The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is over, but if you think the news surrounding the black-and-gold is over — think again. For the drama-filled Steelers, things are just heating up, and this is where the daily links article comes in. You might have missed some key news, and we fill you in and give you the latest, and sometimes greatest, news surrounding the Steelers.

Today in the Black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the 2019 Steelers very well might be defined by the adjustments, and change, which is likely to occur throughout this offseason — sculpting a new team.

Let’s get to the news:

Analysis: Locking up Roethlisberger, adjustments in works

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

While much of the focus right now has been on the failures of the Steelers’ defense and special teams after coming a half-game short of reaching the postseason, the offense was not without its share of the blame.

The Steelers finished the 2018 season ranked fourth in total offense and tied for sixth in scoring offense. But they also finished seventh in giveaways with 26, and none of the teams that had more qualifyied for the playoffs.

The Steelers offense isn’t in need of a total makeover, even if the team does trade Antonio Brown. Replacing a player considered one of the best to ever play the position would be a blow. But it’s not one the Steelers couldn’t overcome with some adjustments.

Life without Brown wouldn’t be the same. But it doesn’t necessarily need to be based on what the Steelers choose to do with their offense.

The stats show Ben Roethlisberger threw 16 interceptions in 2018, matching the second-largest total in his 15-year career.

But diving deeper into those numbers shows the quarterback wasn’t any more turnover prone than he’s been at any point. In fact, it actually shows Roethlisberger took better care of the football in 2018 than he has in previous seasons.

While Roethlisberger’s interception total did, indeed, match the 16 interceptions he threw in 2015 for the second-most in his career — behind only a forgettable 2006 season — his interception percentage (measured in interceptions thrown per every 100 passes) was one of the lowest in his career.

(For more, click the link in the headline above...)

VIDEO: ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith doesn’t want to hear about a possible Antonio Brown trade

To view the video click HERE.

Mark Madden: Steelers must excise destructive Antonio Brown

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Owner/president Art Rooney said it would be “hard to envision” Antonio Brown at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

That sounds like a one-way ticket to Palookaville, even though the Steelers would have to absorb a $21.1 million cap hit if they Brown. But if a bum tooth hurts bad enough, you get it yanked even if your dental insurance stinks.

The Steelers won’t get equal return for Brown. He will fetch a late first-round pick at best, more likely a second-round pick.

Every team thinks it can fix a problem: “It’ll be different here.”

But Brown should make even the most cockeyed of optimists tread lightly, and with good reason. He will behave the same wherever he goes. But at his next stop, Brown won’t have the cachet he built up during his nine seasons in Pittsburgh. The citizens will be quicker to anger, especially if Brown, at 30, sees his play decline sooner, not later.

It’s absurd when it’s said that the Steelers, or Rooney, or coach Mike Tomlin, or team leadership “let” Brown act as he has. He’s a grown man. He’s responsible, period.

Brown would have operated the same if Chuck Noll was coaching. (The situation would have come to a head much earlier.)

Here’s hoping Brown goes to New York. Brown’s shenanigans + New York’s usual lack of patience and tact=slapstick that could dwarf what happened in Pittsburgh.

Rooney left himself one minuscule out regarding Brown’s likely departure: He said he would speak to some of the team’s leaders about the situation.

What those leaders really think would be interesting. Especially quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

On one hand, Brown has been Roethlisberger’s top target for six years.

On the other hand, Brown has been an excruciating headache for Roethlisberger almost every day of those six years. The animosity between the two spilled over in that Dec. 26 practice. Roethlisberger chastised Brown for running a bad route. Brown fired a ball at Roethlisberger, walked out and wasn’t seen or heard from for three days.

That was that play’s denouement, not it’s first act. A quarterback throws to the open receiver. But Brown thinks he’s always open. He whines nonstop when he doesn’t get the ball. It’s about him, period.

Playing sports for a living is hard work. But it also is supposed to be fun and not just for Brown.

(For more, click the link in the headline above...)