Steelers News: Mark Barron’s versatility will have Steelers fans rethinking the number 26 in 2019

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the gridiron with the NFL preseason upon us. With exhibition games underway, the news surrounding the black-and-gold is just starting to heat up. As the team prepares for the coming season, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Mark Barron is out to blaze his own trail with the No. 26 on his back.

Let’s get to the news:

• When the Steelers acquired Mark Barron this offseason, they gave him the No. 26. Barron knows what this carries with it.

Kevin Gorman: Mark Barron picked perfect number, position to play for Steelers

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

When Mark Barron signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was issued a number of notoriety. No. 26 was last worn by Le’Veon Bell, the All-Pro running back who sat out last season, and worn best by Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.

“I do know Rod, and I do know about Le’Veon,” Barron said, “but I don’t know that much about the history of the number, besides those two.”

Where the Steelers never made a Super Bowl with Bell, they did with their previous players to wear No. 26. It also was donned by several Steelers who played in Super Bowls, from wide receiver Preston Pearson to cornerbacks Woodson and Deshea Townsend. Running back Rocky Bleier even was assigned the number as a rookie before switching to No. 20.

So Barron shares something in common with his predecessors wearing No. 26 for the Steelers in that he’s a skill player who has appeared in a Super Bowl. That came last season when the Los Angeles Rams lost to the New England Patriots. The Steelers play the Patriots in the regular-season opener, and Barron intercepted Tom Brady in a preseason game his rookie season.

In that sense, Barron appears to be a perfect fit.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• A recap of the Steelers 17-7 win over the Chiefs via Bob Labriola.

Labriola on the win over the Chiefs

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

Training camp is supposed to be a test. It’s supposed to push players to their limits. It’s supposed to be miserable. It’s supposed to weed out the weak. But it never was meant to go so far as to require the services of professional grief counselors.

But that’s the kind of week it was for the Steelers. Their final week at Saint Vincent College this summer began with a death in the family, an event that had Mike Tomlin use the word “devastated” to describe its effect.

Exactly one week ago today, the Steelers awoke to the news that Darryl Drake was dead, their wide receivers coach by job description but their spiritual compass and support system in reality. A man who had been with them for barely 18 months and yet had managed to make a lifelong impact on so many of them was gone, ripped from them by a horrible tragedy.

At the end of that week from hell was a football game, the second of four in this preseason, and it was their job to perform to a standard, to a professional level if they wanted to have a future in this profession. And so it was that some five days after meeting with grief counselors the Steelers had a football game to play against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field, and even though that game would not count in the standings it still was one where jobs would be on the line.

Their sport is not for the mentally weak, and it cannot be played without the proper approach leading up to kickoff and then without the proper mind-set once the football is on the tee. After being given some space and a couple of days to come to terms with their grief, the Steelers went back to work, but things were hardly back to normal. Their first practice after Drake’s death reflected their fragile emotional state, and while it got better the next day they still were having to deal with the constant reminders of the man they had lost.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• It seems this Antonio Brown helmet nonsense isn’t going away.

Antonio Brown files a new helmet grievance

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

It’s time for Antonio Brown Helmet Grievance 2.0.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Raiders receiver has filed a new grievance regarding the league’s decision to prevent him from wearing a Schutt AiR Advantage helmet that is less than 10 years old.

Last Monday, a neutral, independent arbitrator found that Brown could not wear a helmet that is more than 10 years old; NOCSAE won’t recertifiy any helmet, regardless of model, that is more than 10 years old. Since then, Brown’s representatives identified an obvious loophole. Because the Schutt AiR Advantage hasn’t been banned generally by the NFL, he should be permitted to wear one that is less than 10 years old, and that can be recertified by NOCSAE.

The NFL did not include the Schutt AiR Advantage within the list of 11 helmet models banned in 2018. The NFL also gave players wearing banned helmets a one-year grace period, allowing them to continue to wear the banned helmet while transitioning to a new model.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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