Steelers News: James Conner foresees similar role in the upcoming 2019 season

With all of the Steelers’ 2019 offseason workouts in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fan base has to suffer through the dog days of summer until the boys of fall return to the gridon. In the meantime, don’t think the news surrounding the black-and-gold is over. As the team disperses for the summer, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until training camp!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how despite talking earlier this offseason about how he will be part of a running-back-by-committee, Conner now says he foresees a similar role for himself in 2019 as he had in 2018.

Let’s get to the news:

• Maybe James Conner is keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to the Steelers’ plans for how to handle the running backs in 2019. Either way, no one knows what to think at this point...

Steelers’ James Conner: ‘I’ll have a similar role’ in ‘19

By: Kevin Patra, NFL.com

A year after James Conner was the workhorse before getting injured, the Steelers added rookie Benny Snell and perceive a heartier role for pass-catching back Jaylen Samuels. Speaking with NFL Network for an interview that will air on NFL Total Access on Monday night, Conner suggested he’s preparing for a similar workload to last season.

”I’ll have a similar role. I’m healthy, first and foremost, I’m 100 percent healthy now. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Conner said of his workload this year. “But we got talent in that room. We got Jaylen Samuels who’s a tremendous receiver, a talented runner. We got Benny Snell. We know the work that he did at Kentucky. He’s a hard-bodied runner, so all those guys will get touches. It’ll be fun this year just seeing those other guys being successful.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• A lot of people are suggesting all-time Steelers lists, and there should be some tweaks to most of those lists.

Tim Benz: All-time Steelers roster misses some marks

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

But there were a few strange omissions and choices almost nutty as that one that I feel the need to refute.

• You can’t have this list without Ernie Stautner. You can’t. Especially if you are going back in time far enough to include Jack Butler. Especially if Keith Willis is on the list at defensive end instead of him.

Also, L.C. Greenwood (and maybe Dwight White) need to be there before Brett Keisel and Cam Heyward.

• At linebacker, Andy Russell should be listed instead of Lawrence Timmons. I wouldn’t name Jason Gildon and Kevin Greene instead of Gregg Lloyd and Joey Porter. Lloyd and Porter were more multi-dimensional than Gildon and Greene. Plus, for as great as Greene was, his stint in Pittsburgh was only three years long.

• William Gay did more good here at safety than people remember. But the dawn never came up on a day when he should be on a list like this more so than Mike Wagner.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Despite the outcome of these talks, this is good news for football fans.

NFL, NFLPA to meet July 17-19 to negotiate new CBA

By: Kevin Patra, NFL.com

The three-day summit will be the first time sides have negotiated for three consecutive days in an effort to hammer out the more difficult issues. Sides have met thrice previously this offseason.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported in May that talks have been described as “cordial” and “amicable” by multiple sources at the early stages. We’ll see if things get more contentious during the July meetings.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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