Joe Rutter stories, Page 107

INDIANAPOLIS — If the NFL Combine truly is the “Underwear Olympics,” then Miles Sanders may find himself on the podium with a medal draped around his neck. While Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill had the fastest time among running backs Friday during combine workouts, Sanders had a formidable showing...

Facing a void at wide receiver if they trade All-Pro Antonio Brown, the Pittsburgh Steelers have conducted or will hold formal interviews with the top members of this year’s pass-catching draft class at the NFL Combine. Each member of NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks’ top five receivers has met or will...

INDIANAPOLIS – The wide receiver that Justice Hill played with at Oklahoma State didn’t resemble the one that took the field in 2018 as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers. James Washington was a shadow of the player who scored 39 career touchdowns and had 4,472 receiving yards during a...

INDIANAPOLIS — Given they have a third-year player in starting running back James Conner and a second-year player in backup Jaylen Samuels, the Pittsburgh Steelers probably aren’t going to use one of their seven picks in the NFL Draft on the position. That hasn’t stopped Woodland Hills graduate and former...

INDIANAPOLIS – Antonio Brown’s relationship with the Steelers is “not getting better,” the All-Pro wide receiver told ESPN in an interview. ESPN released an excerpt of an interview that will air in its entirety on Saturday morning. The interviewed is titled “AB Wide Open,” with Brown being interviewed by ESPN...

INDIANAPOLIS – Not surprisingly, Antonio Brown’s future has been one of the hot topics at the NFL Combine. And not just with the Pittsburgh Steelers and general manager Kevin Colbert. While Colbert was pressed multiple times during his interview sessions Wednesday about trade talks involving Brown, he wassn’t the only...

INDIANAPOLIS — Although Kevin Colbert is general manager of a professional sports team, some think he oversees a drama club. Colbert doesn’t see it that way, and he made his feelings crystal clear Wednesday at the NFL Combine. Colbert took exception when a reporter asked about the off-field antics that...

INDIANAPOLIS – As Ryan Shazier continues his comeback from spinal cord surgery, he and the Pittsburgh Steelers have an understanding that any return to the NFL won’t happen until at least the 2020 season. General manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday at the NFL Combine that Shazier will be a part...

INDIANAPOLIS – Backup defensive lineman Tyson Alualu was the first potential free agent to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Could more players follow suit before NFL free agency begins March 13? “That could still happen within the next two weeks,” general manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday at the NFL Combine....

After conducting organizational meetings about free agency last week, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert will take a break and do some longer-range planning when he brings the team’s front office, scouts and coaches to Indianapolis this week for the annual NFL Scouting Combine. As a team that traditionally builds...

Perhaps it’s a good thing the Pittsburgh Penguins play their next 10 games against teams from the Eastern Conference. They haven’t gotten anything to show from their recent matchups against the best the West has to offer. The Penguins have lost just twice in their past six games, and both...

The only game the Pittsburgh Penguins have lost in their past five occurred against Calgary, the team with the most points in the Western Conference. The team with the second-most points in the West, the San Jose Sharks, present the latest challenge on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. Not...

With the Pittsburgh Penguins playing amid a stretch of five games in eight days, coach Mike Sullivan figured it was the right time to get backup Casey DeSmith another start. DeSmith will start in goal Thursday night when the Penguins play the San Jose Sharks, the team with the second-most...

Zach Aston-Reese is looking forward to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ game Thursday night against San Jose, and not simply because it will be his fifth consecutive game on the ice since he missed 13 with an injury. Aston-Reese will be playing against Sharks right winger Kevin Labanc. Like Aston-Reese, Labanc is...

The start of free agency will be a critical time for two Pittsburgh Steelers players that remain under contract for the 2019 season. Kicker Chris Boswell and outside linebacker Bud Dupree have unsettled contract situations that will be defined by what the Steelers do – or don’t do – by...

General manager Kevin Colbert doesn’t take issue with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger publicly criticizing his teammates, even one as talented — and fragile — as All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. “He can call me out,” Colbert said Wednesday. “That’s fine.” Roethlisberger’s criticism of Brown reportedly is one of the reasons...

Kevin Colbert is willing to grant Antonio Brown’s trade request. With one condition. “By no means are we going to make a trade or any type of move that will not be beneficial to the Pittsburgh Steeler organization,” Colbert said Wednesday during a meeting with reporters. “We will not be...

It’s official: Le’Veon Bell will become a free agent in three weeks. General manager Kevin Colbert told reporters Wednesday the Pittsburgh Steelers will not use the franchise or transition tag on the 27-year-old running back, which will allow him to enter free agency March 13. Colbert said the cost of...