Steelers/NFL category, Page 58
Mark Madden: Steelers would be wrong to extend T.J. Watt’s contract now, but they will
As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason kicks into high gear with the launch of NFL free agency Wednesday, their handling of T.J. Watt’s contract situation figures to exemplify the weakness of their organization. The superstar edge rusher and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is heading into the final year...
First Call: Christian Kirk courted by Steelers players; watch Alex Ovechkin score againVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” features some Steelers taking to social media as a way to entice a free agent to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, one AFC veteran is retiring, while another has been released. In the NHL, Alex Ovechkin scores again. And there’s plenty of NCAA postseason women’s basketball on the slate as...
Tim Benz: Steelers QB quandary could present Catch-22 situation with potential receivers
I’m not quite sure if this qualifies as a “chicken-or-the-egg” kind of problem for the Steelers. But it feels like it can be placed under that tent. Plus, with the price of eggs these days, I’m not sure the Steelers could fit a dozen under the salary cap. But as...
U mad, bro?: Penguins trade talk, Erik Karlsson’s play, criticism of Mike Tomlin drawing the ire of Pittsburgh fans
A lot of things about the Pittsburgh sports scene didn’t exactly go over great with the audience this week. The high NFLPA grades for Mike Tomlin continue to generate angry dialogue. So do Erik Karlsson’s mishaps and Penguins trade rumors. Hey, at least we aren’t talking politics in this week’s...
ESPN draft analyst sees defensive line, receiver on Steelers’ radar, but in which order?
Fresh off watching prospects work out at the scouting combine, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid projected the Pittsburgh Steelers to take a wide receiver and defensive lineman — each from Texas — in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft next month. He admits the order could be reversed....
Mark Madden: Bargain shopping Steelers likely to again make mediocre moves during free agency
NFL free agency starts March 12. That’s not far off. But there’s no reason to be excited about what the Steelers will do. Because they won’t do anything. Not until the first wave subsides. Then the Steelers will do their usual bargain shopping. The Steelers have a little over $60...
First Call: Justin Fields as Steelers’ 1st QB choice may be brewing; a look at chances of landing Davante Adams, Darius Slayton
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some direction for speculation about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation. We have gambling odds on the Steelers acquiring Davante Adams and information on another wide receiver who may be in the mix. Plus, we check in on a former Penguin who is hunting a career milestone,...
Tim Benz: Travis Hunter’s ‘2-way player’ opinion makes sense but misses bigger picture
Maybe we finally found something Travis Hunter can’t do: talk baseball. The college football star recently won the Heisman Trophy as a two-way player. He excelled as a cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado. Now he is about to become a first-round draft choice, and many are wondering if he...
Steelers’ search for running back depth leads them to deep draft class at NFL Combine
Defensive line remains the cream of the NFL Draft crop, but a position on the offensive side is gaining steam after the conclusion of the scouting combine. Running backs did nothing to hurt their collective draft stock after testing took place over the weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis....
After initial hesitation, Ross votes to approve former Steeler’s medical marijuana dispensary
While the Ross commissioners voted to table the approval of a medical marijuana dispensary on McKnight Road at its last meeting, the nine member board voted unanimously Monday to allow the facility to operate. The dispensary will sit at 7725 McKnight Road, where G&G Fitness Equipment currently resides. That will...
First Call: Darius Slay, Mike Hilton may be among available CBs; ex-Steelers DB coach lands NFC job
Tuesday’s “First Call” has details about a future free-agent cornerback from Philadelphia that may be of interest to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Steelers cornerback is in the news as well. An ex-Steelers assistant coach lands a job in the NFC South. We look at the Penguins’ next opponent, and...
First Call: Derek Carr, Sam Darnold named among Steelers’ backup plans at QB; some Rickard Rakell trade options
Justin Fields may be emerging ahead of Russell Wilson as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top option at quarterback. That said, the team may have some backup plans as well. We have a framework for what Jaylen Warren may cost at running back. And we connect the dots with clubs that may...
Tim Benz: Where Omar Khan’s positive spin on George Pickens may be coming from
If you squint, you can maybe see a path that wide receiver George Pickens can walk down with the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least one more year. And based on how general manager Omar Khan spoke about Pickens this past week at the NFL scouting combine, he started doing exactly...
Madden Monday: Whether Steelers keep Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, assume they should have done the opposite
For every report that says the Pittsburgh Steelers are leaning toward bringing back Russell Wilson, there seems to be one that says they are actually more likely to keep Justin Fields. And for every rumor that says the Steelers will retain Fields, there’s one that says Wilson will be the...
Steelers show interest in Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, the anti-diva wide receiver in his class
From Antonio Brown to Diontae Johnson to Chase Claypool to George Pickens, Mike Tomlin has coached his share of problematic wide receivers on the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past decade. The first three played their way out of the organization via trade, and the jury remains out on whether Pickens...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers’ indecision could cost them
As anybody with a brain knew, Matthew Stafford will not be a Steeler. A report says that the Steelers called the Los Angeles Rams about Stafford, but the quarterback had zero interest in coming to Pittsburgh. (Stafford decided to stay with the Rams.) As Jarrett Bailey of The Sporting News...
No shortage of quarterbacks trying to catch attention of Steelers, other NFL teams at combine
INDIANAPOLIS — Because they don’t have any of their quarterbacks from the 2024 season under contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers have used the offseason to heavily scout the prospects. The process began at the Shrine and Senior Bowl all-star events and continued this week at the NFL Combine. General manager Omar...
First Call: Another round of Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors; Roman Wilson was ‘at no point’ NFL game ready for Steelers
Get ready for another round of Brandon Aiyuk trade drama. We give you some more texture to Roman Wilson’s lack of participation during the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season. You’ll be introduced to a potential Steelers draft prospect with a local connection. Plus, we preview the Penguins’ busy weekend and update...
Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew looking to use NFL Combine as hair-raising chance to impress scouts
INDIANAPOLIS — Gavin Bartholomew doesn’t have the best stats among tight ends at the NFL Combine. He doesn’t have the top pedigree, either, among the 21 prospects at his position invited to attend the annual event. But the four-year starter from Pitt excels in one easy-to-detect area. Bartholomew arguably has...
Penn State star DE Abdul Carter dealing with foot injury that may impact his ranking as No. 1 overall pick
INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter already wasn’t planning to work out at the NFL Combine because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the College Football Playoffs. A foot injury revealed Wednesday night apparently won’t derail his plans to attend his school’s pro day. Nor, according...
Tim Benz: Playing the WR ‘butterfly effect’ game with Omar Khan isn’t getting the answers Steelers fans want
If we are going to play the “butterfly effect” game with the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers, let’s at least talk about the right butterfly. While addressing Steelers media members Tuesday, general manager Omar Khan was asked how he evaluated the midseason trades for Mike Williams and Preston Smith and if he...
U mad, bro?: Fans gripe over NFL player grades for Mike Tomlin; Omar Khan’s quotes; Penguins losing
In this week’s “U mad, bro,” we’ve got some people rolling their eyes at Omar Khan’s quotes about the Steelers roster. We have lots of people fed up with the Penguins. And there are a surprising amount of people agitated about the Eagles’ Tush Push. Ah! Enjoy spring training, Pirates....
Steelers looking to improve run defense, and former Michigan DT Kenneth Grant thinks he can help
INDIANAPOLIS — Bigger is better as far as Kenneth Grant is concerned. One of the largest specimens at the NFL Combine, the junior defensive tackle from Michigan stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at 342 pounds. He has the size to fit squarely in the middle of an NFL team’s...
NFLPA report card gives high marks to Mike Tomlin, low grade to Steelers ownership
INDIANAPOLIS — The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that unlike the previous year, they received zero F grades in the NFL Players’ Association’s third annual team report card that was released Wednesday. The bad news? For the second year in a row, they continued to rank No. 28...
First Call: Steelers to meet with Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty; former WR trade target may be off limitsVideo
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet with a Heisman Trophy finalist at the NFL Scouting Combine. A former trade target of the team may be off the market. Both the Duquesne men’s and women’s basketball teams are in action Wednesday. And Alex Ovechkin has done it again....
