Steelers/NFL category, Page 456
Benny Snell out to show Steelers he can do everything
There is little questioning Benny Snell’s résumé as a runner. The production the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie fourth-round pick had in college at Kentucky proves as much: sixth in rushing yards (1,449) among all of the FBS and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (16) among Power 5 conference running backs...
Tim Benz: NFL playoff expansion actually makes some sense
In a perfect world, the National Football League would trim its preseason by at least two games, keep its regular season at 16 games and leave the playoff bracket alone. But it’s far from a perfect world, even in the NFL. The collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season....
After ‘valuable’ OTAs, Steelers QB Mason Rudolph looking ahead to more on-job training
Ben Roethlisberger’s regular presence at organized team activities this spring typically would portend less work with the first-team offense for the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterbacks. Mason Rudolph, however, said the opposite was true this year. The second-year passer from Oklahoma State said he got more work with the “ones” than...
Rookie Ian Berryman latest to take on Jordan Berry in quest to be Steelers punter
When the draft ended early in the evening April 27, Ian Berryman nervously sat through some excruciating moments. “It felt like an eternity,” said Berryman, then a recent graduate of Western Carolina, “but it was probably like 5 minutes after the draft they called.” The “they” was the Pittsburgh Steelers....
Bud Dupree unaware Steelers could have pulled 5th-year option
When the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up the fifth-year option on linebacker Bud Dupree’s contract in April 2018, they had 11 months to change their mind. The $9.232 million value of that option represented life-changing money for Dupree, essentially doubling his career earnings as long as he remained on the roster...
Former Vanderbilt RB Ralph Webb looks to impress in 2nd chance with Steelers
One of the dark horse candidates for a Pittsburgh Steelers roster spot at the back end of the running back depth chart was a highly productive rusher at a lower-profile SEC East school. And there’s Benny Snell, too. Snell, a rookie fourth-round pick, had a school-record 3,873 rushing yards at...
Steelers’ Chuks Okorafor slims down in pursuit of starting gig
Seeing Chuks Okorafor for the first time in almost five months, it stands out almost immediately. And not necessarily just because Okorafor has a new, tighter haircut that makes him appear more streamlined. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year offensive tackle has slimmed down. “I’m down a little bit,” Okorafor said of...
U mad, bro? Raging Reds fans, puking Pirates fans, Le’Veon Bell defenders
There is a disturbing lack of “Phil DePhense Phoundation” emails in “U mad, bro?” this week. Don’t they know “the media is trying to run Phil out of town” again? But their absence has been filled by angry Pirates fans, raging Reds fans and NFL fans who want to call...
Deadline nearing to bid on Steelers game-worn memorabilia
Time is running out for Pittsburgh Steelers memorabilia collectors to bid on game-worn jerseys sported by some of their favorite players. A spring collection of memorabilia at lelands.com that features 30 Steelers-related items has a Friday deadline at 10 p.m. for collectors to submit bids. The auction began May 7....
Kevin Gorman: It’s time Steelers made coaching secondary a priority
The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed many positions of need through free agency and the NFL Draft, whether it was signing Mark Barron, Donte Moncrief and Steven Nelson or selecting Devin Bush, Diontae Johnson and Justin Layne. One of the most important offseason acquisitions was hiring Teryl Austin as secondary coach, adding...
‘Mack’ linebacker Ulysees Gilbert focusing on the details as rookie at first Steelers OTAs
Pittsburgh Steelers sixth-round draft pick Ulysees Gilbert has been taking reps at “Mack” inside linebacker during organized team activities the past three weeks, the rookie said Thursday from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “It’s kind of what I did in college, weak-side ‘backer,” Gilbert said. “(But) inside linebacker is inside...
B.J. Finney serving as high-priced insurance policy for Steelers
David DeCastro’s absence from organized team activities has provided B.J. Finney prolonged first-team work at right guard. When DeCastro returns — presumable next week at mandatory minicamp — Finney will go back to his customary spot with the second string. And that’s just fine with the fourth-year interior offensive lineman....
After season with so few turnovers, Steelers piling up interceptions at OTAs
A route jumped along the sideline for an interception, prompting a sideline full of gold-jerseyed defensive players to jump up, whoop and cheer. Two practice-rep snaps later, a defender made a play on a ball, deflecting it up in the air, where Mike Hilton sprinted and dove to cradle it...
After Pro Bowl season in Year 2, Steelers’ T.J. Watt finds new means of motivation
It was, on the surface, an early-practice position drill as part of the eighth of nine voluntary organized team activity sessions in early June. But T.J. Watt forced himself to perform with a fire as if it was the fourth quarter of a December game against New England. “We are...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s praise for Jets QB Sam Darnold a little much
So how was Le’Veon Bell’s first day at his new school? The former Steelers running back went through his first minicamp practice with the Jets on Tuesday. Bell says he can already tell that he is going to be more of a leader in New York than he was in...
Pirates draft Troy Polamalu’s cousin in 7th round
We haven’t seen Troy Polamalu at Heinz Field in quite some time. But maybe he’ll be at PNC Park soon. To watch his cousin. The Steelers legend has a second cousin named Blake Sabol, who’s a standout baseball player at Southern Cal. And he just got drafted by the Pirates....
Tim Benz: NFL preseason long overdue for change. Some Steelers agree.
I’ve long been an advocate of ditching the NFL’s preseason. Or at least cutting it back to two games. The risk associated with core roster players participating is massive, even if their reps are limited. By extension, their snaps are usually so few that the reward of playing a couple...
Stephon Tuitt gets back on field for Steelers at OTAs
The three starters on the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line haven’t occupied the same practice space since organized team activities began three weeks ago. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt, however, took a step toward rejoining Cameron Heyward and nose tackle Javon Hargrave at offseason workouts. On the eighth day of OTAs, Tuitt...
Anti-Brown chant breaks out where Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster attends prom
Even JuJu Smith-Schuster’s seemingly innocuous visits to a local high school prom turn into controversy these days. Smith-Schuster, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 22-year-old star receiver, attended the Chartiers Valley High School prom last weekend. But a video surfaced on Instagram, presumably from a prom-goer, of Smith-Schuster dancing among a large crowd...
Steelers’ Sean Davis changes agents, not positions, in crucial seasonVideo
For the first time since joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016, Sean Davis is beginning a second consecutive season at the same position. The 25-year-old defensive back is at free safety, making his debut Tuesday at organized team activities after missing the first two weeks with a minor injury. After...
Steelers poke fun at Cameron Heyward’s golf swing: ‘Just awful’
Mike Tomlin on Monday gave the Pittsburgh Steelers their annual day off away from the practice fields and meeting rooms. This year, the escape was to the Topgolf in Bridgeville. And while a number of players spoke after an organized team activity session Tuesday that it was a good team-bonding...
Steelers add William Gay, David Johnson as coaching interns
Two former Pittsburgh Steelers players are joining the coaching staff for the 2019 season as interns. Former cornerback William Gay and tight end David Johnson were added Tuesday. Gay, 34, spent 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Steelers, playing for the team from 2007-11 and from 2003-17. He...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk JuJu’s prom, Phil Kessel trade, Pirates pros and cons
I know. This has become a trend. It’s another “Madden Monday” podcast on a Tuesday. Between Memorial Day weekend and concert activities, Mark Madden and I have had a few three-day weekends of late. We’ll get on a proper schedule again eventually. Or, if not, no big deal. It’s summer....
The wait is over: Le’Veon Bell shows up for minicamp with Jets
The wait is over. Le’Veon Bell is ready to report as a New York Jet. After skipping voluntary organized team activities, the former Steelers running back is set to practice in uniform. The Jets start their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and Bell will be there. Dear New York,I’m Here. pic.twitter.com/tW1oKfd2Ql—...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Ola Adeniyi adding to pass-rush repertoire
The size. The number. The sacks. The bio. The similarities were too obvious to ignore. Steelers rookie Ola Adeniyi spent last preseason flashing as a 6-foot-1, 248-pound undrafted MAC outside linebacker, wearing No. 92. Adeniyi frequently popped during training camp and had three sacks and two forced fumbles in four...
