The Pittsburgh Steelers just wrapped up the NFL preseason which means the exhibition games are over. This means the regular season is almost here, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is 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 the Steelers shouldn’t worry about easing Devin Bush into the lineup, but should baptism him by fire vs. the Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
Let’s get to the news:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it seem as if they are going to ease Devin Bush into live, regular season action in Week 1. But maybe that is the worst possible decision they could make.
Mark Madden: No need for Steelers to treat Devin Bush with kid gloves
By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
How much rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush plays Sunday at Gillette Stadium won’t determine who wins the game between the Steelers and New England.
Unless it does.
At the very least, it’s an interesting sidebar that showcases the Steelers’ conservative (perhaps antiquated) philosophy of putting rookies in safe, limited roles despite their pedigree (and/or having traded up, say, 10 spots to get them).
Troy Polamalu, for example, didn’t start a single game as a rookie. He started all of them after that.
Bush is not in the Steelers’ base 3-4. Mark Barron and Vince Williams are the inside ‘backers. Bush is in all the sub packages, so he figures to play 80 percent of the snaps.
But if the Patriots would rather go up against Williams than Bush, they can use a two-back set, as they often do. That likely would keep the Steelers’ base on the field, and quarterback Tom Brady can pick on Williams (who is substandard in coverage). Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is adept at getting the opposing defense to line up as he wants.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Johnny Holton was just happy to stick around with the Steelers, even if it was on the practice squad.
Johnny Holton happy to stick with Steelers on practice squad, staying ready for call-up
By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Turns out, the delay in naming Johnny Holton to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad earlier this week was a simple matter of family and logistics.
A veteran of parts of three seasons and 32 NFL games with the Oakland Raiders, Holton opened eyes with the Steelers during a strong preseason in which he made big plays on offense. And with his reputation as a strong special-teams “gunner,” many believed Holton had earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
Turns out, the Steelers kept just five wide receivers after final cuts. And when they named the first 10 of the 11-man practice squad Sunday, Holton was likewise omitted. Holton was indeed added to the practice squad Monday.
“It was a delay because I was in Atlanta,” Holton said, “watching my brother play college football for Alabama. I was at the game.”
Holton’s brother is Joshua Jobe, a sophomore defensive back for the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide. Alabama beat Duke, 42-3, at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta.
Two days later, though, Holton was back up north practicing with the Steelers.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Antonio Brown has gone nuts...even more nuts than we ever thought.
Antonio Brown posts video titled: This is my life. Ain’t no more games
By: Cherean Williams, ProFootballTalk
At some point, the Raiders will have had enough of Antonio Brown. Could that time be now?
Not long after a report that the Raiders had fined the star receiver, and he was not happy about it, Brown posted a video on YouTube titled “This is my life. Ain’t no more games.” It appears to include a conversation with Raiders coach Jon Gruden.
He also posted an explanation, writing, “With all these false narratives antagonizing me, it’s time for me to control my own narrative. Show the world I’m not the bad guy. Show the world you can free yourself from the lies and become your own person. I am not just AB the football player. I am Antonio Brown, the person, who paved a way from himself to be in charge of his own life. Watch for yourself. Link in bio. Free me!”
The 1:57 video includes what appears to be a phone conversation between Brown and Gruden.
“What’s up coach?” Brown answers the phone.
“What the hell’s going on, man?” Gruden asks.
“Just a villain all over the news, man,” Brown answers.
“You’re not a villain,” Gruden said. “You’re just. . .You’re the most misunderstood f—ing human being in my entire life I’ve ever met. I mean I brought you here because you’re my favorite guy. I’ve never seen a guy work harder. And I don’t know where you are in your life right now off the field. All I know is you got a lot of things going. There’s a lot of people that have an opinion about you, and whether it be good or bad, you’re in the spotlight all the time.
“Let me ask you this: Do you want to be a Raider or not?”
Brown answers, “Man, I’ve been trying to be a Raider since Day One. I’ve been f—ing working my ass off harder than anyone. I don’t know why it’s a question of me being a Raider. It’s like do you guys want me to be a Raider?”
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
Post-Practice Media sessions
Hear from Coach Fichtner, Coach Butler, Devin Bush and others as @missi_matthews gives a status update for our season opener against New England. #SteelersLive pic.twitter.com/w6BELxKWBw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 6, 2019
- Social Media Madness
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣... #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/050zkGfksw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 6, 2019
Our journey begins Sunday night. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/1JrQhR4HNp
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 7, 2019
.@TeamJuJu, @JaySam1k, and @rell_island6 talk about facing the Patriots, last year's matchup and more. pic.twitter.com/VScrBkjf3R
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 6, 2019
Our final episode of #HappyCamper is with @CharlieBatch16. Tune in as the former @steelers QB talks to Pittsburgh about being mindful in the moment, his foundation @BestoftheBatch ,and all he’s learned through his years in the NFL and life after! pic.twitter.com/ebtPRTWUFA
— EmbracePGH (@EmbracePgh) September 6, 2019
#OTD in #SteelersHistory: @CowherCBS earned his first win as #Steelers head coach in 1992 with a 29-24 win against the Oilers. pic.twitter.com/ySbxtU2Z2J
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 6, 2019