Steelers/NFL category, Page 377
Maurkice Pouncey (personal), 3 others (‘minor’ injuries) miss Steelers’ 1st padded practiceVideo
Something resembling normalcy returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, as 76 players strapped on a full practice uniform for the first padded practice of 2020. But four starting-caliber players were not taking part in the workout at Heinz Field. Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey was excused for personal reasons...
Cam Heyward on contract talks with Steelers: Takes ‘two to tango’
With the NFL season set to open in four weeks, Cameron Heyward awaits a contract extension he once thought might have been finalized with the Pittsburgh Steelers months ago. Heyward said Monday “nothing of substance” has taken place regarding extending a contract that expires in March. Heyward is entering the...
JuJu Smith-Schuster: ‘I would love to be a Steeler,’ won’t comment on contract talksVideo
They grow up so fast. It was only late 2017 that JuJu Smith-Schuster wasn’t even old enough to step into a casino legally, and he didn’t yet have a driver’s license. Now, as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2020 training camp began in earnest Monday, what could be Smith-Schuster’s final season with...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh sports history shows how long a full Penguins rebuild may take
The Penguins have already successfully pulled off a mini-rebuild within their current era of championship success. What’s now being called the “core three” of the Penguins team — Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin — used to have a much broader membership. The perception was that “core” also used to...
First Call: Hall of Famer hopes his team signs Antonio Brown, former Penguins step up
Monday’s “First Call” features a Hall of Famer who is making a pitch to sign Antonio Brown. A few NFL.com lists aren’t very flattering of the Steelers. And a pair of former Penguins had some key contributions in NHL wins Sunday. A.B. in L.A. Isaac Bruce knows receivers. He was...
Madden Monday: ‘Wouldn’t shock me if they move Bryan Rust.’ And is freelancing Minkah Fitzpatrick a ‘diva’ move?
We might be short on sports right now, but Mark Madden isn’t short on opinions. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark and I get into great detail about the Penguins’ looming offseason. General manager Jim Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan both make it sound like roster adjustments are...
Leaner Benny Snell Jr. could be in line for increased role in Steelers’ backfield
In this uniquely 2020 way, the heads that were turned and the eyebrows that were raised were virtual. They were from afar. They were done not in person but by those scrolling through a Twitter account. But make no mistake, when the Pittsburgh Steelers released the first photo of Benny...
Reconfigured Steelers offensive line looks for improvement after ‘pretty terrible’ season
One of the more memorable quotes from Ben Roethlisberger over his 16-plus seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers came as a 35-year-old in 2017. During the postgame glow of a victory at Kansas City that came a week after Roethlisberger threw five interceptions during a loss that had some wondering if...
Steelers ready to call on Devin Bush to take on bigger role this season
Devin Bush did just about everything asked of a 21-year-old rookie inside linebacker plopped into the middle of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense last season. From a statistical standpoint, Bush had the best start to a Steelers career of any player at his position. He led the team with 109 tackles,...
First Call: ‘Pacman’ Jones now suspects Joey Porter in Steelers jersey shipment; big challenge for ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger
Friday’s “First Call” features developments on Adam “Pacman” Jones versus Steelers cornerback Joe Haden and a big challenge for “Big Ben” Roethlisberger. Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien has a health scare, and another MLB pitcher gets ejected from the stands for arguing balls and strikes. • • • Joe vs....
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin ready to get most out of practice time once hitting begins
If the coronavirus pandemic had not altered the NFL landscape, Monday would represent just another ordinary practice day in the training camp grind for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They likely would be holding a morning walkthrough followed by a two-hour practice in the late afternoon at Saint Vincent College. They would...
Steelers activate RB Jaylen Samuels from reserve/covid-19 list
Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that he expects to have a healthy roster of players when the first padded practice begins next week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Running back Jaylen Samuels will be part of that group. Samuels was activated Thursday from the reserve/covid-19 group, making him eligible to practice....
‘First Call’: ‘Pacman’ Jones cusses out Steelers CB Joe Haden, burns a box of his jerseys
For Thursday’s “First Call,” TMZ has video of former Cincinnati Bengals annoyance Adam “Pacman” Jones burning a box full of Steelers jerseys. There are no more words necessary. And if we did use any more words as quotes from Pacman, they’d probably all have to be censored or edited out...
‘U mad, bro?’: Penguins fans shred Evgeni Malkin, Matt Murray; Steelers grumbling, too
You knew that venom would be spewed toward the Penguins in “U mad, bro?” this week. The team was dreadful in its four-game, qualifying-round elimination at the hands of the 24th-seeded Montreal Canadiens last week. Fans are ticked off. They should be. My only question was, “Which Penguins were going...
Former WVU star, ‘consummate pro’ Wendell Smallwood an add to Steelers’ RB room
Five years ago, he was in a starring role a couple hours from Pittsburgh down I-79. In 2017, he contributed to a Super Bowl-winning team based a few hours east on I-76. After spending last year about four hours southeast on I-70, Wendell Smallwood is plying his trade in Pittsburgh....
Cancer survivor James Conner never considered opting out of Steelers’ 2020 seasonVideo
Given his medical history, James Conner had every reason to be wary about playing football as a high-risk candidate to contract covid-19. As a cancer survivor, Conner had perhaps the best reason of any NFL player for wanting to opt out of the 2020 season. Conner didn’t waver in his...
Steelers coach indicates dearth of 2020 on-field work could render NFL schemes more vanilla
Pittsburgh Steelers training camps of the recent past have been on-field labs for experimenting. Like offseason and preseason practices for all NFL teams, the Steelers have debuted personnel packages, tried players in different positions and even moved some into new hybrid roles. But in 2020 with no on-field organized team...
First Call: Suddenly strong Steelers secondary still has questions
The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary surprisingly blossomed into one of the best units in the NFL during 2019. That doesn’t mean it is without questions heading into 2020, though. For Wednesday’s “First Call,” we examine five that stand out. How do the Steelers make the most of Minkah? After being acquired...
Steelers’ Steven Nelson aims to be recognized as among NFL’s best cornerbacksVideo
Steven Nelson cracked a smile that showed he was more humored than annoyed. Entering his sixth NFL season and coming off his best as a pro, the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback was addressed by a reporter with a question that referenced his “lack of size” as “not the biggest cornerback.” “I...
Steelers activate CB Justin Layne from covid-19 list, release CB Breon Borders
The Pittsburgh Steelers activated cornerback Justin Layne off of the reserve/covid-19 list Tuesday, leaving only one player on the designated list created this year out of respect to coronavirus concerns. Layne, a third-round pick last year, is expected to again fill a reserve role on defense while playing extensively on...
First Call: Michael Keaton pans Pirates again, Cam Heyward warns AFC North QBsVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives a frightening perspective to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bad start. Michael Keaton takes another swipe at the franchise. And Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward is giving a little jab to the quarterbacks in his division. Tweet from Wayne Manor Pittsburgh native and award-winning actor Michael Keaton once...
Tim Benz: David DeCastro understands O-line changes for 2020, braces for more in ’21
Amidst two years of non-playoff results, significant injury and roster tumult on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, one thing has remained relatively steady. The offensive line. Change is coming in 2020, however. Alejandro Villanueva will remain as the left tackle. Center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro will look to...
Steelers offense seeks to bounce back after ‘pretty terrible’ season
A “tough year.” “Not fun.” “Pretty terrible.” If 2020 has been miserable for most everyone on the planet, 2019 wasn’t that much better for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. During each of the five seasons leading up to 2019, that proud unit had ranked among the top seven in the NFL...
Steelers Pro Bowler David DeCastro never considered opting out, ‘not afraid’ of health risksVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of only three teams that did not have a single player opt out of playing this season, as is permitted in 2020 by the NFL out of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. One of the Steelers’ highest-paid and longest-tenured players said he didn’t give...
First Call: Steelers facing 2021 cap trauma. Will Flyers win the Stanley Cup? MLB brawl.
Monday’s “First Call” profiles an ugly situation for the Steelers salary cap. We also get some fantasy football insight on JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner. Plus, we’ll show you a baseball brawl. The Flyers are in prime position to end a 45-year Stanley Cup drought. And questions remain about Marc-Andre...
