27-year-old cornerback that he used the same tactic in free agency. Witherspoon bided his...
6 recent Steelers starters remain unsigned on free-agent market
As a group, they combined to start 63 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Fourteen times over the years, these six players were designated as starters, and each either began last year’s training camp atop his positional depth chart or was acquired during the preseason with the intention of...
Mark Madden: Don’t expect a long suspension for Deshaun Watson
Quarterback Deshaun Watson had his introductory news conference as a member of the Cleveland Browns. It was absurd and awkward. How couldn’t it be? The self-righteous brigade wanted Watson to make a full confession to his alleged sexual transgressions in Houston, triggering a lifetime suspension by the NFL and renewed...
First Call: Mike Tomlin on his long-term coaching plans; ex-Steeler helps at Sam Howell’s pro day
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Mike Tomlin answers questions about his long-term future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. An ex-Steeler was spotted helping out a potential draft choice at his pro day. A wild game atop the Metropolitan Division. And Chris Archer has a new home. No focus on future For 50...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin makes a good case for a return of old-fashioned, sudden-death overtime
As the NFL seems to be scrambling for a new way to conduct overtime, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has an idea. Make everything old, new again. The current NFL overtime rule is that if the winner of the overtime coin flip goes down the field and scores a touchdown...
Steelers signing former Browns, Eagles LB Genard Avery to 1-year deal
To bolster the depth at outside linebacker, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran Genard Avery, formerly of the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, to a one-year contract. Avery, who turns 27 in April, was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2018 out of Memphis. He will compete for a...
Steelers, Kraft Heinz in talks over naming rights for North Shore stadium
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in talks with Kraft Heinz Co. over possibly extending the longstanding naming rights for the team’s North Shore stadium. The stadium has been named Heinz Field since it opened 21 years ago, the result of a 20-year, $57 million naming rights deal that was extended by...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin tells reporters he wants ‘action’ on minority hiring, prefers traditional OT
Mike Tomlin isn’t willing to express “confidence” minority hiring will increase in the NFL, and he’s stumping to avoid drastic change to the league’s overtime rules. While taking his turn of availability for NFL reporters at the league’s annual meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., Tomlin on Monday morning touched on...
First Call: Liberty’s coach thinks Steelers will take Malik Willis if available; Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert say QBs still on table in draft
Monday’s “First Call” checks in on Mason Rudolph’s state of mind as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback position remains up for grabs. One college coach thinks his quarterback could be Pittsburgh bound. Marc-Andre Fleury’s debut in Minnesota was a success. And there was no rest on Sunday for the NHL’s Eastern...
As market cools, Steelers need reinforcements at safety, receiver, running back
Almost two weeks after the legal tampering period opened and a dozen days after free agents could sign contracts, the NFL market predictably has slowed to a crawl. Most of the big name players already have signed and those who remain on the market are waiting for a satisfactory contract...
Steelers announce 2-year contract for CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Eight days after word of an agreement broke via a national report, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday formally announced a two-year contract extension with cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. Acquired via a trade late in training camp, the Steelers were Witherspoon’s third team over an eight-month span. He barely played the first...
Mark Madden: Steelers would be better served drafting a quarterback in 2023
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was at various college pro days making goo-goo eyes at quarterbacks. Liberty’s Malik Willis made Tomlin “giddy,” it was reported. Willis and Tomlin had dinner. Tomlin ate wings, just like a regular guy. (Then again, wings cost as much as steak right now.) Tomlin was said...
Tim Benz: Jacksonville reporter tips us off to a job new Steelers linebacker Myles Jack should avoid
When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired inside linebacker Joe Schobert from the Jacksonville Jaguars for just a sixth-round draft choice last summer, News 4 Jax sports anchor Jamal St. Cyr gave us a good breakdown as to why the Jags were willing to part with him for such a low price....
JuJu Smith-Schuster: ‘I had to choose Chiefs Kingdom’
During an Instagram Live interview with the NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti on Thursday, ex-Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tried to explain why he left Pittsburgh for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Bisciotti (@taylorbisciotti) “Going with the Steelers and...
First Call: 1 team may have stoked the price on Chuks Okorafor; Steelers attend another quarterback’s pro day
Thursday’s “First Call” tells us which quarterback prospect lured top members of the Pittsburgh Steelers to his pro day. We find out what team may have primed the bidding on Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor. One report suggests the Steelers are keeping an eye on the safety market in free agency....
