Steelers News: James Conner remains humble as he approaches 2019 as the starter

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how running back James Conner is approaching this 2019 season, his first as the feature back, with a rare humility.

Let’s get to the news:

• James Conner enters 2019 different than any other year of his Steelers career. As a rookie, he just wanted to make the team and make an impact. In 2018 he entered training camp just trying to keep Le’Veon Bell’s seat warm until he arrived. But this year he is the feature back — period.

James Conner’s 2019 approach: ‘I haven’t earned anything’

By: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN

James Conner’s experience showed during a media session after Tuesday’s organized team activities, which shouldn’t surprise given his battle-tested first two NFL seasons.

The Steelers running back entered his rookie year in 2017 with much fanfare but admittedly left it humbled. Conner’s sophomore breakout coincided with the biggest storyline of the NFL season as Le’Veon Bell challenged the system with a yearlong holdout on the franchise tag.

Conner was tasked with replacing an All-Pro and friend while handling a new set of expectations on the fly. The result was a Pro Bowl campaign, and now a tone-setting leadership presence that became fairly obvious Tuesday.

Instead of declaring himself the Steelers’ top back, Conner cut in the open field. “I haven’t earned anything,” Conner said. “That’s what training camp and everything is for.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Steelers are excited to be back to work, and they are showing it during OTAs.

‘It’s really good to be a Steeler right now’

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

Whatever the Steelers have been doing the past two weeks, they’ve been doing it with enthusiasm.

That isn’t a revelation, but for a team coming off a non-playoff season and an off-season of high-profile turnover and tumult, it’s been a welcome respite from what had been an unenviable norm.

“Man, it’s just a good feeling to get back out here,” cornerback Joe Haden announced. “When you start putting helmets on, when you start going against the offense, that’s just what it’s really about.”

Added quarterback Ben Roethlisberger: “This is kinda the first football thing. To be able to come out here and put a helmet on and get under center and get snaps and throw to guys and go against the defense, it’s kinda turned back to football again, it’s fun.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• Don’t ask Maurkice Pouncey about the media’s criticism, and portrayal, of his quarterback Ben Roethlisberer — he doesn’t take too kindly to that.

Maurkice Pouncey: “No point” in talking about “absolutely” unfair criticism of Ben Roethlisberger

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

The periodic criticism of Steelers quarterback Mr. Ben Roethlisberger continues, with former Steelers linebacker and former Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter becoming the latest former coworker to sound off. Current teammate Maurkice Pouncey isn’t interested in getting into a back-and-forth over it.

“I said what I said,” Pouncey told reporters on Wednesday regarding his part support of the team’s quarterback, via Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Everybody knows I support him. There’s no point in even talking about it.”

Pouncey called the criticism of Roethlisberger “absolutely” unfair, and he said again that there is “no point in asking that question.”

The drama and dysfunction that have enveloped the team in recent months has had a positive impact, as Pouncey explained it.

To read the full article, click HERE

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