Steelers News: The Steelers are putting all their chips on Ben Roethlisberger in 2019

It is hard to believe, but the Pittsburgh Steelers return to the gridiron this week when they report back to training camp. In the meantime, don’t think the news surrounding the black-and-gold is over. As the team returns from their summer break, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until training camp starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers have put all their chips on the No. 7 square for the 2019 season.

Let’s get to the news:

• When the Steelers made some key moves this offseason, the most glaring was how they have banked, both figuratively and literally, on Ben Roethlisberger.

Kevin Gorman: Steelers bank big on Big Ben to lead them to Super Bowl

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

From an outside perspective, this will be remembered as the offseason that the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with a pair of All-Pro players in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

The Steelers prefer another narrative: This is the year they banked on Ben Roethlisberger, not only by giving their franchise quarterback a two-year, $68-million contract extension through 2021 but also locking up his offensive line.

When the Steelers report to training camp Thursday at Saint Vincent, they do so as Big Ben’s team in every way imaginable. Not that it ever was secret, but Roethlisberger now has more job security than general manager Kevin Colbert or coach Mike Tomlin, whose contracts run through 2020.

It comes with one condition: win a Super Bowl.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Taking a unique look at the upcoming Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland rivalry which seems poised to be renewed this season.

Mark Madden: Steelers-Browns example of hope vs. hype

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

With NFL training camps fast approaching, the AFC North’s main rivalry is abundantly clear.

It’s hope vs. hype.

The Steelers hope rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush fills the hole left by Ryan Shazier when he got hurt 20 months ago. The Steelers hope losing Antonio Brown’s noise helps more than losing Brown’s talent hurts.

The Cleveland Browns, meantime, are bolstered by hype worthy of the Backstreet Boys in the ’90s. It is gratuitous. It is loud. It is nonstop, and it is annoying.

It’s fortunate in one regard: With Baltimore fading (maybe) and Cincinnati continuing to be Cincinnati, hope vs. hype jump-starts a rivalry that has been mostly dormant (and certainly lopsided) since the Browns re-entered the NFL in 1999.

The Steelers are 34-6-1 against the Browns since ’99.

Ben Roethlisberger has 11 wins at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium. That’s more victories than any quarterback in that facility’s history. The Browns have started 30 quarterbacks since ’99.

That history is apparently irrelevant since Odell Beckham Jr. migrated from New Jersey to Cleveland and because quarterback Baker Mayfield (aka Johnny Manziel Jr.) had a decent rookie year for Cleveland.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping for a bounce back season from their kickers, but nothing is certain heading into training camp.

Kicking game questions and (potential) answers

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

— Punter Jordan Berry’s quest for a more dependable game.

Smith: “Jordan has played well at times and played very average at times. He just needs to relax. He’s quite capable, but we need a consistency level from him. I’m looking for him to be more consistent.”

— The impact of special teams contributions in determining the final roster.

Smith: “We have a good football team and we’ll pick a good football team and the decision-makers will make those decisions on the personnel and what 53 we carry into the season. We have good prospects for that. We’re gonna release some guys that can play this year, that’s my opinion at this point.

“We haven’t even had pads on yet, so that’s maybe speaking a little quick, too, but I expect that.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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