Steelers/NFL category, Page 76
Steelers’ George Pickens fined $20,462 for unsportsmanlike conduct flags vs. Bengals
The pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties assessed to Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens during last week’s game in Cincinnati have cost him more than $20,000. The NFL levied a pair of $10,231 fines to Pickens. They were made public Saturday, as is custom for the league each week. Pickens was...
Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick short on turnovers, big on value as last line of defense
Minkah Fitzpatrick is aware of the narrative that he doesn’t make many splash plays anymore, let alone create turnovers, so the Pittsburgh Steelers’ three-time All-Pro free safety must be having a down season. On a defense that loves to talk about its turnover culture and awards T-shirts for takeaways, Fitzpatrick...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Pressure is on Steelers’ T.J. Watt in rematch with Myles Garrett, Browns
T.J. Watt skipped the NFL Honors ceremony at Las Vegas in February when he learned he wouldn’t be winning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Cleveland’s Myles Garrett got that award. Garrett took Watt’s no-show as a slight, and said so. When the Steelers visited Cleveland on Nov. 21,...
Steelers 4 Downs: Russell Wilson throws downfield often, effectively
1. Moon man Russell Wilson has quickly become known to Pittsburgh Steelers fans for his “moon ball.” If it seems every week Wilson is dropping his trademark high-arcing pass into the arms of a receiver deep down the field, it’s because he is. In each of Wilson’s six starts, he...
Scouting the Browns: Cleveland hasn’t won regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 2003
SCOUTING THE BROWNS Last meeting Browns beat Steelers, 24-19, on Nov. 21 in Cleveland. Key matchup Steelers WR George Pickens vs. Browns CB Denzel Ward The eyes of everyone are always on Pickens, from opposing defensive coordinators to fans to officials. Pickens is coming off a game in which he...
Steelers WR Calvin Austin clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III was a full practice participant Friday and has been given the official green light to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Austin entered concussion protocol after absorbing two hard hits during this past Sunday’s Steelers win at the Cincinnati Bengals. Austin did not play...
From ‘I don’t even know who that is,’ to ‘I don’t care about the dude at all,’ Steelers’ Pickens spawns war of words with Browns
During his brief weekly media availability last week, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens answered questions related to the previous week’s game against the Cleveland Browns by invoking that infamous Marshawn Lynch line, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.” With the Browns again on the schedule this week, Pickens...
Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt ready to reduce snap count with Alex Highsmith’s return
One Pittsburgh Steeler is ready for the return of Alex Highsmith after he missed three games with an ankle injury. It should come as no surprise it’s the guy who plays outside linebacker on the opposite side. Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt called Highsmith being healthy a “huge” development for the...
Mark Madden: ‘Hard Knocks’ exposes that image — not results — matters most when evaluating Mike Tomlin
The inside look at the AFC North conducted by HBO’s “Hard Knocks” is another enabler when it comes to results being obscured and secondary in the evaluation of Mike Tomlin’s performance. Ex-Steeler Ryan Clark spoke on ESPN about how Tomlin appears on HBO: “Pittsburgh fans that want Mike Tomlin fired...
First Call: Bill Belichick to the ACC?; Russell Wilson contract theories; Jets’ rumored interest in Arthur Smith
Friday’s “First Call” has some predictions about how the Pittsburgh Steelers may handle their quarterback situation next year. There are rumors about Bill Belichick coaching at the college level and Arthur Smith drawing interest from another NFL team for a head coaching spot. We also examine some quirks in the...
Football Footnotes: 5 key points where Steelers can improve against BrownsVideo
Plenty of things went wrong when the Pittsburgh Steelers visited Cleveland and lost 24-19 on Nov. 21. It’s the team’s only defeat in the past seven outings. After the game, most folks were blaming the coaching staff. Rightfully so. It was a lousy performance. Every 50-50 decision Mike Tomlin and...
Despite QBs coming off 400-yard games, Steelers don’t expect shootout with Browns
With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns having quarterbacks coming off 400-yard passing performances, their meeting Sunday has the promise of another AFC North shootout. The former defensive coordinator in Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is why he admits it’s not in his nature to be comfortable in such games, especially...
Steelers offer up rare December clean injury report
Aside from “W,” it might be the prettiest letters in the NFL to a coach of a team late in its season. FP. “FP,” as in “full participant” at practice on the injury report. And for the Pittsburgh Steelers, everybody on the 53-man active roster dealing with any degree of...
Larry Ogunjobi named Steelers’ nominee for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award
Larry Ogunjobi isn’t the biggest talker in the locker room or with media. But Ogunjobi’s voice carries in the community and with causes that matter. Ogunjobi, a veteran defensive lineman, was named the Pittsburgh Steelers’ nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award on Thursday. “He moves...
Steelers DB Cory Trice activated off injured reserve
Versatile defensive back Cory Trice was activated off of the injured reserve list Thursday, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers another piece for their secondary for the stretch run. A 6-foot-3, 206-pound cornerback in college, Trice had played as a dime, in-the-box safety, at outside corner, slot corner and even free safety...
First Call: T.J. Watt accused of dirty play and J.J. Watt responds; Pirates could ‘surprise us by landing a solid free-agent bat’Video
There are some on the internet calling Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt a dirty player. His Hall Of Fame-bound big brother isn’t standing for that. The Steelers worked out a former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman in advance of their matchup this weekend. The Pirates may be in the market to...
U mad, bro?: MLB Golden At-Bat idea and Mike Tomlin’s clock management top this week’s long list of complaints
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 9-3 and just put up 44 points en route to beating a hated division rival in their own building. But, along the way, Joey Porter Jr. was flagged for six penalties, Mike Tomlin barely avoided another clock management fiasco, and Major League Baseball is apparently considering...
Steelers notes: Keeanu Benton takes the spotlight on ‘Hard Knocks,’ RB Jonathan Ward waived
Pittsburgh Steelers second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton knew the NFL Films cameras would be present when he spoke to his teammates the night before the game, adding pressure for someone who doesn’t enjoy public speaking. “When I’m talking to people, I get nervous,” Benton said. “The words that I’m thinking...
‘A true Steeler’: At 35, Cameron Heyward earns top grade among NFL defensive tackles
Cameron Heyward accepted that he had lost the Ohio State-Michigan bet — one he initiated with rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson — but the price to pay came in the form of a baseball cap that didn’t fit. So Heyward hung the hat on the microphone stand as he addressed...
Steelers injury report: Alex Highsmith, Calvin Austin III limited at practice
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and wide receiver Calvin Austin III were limited participants at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday, according to the injury report. Austin was in NFL concussion protocol after he absorbed two hits during the first half of this past Sunday’s win at the Cincinnati Bengals. Highsmith did not...
1st episode of AFC North ‘Hard Knocks’ was heavy on good football, light on conflict and intrigueVideo
The first episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North” gave me exactly what I expected. It was a typical NFL Films all-access, behind-the-curtain look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and their three AFC North foes in Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati. It’s shot brilliantly. It’s well-directed and well-produced....
Tim Benz: At 9-3, Mike Tomlin can avoid ‘feeding the beast’ — at least in front of the cameras
There are plenty of good vibes coming out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 44-38 win in Cincinnati last week, and surrounding their 9-3 record overall. That doesn’t mean there aren’t points of concern heading into this Sunday’s game against the 3-9 Cleveland Browns, though. How is George Pickens going to regulate...
Mike Tomlin sees ‘serial killer’s mentality’ in CB Joey Porter Jr., says Steelers will ‘use our fouls’
Joey Porter Jr. has drawn as much attention for his penalties as his pass coverage, but Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin continues to defend the second-year cornerback’s play. Even after Porter drew six flags — and, ultimately, four penalties for 57 yards — in Sunday’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati...
‘It’s pretty exciting’: Steelers ‘fully expect’ OLB Alex Highsmith to be available against Browns
The prospect of having a full complement of outside linebackers — an injury-plagued position for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season — made Mike Tomlin flash a smile during his weekly news conference. Tomlin said he will “fully expect” starter Alex Highsmith to be available for the first time in four...
First Call: Diontae Johnson may already be done in Baltimore; Chad Johnson wants to advise George Pickens
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an early preview of Sunday’s Steelers-Browns game. Diontae Johnson may be done in Baltimore before he ever gets going. Chad Johnson wants to mentor George Pickens. And the Penguins have quite a challenge Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. Diontae done? Is Diontae Johnson already done...
