Kevin Gorman stories, Page 139
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Nothing normal about Steelers’ second preseason game
The Pittsburgh Steelers started the week dealing with the death of Darryl Drake, and Mike Tomlin warned football wouldn’t necessarily provide a return to normalcy. The Steelers rescheduled their routine this week to grieve the passing of their wide receivers coach. Their initial return to the practice field was interrupted...
Screening of ‘The Return’ shows Steelers great Rocky Bleier’s vulnerable sideVideo
A captivated crowd sat in spellbound silence for 30 minutes while watching the story of Pittsburgh Steelers great Rocky Bleier’s return to Vietnam 49 years after fighting in the war. They saw Bleier break down into tears upon reaching the rice paddy where he was wounded by gunshot and grenade...
Kevin Gorman: With Jameson Taillon out, Pirates must pay up for ace
When Dr. David Altchek operated on the flexor tendon of Jameson Taillon’s right arm and determined Tommy John surgery was required, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their ace. Or, at least, Taillon was the closest thing the Pirates had to an ace, not to mention a leader. The 27-year-old right-hander was...
Kevin Gorman: Pine-Richland’s Kevin Rader again facing long odds with Steelers
Signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a “dream come true” for Kevin Rader, a first-year tight end from Pine-Richland and Youngstown State — except for one small detail. Rader didn’t dare to dream it. “I never saw it coming,” Rader said Wednesday at training camp at Saint Vincent. “I love...
Kevin Gorman: The Steelers intend to march on but, first, they prayedVideo
The raindrops fell just as Pittsburgh Steelers players in white jerseys took a knee at Chuck Noll Field, sharing a prayer before position drills in their first practice without Darryl Drake. The wide receivers, the position Drake was in charge of coaching for the Steelers, were first to kneel. The...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Steelers great Rocky Bleier ‘grateful’ for ESPN film
SC Featured producer Jon Fish approached Rocky Bleier a decade ago about the idea of doing a documentary where the Pittsburgh Steelers great would return to Vietnam for the first time in 40 years and revisit sites from his tour. “To some degree,” Bleier said, “I kind of poo-pooed it.”...
Kevin Gorman: Rocky Bleier’s return to Vietnam gives new perspectiveVideo
When Rocky Bleier surveyed the open rice paddy at Hiep Duc in the Que Son Valley last August, the Pittsburgh Steelers great tried to visualize the differences of nearly five decades. “Jesus Christ,” Bleier said, stopping in his tracks. “You think about those guys that got killed.” Bleier sniffled, then...
Steelers, NFL players and coaches pay tribute to Darryl Drake on social media
The death of Darryl Drake on Sunday morning at training camp at Saint Vincent College stunned the NFL. Tributes to the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach on social media from players and coaches were heartfelt. Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who blossomed into a 100-catch, 1,000-yard Pro Bowl pick under Drake,...
Fans construct memorial to late Steelers coach Darryl Drake at Saint Vincent
Eileen Smalley had been parked second in line near Saint Vincent for three-plus hours Sunday morning when a Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staffer informed her practice was canceled. “None of us believed the guy because it’s a beautiful day,” said Smalley of Stahlstown, who arrives to park on Brouwers Road...
Kevin Gorman: Darryl Drake’s death leaves stunned Steelers at a loss for words
The serene setting at Saint Vincent suddenly felt like an eerie silence — save the occasional caws of crows flying among the trees — when the church bells rang at Saint Vincent Basilica to signal Sunday Mass was soon to start. A sudden pall was cast over the site of...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers need James Washington to build on preseason performanceVideo
James Washington knows what you’re thinking, even shooting a side-eye to the suggestion that his performance in the preseason opener was exactly what he needed. That the second-year receiver had four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in a 30-28 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night at Heinz...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Devin Bush’s debut, QBs highlight Steelers’ victory in preseason opener
You know it’s only the NFL preseason when there are more fans in their seats at Heinz Field at the start of the second half than for the opening kickoff. Then again, there might have been more fans in their seats after the 2018 season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals...
Kevin Gorman: With Sean Davis out, free safety becomes a storyline for Steelers
Sean Davis isn’t happy about being stuck on the sidelines for the majority of training camp, a self-described cheerleader for the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary. While recovering from a fractured ring finger on his left hand — taped to cover what Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called “an open wound” — the...
Steelers’ Joe Haden suffers injury, tweets he’ll be ‘just fine’
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden suffered an undisclosed injury early during practice Wednesday, but he downplayed the severity. Haden left the session early on a cart, according to Steelers.com, and will not play in Friday’s preseason opener. On Wednesday night, Haden tweeted thanks to fans for their thoughts and prayers...
Steelers free safety Sean Davis ‘pretty close’ to returning to practice
Sean Davis has missed most of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp, but the fourth-year free safety said he’s “pretty close” to returning. “I want to be a full participant by next week,” Davis said Wednesday at Saint Vincent College. “That’s my goal.” Davis has been out with a dislocated ring...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers place a premium value on versatility of B.J. Finney on O-line
B.J. Finney doesn’t describe himself as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, even if his offensive linemates include him when talking about their top six instead of front five. Then again, Finney doesn’t even describe himself as a center or a guard. Why bother when there is a chance that...
Kevin Gorman: Another most valuable moment for Santonio Holmes, Steelers WRsVideo
As they were surrounded by the sounds of fans screaming for Pittsburgh Steelers players to sign autographs after Family Fest Sunday night at Heinz Field, a trio of young wide receivers stood on the field and focused on the voice of one man. He was wearing a baseball cap, polo...
Kevin Gorman: Bone spurs gone, Steelers’ Anthony Chickillo ready to roll
Anthony Chickillo pulls the phone out of his pocket and scrolls through photos until he finds the one that shows the four bone spurs removed from his right ankle in the offseason. They are lined up against a tape measure by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson, an ankle specialist in...
Kevin Gorman: Dravon Askew-Henry hopes to finally bring Aliquippa attitude to Steelers
As a kid from Aliquippa, Dravon Askew-Henry put Ty Law and Darrelle Revis on a pedestal. As an aspiring NFL player, he put them on speed dial, picking their brains before his first training camp. The words of wisdom they offered — bring that Aliquippa attitude — ring in the...
Kevin Gorman: CB Steven Nelson navigates into Steelers’ starting lineupVideo
Steven Nelson grew up in Georgia, played college football in Oregon, started his NFL career in Kansas City and has an offseason home in Arizona. So it should come as no surprise that he hates to be stagnant. In fact, when he’s finished playing football, Nelson wants to travel the...
Outside linebacker Sutton Smith embracing opportunity to play fullback for Steelers
Sutton Smith couldn’t help but smile while talking about being the Pittsburgh Steelers’ only two-way player on Thursday, a day after taking his first two practice reps on offense at training camp at Saint Vincent College. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Smith as pass-rushing outside linebacker but are tinkering with the...
Kevin Gorman: Not trading Felipe Vazquez was win for Pirates, technically speaking
When the clock struck 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and the Pittsburgh Pirates still possessed one of their only All-Stars, did they win or lose the trade deadline? That the Pirates didn’t deal closer Felipe Vazquez was met with disappointment in baseball circles, especially by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander...
Steelers claim free-agent WR Brandon Reilly, waive CB Alexander Myres
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a pair of roster moves at training camp on Wednesday, claiming free-agent wide receiver Brandon Reilly off waivers and waiving cornerback Alexander Myres. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Reilly was released by the Detroit Lions, where he had two stints. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills...
With blindfold off, Terrell Edmunds set for 2nd season with SteelersVideo
For an NFL rookie, training camp has been compared to being blindfolded. When it is removed, wide-eyed players can require an adjustment to bright lights. Before Terrell Edmunds could get settled last summer, the 2018 first-round pick was starting at strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. By comparison, he feels...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers need a leaner Bud Dupree to finally live up to expectations
If Bud Dupree looks noticeably leaner for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s not because he lost weight. “I’m still 260,” Dupree said. “I just trimmed up.” Maybe he wised up, too. A soup-and-salad diet since April allowed Dupree to lose some body fat — the Georgia native told me giving up...
