Joe Rutter stories, Page 82

Growing up in South Fayette and playing football at Central Catholic, Stefen Wisniewski always dreamed of suiting up for a meaningful game at Heinz Field. It will take 10 years into his NFL career, but that wish will finally come true in 2020 for the Pittsburgh Steelers newest offensive lineman....

While Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday the organization was putting free agency on the back burner, that edict apparently didn’t apply to XFL players. Defensive lineman Cavon Walker, the XFL sacks leader with the New York Guardians, agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Steelers,...

After being active in the first week of free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to preparations for the NFL Draft next month. In a video interview with the team’s website, general manager Kevin Colbert said the Steelers are on “pause” in the free agency process. The Steelers agreed to...

Entering the NFL’s legal tampering period last Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew some difficult decisions needed to be made. They had to restructure contracts to fit Bud Dupree’s franchise-tag tender under the salary cap. They prepared to say goodbye to the second-longest tenured player on the roster. They faced cutting...

The final member of the 2016 draft class departed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday when cornerback Artie Burns agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Burns, the team’s first-round pick that year, was the fourth member of that draft class to leave in free agency this...

At a midseason news conference last year, Mike Tomlin was asked to explain the reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ declining production in the red zone. “What do you think?” Tomlin retorted. The inference was clear: Without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, the team’s red-zone efficiency, which finished the worst in the...

Jordan Dangerfield wasn’t tendered a contract as a restricted free agent, but it turns out his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn’t quite over. The team announced Friday they signed Dangerfield, a valuable special teams player and backup safety, to a one-year contract. Dangerfield was one of four restricted free...

The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their long snapper from reaching free agency and said goodbye to their former Pro Bowl fullback. On the first day of NFL free agency, the Steelers signed Kameron Canaday to a two-year, $2.425 million contract that includes a $450,000 signing bonus and salaries of $910,000 and...

As the new NFL calendar year began Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they had tendered offers to two of their restricted free agents. Right tackle Matt Feiler and slot cornerback Mike Hilton each received a second-round tender worth $3.259 million. If another team tries to sign Feiler or Hilton...

The Pittsburgh Steelers got one of their restricted free agents under contract Tuesday when tackle Zach Banner agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million. Banner signed a deal for less than the lowest tender amount — $2.133 million. He earned $645,000 last year as an exclusive rights free agent....

The Pittsburgh Steelers already have cornered the market on Edmunds brothers, and they apparently are bringing a second Watt into the fold. The Steelers will sign fullback Derek Watt, brother of the Steelers’ T.J. and Houston’s J.J., to a three-year, $9.75 million contract when free agency begins Wednesday at 4...

In a procedural move that enables him to continue working with the organization, Ryan Shazier was placed on the reserve/retired list Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shazier hasn’t played since December 2017 when he sustained a spinal cord injury making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals. He has spent the...

To create more salary cap space before the NFL calendar year opens Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured the contract of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, according to a source. Roethlisberger, 38, had his $8.5 million base salary and $12.5 million roster bonus converted into a signing bonus that will be...

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to replace one of their top special teams players and their top backup interior offensive lineman for the 2020 season. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. The deal reportedly is worth up to $9 million. Then, guard/center B.J....

The Steelers will be in the market for a nose tackle for the 2020 season. Javon Hargrave, who has started in the middle of the defensive line since his rookie season in 2016, left via free agency Monday, agreeing to a three-year, $39 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The...

Faced with being a casualty to the salary cap, Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster announced his retirement Monday after 11 NFL seasons. “When the time comes, you just know, and now is the time for me to take a bow,” Foster said in a statement released by the Steelers. “I’ve...

Inside linebacker Mark Barron, backup linebacker Anthony Chickillo and backup wide receiver Johnny Holton were the first casualties as the Pittsburgh Steelers try to get under the salary cap by the start of the NFL calendar year. All three players were released Monday, providing $11.075 million in salary cap relief...

Bud Dupree will remain under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least one more season. The Steelers applied the franchise tag Monday on the 27-year-old outside linebacker, keeping him from reaching unrestricted free agency. The tag will carry an approximate value of $16 million in 2020. Dupree earned $9.232...

The day after the sports world stood still, the NFL continued chugging along with some of its offseason business Friday. The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens used the franchise tag on players, and the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans cut veterans in advance...

Right tackle Matt Feiler was the lowest-paid starter on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2019, but he nearly matched his compensation in performance-based pay, according to figures released by the NFL on Thursday. Feiler earned $387,578 in performance-based pay for his play last season, but he also was awarded...

The NFL has canceled its scheduled league meeting later this month in Palm Beach, Fla., because of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came on a day when the NCAA Tournament was canceled, and the NHL and Major League Baseball followed in the NBA’s lead by suspending their season and spring...