Steelers/NFL category, Page 322
Tim Benz: If Ben Roethlisberger splits from the Steelers, where might he play if he doesn’t retire?
If the Pittsburgh Steelers eventually decide to release Ben Roethlisberger, the question remains if he would want to continue his career in a new city or retire. Should such a scenario develop, the most likely destination appeared to be the Indianapolis Colts. But then the Colts decided to make a...
Backup plan remains fluid for Steelers at quarterback position
Some NFL observers saw the Pittsburgh Steelers sign a former first-round draft pick last month and projected him to be an heir apparent to soon-to-be 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger. General manager Kevin Colbert, the man responsible for offering Dwayne Haskins a futures contract, took a pragmatic approach to the signing of...
NFL increases salary cap minimum to $180 million
The NFL has increased the salary cap to a minimum of $180 million for the 2021 season. The league and the NFL Players Association had previously set a minimum of $175 million because of revenue losses incurred during the coronavirus pandemic. In a memo sent to clubs Thursday and obtained...
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark signs extension with ESPN
Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who’s been a voice on ESPN since 2015, is going to be on the network a little longer. ESPN announced Wednesday that Clark signed a multi-year extension with the network (how many years exactly weren’t mentioned.) Clark will be a year-round presence as a...
First Call: Potential destinations for Steelers RB James Conner; another AFC contender wants J.J. Watt
Thursday’s “First Call” speculates about the future of Steelers running back James Conner. We celebrate Steelers greats, Jack Ham and Jerome Bettis. A candidate has emerged on the Deshaun Watson trade block. And yet another AFC franchise wants to be a part of the J.J. Watt conversation. Shufflin’ off to...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans rant about Maurkice Pouncey retiring and all the J.J. Watt talk
This week’s “U mad, bro?” has Steelers fans popping off about J.J. Watt and Maurkice Pouncey. Penguins fans speak up about Jim Rutherford. And cancel culture wants a piece of William Shakespeare. Lord, what fools these mortals be. We start with Tony. He hated last week’s “U mad, bro?” “All...
Kevin Colbert more concerned about improving Steelers than his contract status
Kevin Colbert has been working on a year-to-year basis as general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers since he requested not to have his contract extended in July 2019. Colbert, who is 64 and has worked for the Steelers since 2000, has a deal that runs through May and the conclusion...
Steelers GM Kevin Colbert would ‘love’ to find a way to keep Bud Dupree
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ salary-cap woes are well documented, and with 18 players set to hit unrestricted free agency in a month, the roster in 2021 is bound to look vastly different than the one that lost to Cleveland in the AFC wild-card round. General manager Kevin Colbert would love to...
Kevin Colbert: Much work remains to resolve Ben Roethlisberger’s future with Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger remains the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That much general manager Kevin Colbert could confirm Wednesday. The question he couldn’t answer, however, was whether Roethlisberger will remain in that role in a month. Colbert was non-committal when asked about Roethlisberger and his future with the organization. He...
Detroit Lions hire former Steeler Antwaan Randle El to coach wide receivers
The Detroit Lions have hired wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. Detroit coach Dan Campbell added the former NFL receiver to his staff Wednesday after he was with the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past two seasons as an offensive assistant. Randle El was drafted by Pittsburgh in...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster recruiting J.J. Watt to Steelers; Mason Rudolph ‘Instagram official’ with Eugenie Bouchard
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at the latest Steeler to tempt J.J. Watt to Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph finds himself in another celebrity romance. The Pirates’ misery loves company. And video of Adam “Pacman” Jones’ barroom brawl video has hit the internet. JuJu woos J.J. Other teams may be courting...
Tim Benz: What a free agent contract for JuJu Smith-Schuster may look like and why the projections make sense
If the Steelers were to prioritize signing receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, what would that contract look like? And what other teams might set the market? As mentioned in a recent edition of “First Call,” NFL insider John Clayton speculated on 93.7 The Fan that the Las Vegas Raiders would be a...
J.J. Watt to Browns instead of Steelers? Signals from Cleveland and Houston lean that way.
Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt may not join his brothers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he may come to the AFC North. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watt is “seriously considering” a contract with the Cleveland Browns. Because, according to sources she has, the Browns have salary...
Steelers hire Grady Brown to coach defensive backs
Just like the previous time Mike Tomlin hired a defensive backs coach, he is turning to a long-time college assistant. The hiring of Grady Brown became official Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced. Brown replaces Tom Bradley, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. Bradley joined the Steelers in 2018...
First Call: Does Steelers RB James Conner need a fresh start?; Penguins TV ratings boost
Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with the prospect of a fresh start for Steelers running back James Conner. More problems for Steelers fan-favorite Adam “PacMan” Jones. Pitt’s basketball team has an all-too-familiar look to it. And Penguins television ratings are off to a strong start. Rejuvenating James Heading into NFL free...
Tim Benz: Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement frames an unfortunate reality for some Steelers stars
The retirement of center Maurkice Pouncey raises an unfortunate reality for this current era of Steelers. We are witnessing a batch of truly accomplished players who may never get to play in a Super Bowl. And that may dilute their position in the pantheon of Steelers legends. Pouncey was on...
Steelers preseason opener set for Aug. 5 in Hall of Fame Game
The Hall of Fame Game, involving the Pittsburgh Steelers, officially has a date and time. The game, which was not played last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, will kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5. The Steelers will play the Dallas Cowboys — the two scheduled participants from...
First Call: Steelers are favorites to sign J.J. Watt; celebrating Jaromir Jagr’s birthday
Monday’s “First Call” looks at who is chasing the Steelers to sign J.J. Watt on the gambling odds boards. A grim assessments of the Steelers by a pair of national outlets. We celebrate Jaromir Jagr’s birthday. Plus a Marc Andre-Fleury shutout. No. 49 for No. 68 Jaromir Jagr’s birthday is...
Madden Monday: Evgeni Malkin’s future; might T.J. Watt eventually follow J.J. instead of the other way around?
Last week on his 105.9 The X radio show, Mark Madden said he was hearing that Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was not going to be traded and that an extension may be looming. But during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, based on some new information, those assertions have been tempered....
Tim Benz: 4 questions to answer before you buy that Steelers J.J. Watt jersey
Now that three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has been released by the Houston Texans, that news has opened the spigot for speculation that he may join the Steelers to play with his brothers, T.J. and Derek. While such a move would do wonders for social media...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Why would Ben Roethlisberger want to return to the Steelers?
Ben Roethlisberger has made $253.2 million in football earnings. So, take the $19 million he’s due if he plays in 2021 out of the equation. Roethlisberger doesn’t need the money. Maurkice Pouncey retired. He and Roethlisberger are tight. Vance McDonald retired. He and Roethlisberger are tight. Alejandro Villanueva will leave...
Steelers teammates past, present, NFL world react to Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement
Twenty-four members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five more have been voted into the exclusive Canton, Ohio, club and are due for formal induction later this year. Aside from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there arguably wasn’t an active Steelers player...
J.J. Watt released by Texans; brother T.J. appears to campaign to bring him to Steelers
The first domino fell in the sequence of events that could unite all three of the NFL’s famed Watt brothers on one NFL team. Plenty of hurdles remain, but T.J. Watt appeared to openly campaign for older brother J.J. to join him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three-time NFL defensive player...
9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey retiring from Steelers
Citing the “sacrifice” playing pro football carries on his life, nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike, made their joint announcement via Maurkice Pouncey’s longtime teammate and friend, Ramon Foster, on Foster’s verified Twitter page. Foster,...
First Call: Penguins may extend Evgeni Malkin; potential destinations for Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Friday’s “First Call” will quell concerns of those who were worried that Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin might get traded. Or, on the other hand, it might anger those who wanted to see him moved. Also, Tom Brady is scheduled for surgery. One outlet predicts that Antonio Brown is staying...
