Steelers/NFL category, Page 301
RB Anthony McFarland more relaxed in Year 2, making plays at Steelers camp
As a big-play running back in college, Anthony McFarland sought to make a big splash during his first NFL season in 2020. Eleven games, 39 carries, 167 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns later, humility isn’t the only lesson McFarland took from his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Patience,”...
Mike Tomlin, Steelers ‘energized’ by return of fans for training camp at Heinz Field
For a venue that holds 68,400 fans, the gathering that showed up Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first public practice at Heinz Field represented less than 10% capacity. The Steelers distributed 6,300 tickets for a workout that lasted about two hours and featured players donning pads for the first time...
Kendrick Green taking chance to work with first-team Steelers offense in stride
Rookie Kendrick Green wasn’t expecting to be the first candidate to line up at center with the Pittsburgh Steelers first-team offense in training camp. He’s also not making a big deal about it, either. “No,” Green said Wednesday when asked specifically about taking first-team snaps in the first week of...
Devin Bush does plenty at 1st padded Steelers practice, but others still held back
The handful of Pittsburgh Steelers starters who’ve been limited so far during training camp for the most part continued to be so Wednesday. But a notable exception during the first padded practice was Devin Bush. The inside linebacker recovering from a torn ACL took part in a significant portion of...
Latrobe, Unity residents and businesses invited to enter Steelers Week decorating contest
Residents and business owners in Latrobe and Unity are being challenged to show how they “Bleed Black and Gold” in a decorating contest that will be featured as part of a Steelers Week promotion Monday through Aug. 6 in the two neighboring municipalities. Sunday is the deadline to register for...
First Call: An argument for Aaron Rodgers to Steelers in ’22; Adam Frazier’s debut with San Diego; Larry Fitzgerald’s future
Wednesday’s “First Call” assesses the chances of Aaron Rodgers becoming a Steeler next year. Some Steelers fans think T.J. Watt got snubbed by the EA Sports Madden ratings system. We try to figure out what Larry Fitzgerald is thinking. And we get you up to date on Adam Frazier’s San...
In perhaps his final shot, TE Zach Gentry standing tall at Steelers camp
If nothing else, Zach Gentry stands out at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. “He’s 6-(foot)-12,” Eric Ebron deadpanned. “And not a lot of people are 6-12.” Gentry is not quite 6-12, er, 7 feet tall. But at 6-8, the tight end is tied with tackle Zach Banner as the tallest offensive...
Steelers ready to put on the pads, hit in front of fans for first time in nearly two years
In a nice piece of symmetry, the pads come out Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and fans will be allowed inside Heinz Field to see the initial hitting of training camp take place. The Steelers wrapped up their five days of heat acclimation Tuesday with their initial workout at their...
Ben Roethlisberger excused from Steelers’ 1st Heinz Field practice
For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first practice of training camp at Heinz Field, the man who has played more games there than anyone was not present. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not on hand at Monday’s workout. Coach Mike Tomlin said it was “for personal reasons.” “He’s been excused by me,” Tomlin...
As training camp ramps up, Kevin Colbert likes state of Steelers’ offensive line, overall positional depth
Kevin Colbert used the word “retirement” Tuesday to describe David DeCastro’s departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers last month. The Steelers released the six-time Pro Bowl right guard June 24 with a non-football injury designation, and then signed five-time Pro Bowler Trai Turner to replace him a day later. Was Colbert...
Cap situation provides ‘different environment’ for Steelers to sign T.J. Watt to long-term deal
On the heels of emerging as the NFL’s defensive player of the year runner-up, T.J. Watt set himself up for a big payday before he can become a free agent in 2022. With Watt playing this season on his fifth-year option, worth $10.089 million, he could see his base salary...
Mark Madden: Steelers would be smart to delay T.J. Watt’s contract extension
One of the problems with a column composed of refreshing sports notes — well-read as those tend to be — is it exhausts ideas for future columns. Take, for example, this excerpt from one such recent piece: (T.J.) Watt might not get the lucrative contract extension he wants before the...
Steelers’ Alex Highsmith more comfortable in Year 2, comfortable sharing timeVideo
As defensive coordinator Keith Butler was speaking to media from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after the second practice of training camp late last week, only a handful of players were still working on the fields behind him. Among that dwindling group, there was perhaps only one player who is locked...
Madden Monday: Ripping U.S. Olympic basketball team; debating Steelers money spent on Melvin Ingram vs. Steven Nelson
This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast comes from Lake Placid, N.Y. I’m out here in support of my sister who was competing in the Ironman Triathlon. And, no, the irony wasn’t lost on me Sunday morning as I was watching one of American basketball’s most ignominious Olympic defeats from the friendly...
Tim Benz: A response to Bart Scott’s ‘compliment’ about the Steelers’ atmosphere at Heinz Field
During an episode of ESPN’s “First Take” last week, panelist Bart Scott gave a little love to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets linebacker was asked for his favorite playoff atmosphere. And he said Steelers fans at Heinz Field (at 1:22:16 of this clip). Scott...
Steelers to keep Cameron Sutton outside, let Antoine Brooks, Arthur Maulet battle for slot
There seemed to be no shortage of possible scenarios when it came to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ plans for replacing Mike Hilton. Four days into training camp, barring something unforeseen, the list of possibilities appears to have been whittled to two. “It’s a good battle. You have a veteran and a...
New Steelers right guard Trai Turner not concerned about replacing David DeCastro
Trai Turner joined the Pittsburgh Steelers a day after David DeCastro was released in June. He is occupying the same spot once filled by the six-time Pro Bowl right guard. Similarities end there, said Turner, even though he has five Pro Bowl appearances in seven NFL seasons to his credit....
Mike Tomlin ready to ‘turn the volume up’ when Steelers move training camp to Heinz Field
The Pittsburgh Steelers conducted their fourth and final practice of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex portion of training camp Sunday. When the team reconvenes Tuesday after a day off, the work will be done at Heinz Field for the remainder of camp. “That really signifies the start of training camp,...
Normally subdued T.J. Watt looking to take on bigger leadership role with Steelers
When it comes to T.J. Watt, the only thing that’s growing faster than his salary is his stature in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room. On the field, Watt has established himself as a centerpiece of the franchise. With training camp for the 2021 season underway, it’s almost inarguable that Watt...
Steelers notebook: Injuries, absence leaves offensive line bare at center in 3rd workout
When the third workout of training camp ended Saturday afternoon, nary a candidate for the starting center’s job was anywhere to be found on the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex practice field. Rookie third-round draft pick Kendrick Green, who had been working with the first team, was excused from practice by...
Steelers edge rusher Melvin Ingram: ‘I feel like a kid. I’ve got a lot left in me’
If Melvin Ingram III is to be believed, he is the NFL’s version of Benjamin Button, someone who ages in reverse. When he turned 30 a couple of years ago, the veteran edge rusher boasted that he felt like he was 21 again. In his first interview since joining the...
Steelers notebook: Arthur Maulet gets his shot to play in the slot
One of the biggest questions as the Pittsburgh Steelers ramped up to training camp was: Who will replace stalwart Mike Hilton as the slot/nickel cornerback? After the second practice of camp, coach Mike Tomlin laid out his plans. “Right now, we are working (Arthur Maulet) and (Antoine Brooks Jr.) there,”...
Keith Butler looking to fill in missing pieces while maintaining Steelers’ defensive production
A defense that led the NFL in sacks and was second in forcing turnovers in 2020 received a jolt this week when inside linebacker Vince Williams abruptly retired on the eve of training camp. Williams became the fourth starter, counting nickel corner Mike Hilton, to exit a Pittsburgh Steelers unit...
JuJu Smith-Schuster sold on making impact for Steelers in 2021
Two days after endorsing a condom brand on his verified Instagram account, JuJu Smith-Schuster was back at it Friday as a pitch man. In the star receiver’s first media availability of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, Smith-Schuster continued his sales job to his coaches to play on the outside in lieu...
Mark Madden: Talk of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s weight a big nothing burger
Training camp is upon us. So are refreshing Steelers notes. But I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news: Under 8½ wins is a lock. • Speaking as a big fatso, I can accurately say Ben Roethlisberger is not fat. He’s a whole lot of great quarterback, that’s all. He looks...
