Chris Adamski stories, Page 111
Sidney Crosby reiterates desire to play entire career for Penguins
With a new management team and an accompanying possible change in the franchise’s big-picture direction, for the first time during his 16 years with the Pittsburgh Penguins there have been whispers about Sidney Crosby’s future with the organization. But if the longtime team captain has his way, he’ll retire as...
Jusso Riikola returns to Penguins practice, albeit in non-contact jersey
Slowly but surely, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ battered blue line is returning to full strength. Friday’s practice was the first in more than a month that featured Jusso Riikola since the defenseman suffered an undisclosed injury believed to be to his upper-body. Though he had worked with the Penguins’ taxi squad...
Healthy, trim, determined Zach Aston-Reese tapping full potential for Penguins
A long offseason of rehab and commitment has left Zach Aston-Reese appearing noticeably trimmed down. And yet he’s playing a “big” game. Big in regards to a physical style. Big in regards to production. Big in regards to the quality of his work at both ends. In his first regular-season...
Penguins notes: Marcus Pettersson again a full participant, Casey DeSmith stays home
Although Mike Sullivan on Monday said “all the injured players are just status quo,” the Pittsburgh Penguins coach did allow that defenseman Marcus Pettersson fully participating in a second consecutive full-contact practice is an “encouraging” sign in regards to a potential return to the lineup. Pettersson has missed the past...
Former Penguins power-play savant Todd Reirden looks to jumpstart struggling unit
The raw numbers, to be sure, are not pretty in regards to the Pittsburgh Penguins power play. But believe it or not, the deeper you dig, the worse it looks. The Penguins 13.5% conversion rate ranks 24th in the league and would have finished dead last compared to the 31...
Steelers teammates past, present, NFL world react to Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement
Twenty-four members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five more have been voted into the exclusive Canton, Ohio, club and are due for formal induction later this year. Aside from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there arguably wasn’t an active Steelers player...
J.J. Watt released by Texans; brother T.J. appears to campaign to bring him to Steelers
The first domino fell in the sequence of events that could unite all three of the NFL’s famed Watt brothers on one NFL team. Plenty of hurdles remain, but T.J. Watt appeared to openly campaign for older brother J.J. to join him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three-time NFL defensive player...
9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey retiring from Steelers
Citing the “sacrifice” playing pro football carries on his life, nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike, made their joint announcement via Maurkice Pouncey’s longtime teammate and friend, Ramon Foster, on Foster’s verified Twitter page. Foster,...
A look at new Penguins brain trust Ron Hextall, Brian Burke
Ron Hextall, general manager Age 56… Spent four years (2014-18) as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers, assembling a roster that has blossomed into a Stanley Cup contender. …. Hextall was assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings (2006-13), winning a Stanley Cup ring in ‘12 and being part of the...
Penguins use old-school wooden sticks at practice
Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Penguins practice was staged at their state-of-the-art modern Cranberry Township facility, and it was run under the specter of some very 2021 coronavirus-related protocols. But there was one aspect of the session at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that turned back the clock about three decades. The players took...
Mike Matheson, Zach Aston-Reese full participants at practice for Penguins; Jared McCann sits again
A day after leaving practice following a collision with a teammate, Mike Matheson was back on the ice for a full practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Jared McCann, however, was not. But the initial word on McCann’s injury is that it is not a serious one. Skating on...
Sportsbook has Mike Tomlin among top 10 of odds as next NFL coach to be fired/resign
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t fired a head coach since Lyndon Johnson was president. At least one prominent sports gambling outlet isn’t dismissing the possibility it could happen in 2021. Not long after Sunday’s Super Bowl completed the 2020 NFL season, Sportsbettingdime.com released its odds for the champion of next year’s...
Steelers announce hirings of Mike Sullivan as QB coach, 2 other assistants
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday made official their hiring of Mike Sullivan as quarterbacks coach. In a release that also announced Chris Morgan as assistant offensive line coach and Matt Tomsho as quality control coach, the Steelers touted Sullivan’s 16 seasons of experience in the NFL. Sullivan was offensive coordinator...
Steelers 2021 offseason positional outlook: Specialists
Editor’s note: This is Part 12 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: After several years of continuity, the Pittsburgh Steelers special teams room had a bumpy 2020. By the end, though, it was...
Former Steelers QB Kordell Stewart opens up in penning Players’ Tribune piece
A quarter century ago, Kordell Stewart was the toast of Pittsburgh. But his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers was complicated, as was his relationship with their fans. In an essay published by The Players’ Tribune on Thursday, Stewart opened up in detail about it all, including addressing a particularly vulgar...
Steelers 2021 offseason positional outlook: Safeties
Editor’s note: This is Part 11 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: Starting safety is one position where the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t need much improvement. They do, however, have a couple of options...
Steelers in bottom half of NFL in betting odds for winning next year’s Super Bowl
This year’s Super Bowl has yet to be played. But that doesn’t mean sports books aren’t already taking bets on next year’s game. And Pittsburgh Steelers fans might not like where their team has been initially slotted into the NFL hierarchy. Ranked from most likely to least likely to win...
Steelers 2021 offseason positional outlook: Cornerbacks
Editor’s note: This is Part 10 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: After years of searching, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally found a pair of reliable, quality cornerbacks. It hasn’t come, though, without a...
Steelers make official promotion of Adrian Klemm to offensive line coach
After the public backing of some former and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen, Adrian Klemm’s promotion to the team’s offensive line coach became official Tuesday. News had leaked of the move involving the former assistant offensive line coach Monday, and the Steelers touted Klemm’s developmental bona fides in a press...
Steelers 2021 offseason positional outlook: Outside linebackers
Editor’s note: This is Part 9 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: In regards to glamour and star power, outside linebacker has arguably been the “money” position of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense over...
Steelers promote assistant Adrian Klemm to full-fledged OL coach, per report
Just like last time, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t go too far to find a new offensive line coach. Adrian Klemm has been promoted from assistant OL coach to the full-time gig, according to a report from the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Klemm replaces Shaun Sarrett, who two years ago made...
Study: Pittsburgh the best U.S. city for football fans, State College 4th among ‘small’ cities
It’s Super Bowl week. And as the unofficial national holiday of game day approaches, so do the lists celebrating America’s favorite sport. And, at least according to a popular personal finance website, in no U.S. city is it better to be a football fan than Pittsburgh. Buoyed by an NFL...
Steelers offseason positional outlook: Quarterbacks
Editor’s note: This is Part 1 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: For the first time since George W. Bush’s first term as president, the Pittsburgh Steelers head into an offseason facing decisions...
Kevin Dotson provides rare hope for Steelers as later pick
The returns are early, but through four NFL starts and significant playing time in two other games, rookie fourth-round pick Kevin Dotson showed plenty of reason to believe he will become a full-time, multiyear starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s good, because it’s been some time since the Steelers found...
Steelers tight end Vance McDonald retires
Vance McDonald was Man of the Year, it turns out, during his final year as an NFL player. McDonald announced his retirement Friday, six weeks after being named the Pittsburgh Steelers nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. A 30-year-old tight end, McDonald said he...
