Steelers/NFL category, Page 430
Tim Benz: Feel no shame; wallow in Antonio Brown’s self-imposed misfortune
This was too easy. I almost feel guilty about playing the “I told you so” card. Almost. Gonna leave this here for a while @TribSports @TribLIVE— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) September 20, 2019 Yeah, predicting Antonio Brown’s self-created demise in New England wasn’t exactly a stroke of genius. Especially based...
Four Downs: Mason Rudolph’s history suggests he’ll feature deep ball in Steelers offense
1. Deep Mason-ry It’s a small sample size, sure, and a skewed one, considering most of the data is from preseason games. But Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph went into the draft with a reputation as a great deep-ball quarterback, and thus far he’s proven unafraid to throw it downfield....
Kevin Gorman: For Steelers to come back, it starts by winning without Big Ben
Before we write off the Pittsburgh Steelers just because Ben Roethlisberger is out for the remainder of the season, it’s worth a reminder that they are 0-2 with him as the starter. The Steelers get their first glimpse of a post-Roethlisberger era Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) at...
Steelers make ‘some alterations’ in bid to address West Coast woesVideo
Were he alive today, Horace Greeley would tell the Pittsburgh Steelers not to heed his most famous quotation. When the noted 1800s author and statesman uttered his legendary phrase regarding the country’s migration — “Go West, young man” — he most certainly did not have the Steelers in mind. If...
Mark Madden: Complementary players must step up for Steelers offense to succeed
“When in doubt, write about the quarterback.” A wise, old sportswriter said that. The Steelers quarterback situation is obviously in major flux. Between that and the acquisition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, other headaches are lost in the shuffle. Like James Conner’s pathetic 2.6-yard rushing average. JuJu Smith-Schuster not yet blossoming...
Twitter runs wild after Patriots release Antonio Brown
The Patriots released Antonio Brown on Friday less than two weeks after he signed following his release from the Oakland Raiders. Brown has been accused of rape in a lawsuit by a former trainer. He is also accused of exposing himself to a painter he had hired, according to the...
Joe Haden, James Conner in, Vince Williams out for Steelers vs. 49ers
At the end of a week in which the Pittsburgh Steelers lost their starting quarterback, the rest of the news regarding their injuries was more positive. Cornerback Joe Haden, running back James Conner and tight end Vance McDonald are starters who missed practice time this week but were given the...
Steelers’ Ola Adeniyi figures to get shot rushing passers
It took an injured-reserve stint, a separate knee surgery, the loss of a peer via waivers and a foot injury to one of the players ahead of him on the depth chart. But at last, it appears as if it’s Ola’s time. Ola Adeniyi likely enters Sunday’s game at the...
Steelers rookie WR Diontae Johnson: Coaches ‘told me I’m the starter’Video
There has been a change in the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers depth chart. Rookie third-round pick Diontae Johnson confirmed he is getting an increased role in the offense beginning with Sunday’s game at the San Francisco 49ers. “(Offensive coaches) just put me in there and told me I’m the starter...
Report: Antonio Brown sent ‘intimidating’ texts to accuser
A woman who alleges former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her said she received what she described as intimidating text messages from a number associated with Brown, according to Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated published an article this week detailing a few allegations against Brown,...
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph discusses play-calling ahead of 49ers matchup
We take a quick tour around the Steelers locker room before they leave for San Francisco. Hear from Mason Rudolph as he gets ready to make his first start in place of Ben Roethlisberger Sunday afternoon. Some of his comments are interesting, particularly when I asked him about changing plays...
Tim Benz: 49ers tight end George Kittle could crush Steelers
George Kittle must be good. His numbers are off to a slow start in 2019. Yet everybody I’ve talked to says he’s playing better than ever. Over the last eight games of 2018, the San Francisco 49ers tight end averaged 99 yards per game. So far in 2019, he’s only...
Kevin Gorman: Randy Fichtner focused on saving Steelers’ seasonVideo
When Ben Roethlisberger left Sunday’s game against Seattle with an elbow injury, Randy Fichtner didn’t blink. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator immediately turned to Mason Rudolph and asked the backup quarterback for his favorite plays so he knew what to call in the second half. Never mind that Rudolph never...
James Conner, Vance McDonald healing up for Steelers’ game against 49ers
With one day of practice remaining before their game against the San Francisco 49ers, it is becoming clearer which injured players will suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Running back James Conner (knee) and tight end Vance McDonald (back) were full practice participants on Thursday. Conner did not...
Vance McDonald returns to full Steelers practice
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald said his injured back felt better and confirmed that he returned to full-practice status Thursday. Sunday, McDonald will return to San Francisco, 25 months after his trade from the 49ers. The seven-year veteran doesn’t sound as if he’s all that nostalgic about coming back...
Steelers’ Keith Butler ecstatic over Minkah Fitzpatrick tradeVideo
When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins late Monday night, Keith Butler’s job as defensive coordinator instantly got easier. It would be an understatement to say Butler was overjoyed when he learned the Steelers would be acquiring the No. 11 overall pick from the...
First Call: Gerrit Cole makes more history; Steelers fans OK about life after Ben Roethlisberger?
In Thursday’s “First Call,” the Browns are banged up. Gerrit Cole reaches a rare pitching milestone. Some Steelers fans don’t understand the loss of Ben Roethlisberger. Cole keeps counting As things keep getting worse in Pittsburgh, Gerrit Cole keeps getting better in Houston. The former Pirates starter got his 300th...
Why 2-0 49ers might be for real as 0-2 Steelers travel to face them
The Steelers started against the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks with Tom Brady and Russell Wilson at quarterback. The San Francisco 49ers started their season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals with Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton at quarterback. Maybe it shouldn’t surprise us that San...
Tim Benz: Steelers a long way from possible repeat of 2004 magic
The comparisons are obvious. The team was coming off a non-playoff season. The veteran starter hurt his elbow in a Week 2 loss. The reigns were handed over to a first-time starter many thought could be the franchise heir apparent. Things felt bleak. Feels familiar, right? It’s 2004 all over...
Kevin Gorman: Can Minkah Fitzpatrick solve Steelers’ communication issues?Video
Right before Minkah Fitzpatrick’s first practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers, strong safety Terrell Edmunds looked at his new teammate and offered a not-so-necessary reminder. “ ‘T’ looked at me and said, ‘Make sure we talk. Make sure we communicate,’ ” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s really important at safety to communicate, make...
James Conner, Joe Haden, Vince Williams do not practice for Steelers
Running back James Conner, cornerback Joe Haden and linebacker Vince Williams were starters who sat out Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday because of injury. Backups/special teamers Roosevelt Nix and Antony Chickillo also sat out of the first session of the week in preparation for Sunday’s game at the San Francisco 49ers....
A ‘humbled’ Paxton Lynch hopes to show Steelers he’s still a 1st-round worthy QB
Paxton Lynch smiled warmly, recognizing his path over the past 3½ years. “I never really had a big ego or felt like I needed to be humbled,” Lynch said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday, “but I have gotten a humbling.” That’s OK, though, for the former first-round drafted quarterback. Just...
Minkah Fitzpatrick comfortable at free safety in first Steelers practice
Minkah Fitzpatrick learned about his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers “30 minutes before everybody else did,” but the second-year defensive back welcomed a fresh start. Fitzpatrick was dealt a day after he formally requested a trade from the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers sent a 2020 first-round draft pick and the...
Mark Madden: Desperate trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick won’t save Steelers season
Yinzer Nation loves the trade that brought safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami to the Steelers. That’s because Yinzer Nation can talk itself into anything. So can the Steelers, apparently, because dealing for Fitzpatrick was designed to save this season. That’s an impossible task given the 0-2 start and Ben Roethlisberger’s...
Allegheny County DA: Local prosecution of Antonio Brown unlikely
Local sexual assault allegations made against Antonio Brown, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, likely will not be prosecuted, a spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday. “Our office, along with the Allegheny County Police Department, made contact with counsel for the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit involving Antonio...
