Steelers News: Several Steelers volunteer to bring hope to their community

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. Unable to attend most player pro days and participating in the NFL’s first virtual draft, the Steelers keep pushing forward toward a return to football activities. Just because the Steelers are unable to hold their typical OTA’s and the NFL has cancelled the 2020 Hall of Fame Game doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at two Steelers and their spouses stepping up to help others in a time of need.

Let’s get to the news:

• Ben Roethlisberger and Vance McDonald put in time to help their community

Delivering hope to those who need it

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

With the Pittsburgh region re-opened for the most part following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the perception among many is that things are returning to normal and those who lost their jobs during this tough time are back to work.

But, as we all know, perception is a far cry from reality.

While some things have come back, and some jobs that were lost have returned, there are many people still suffering financially due to the pandemic, with many jobs sadly never returning.

Families have suffered, individuals have suffered, and the region in general has suffered. And when there is suffering in the Pittsburgh area, the community steps up.

That is exactly what the Steelers organization has done throughout the last few months, and that continued this week when the Steelers teamed with Convoy of Hope to provide basic necessities for families in Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland County.

Ben Roethlisberger and his wife, Ashley, and Vance McDonald and his wife, Kendi, worked with the Steelers organization to spearhead a distribution through Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization that’s main passion is to feed the world through ‘children’s feeding initiatives, community outreach and disaster response.’ The organization worked directly with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, who are distributing the items to agencies they work with throughout the region.

“There has always been a need to reach out and help,” said Ashley Roethlisberger. “There have always been people who are struggling and in need of food and especially during these times, people who have normally been okay have found themselves in difficult situations. It was a blessing that the people in Pittsburgh have focused on what the needs in the city are and how we can meet them. We’re thankful for Convoy of Hope because that is their mission, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We’re just happy to be able to partner with them to feed families in need, the people who wouldn’t normally go to food banks or have those same connections can still go to these distributions and be fed through alternative ways. We are just happy to be able to help do that.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Outlining the Sunday night rematch with the Buffalo Bills

Steelers 2020 Breakdown: Week 14, Bills

By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports

In 2019, the Steelers had a golden opportunity to put a dent in the Bills’ playoff chances and, in turn, boost their own odds to make the postseason. The game was flexed to prime time and color-rush uniforms were worn, but it affect change the outcome. Will the Steelers get revenge in 2020? Time to break down the matchup.

MATCHUP

Opponent: Bills
2019 Record: 10-6
Overall History (W/L): 16-10 for Steelers
Last 4 Games: 3-1, for Steelers
Opening Line: Bills (-2.5)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 13
Time: 8:20 p.m.
Location: Buffalo

OUTGOING PLAYERS/ FREE-AGENT LOSSES

RB Frank Gore (Signed by the Jets; one-year deal)
RB Senorise Perry (Signed by the Titans; one-year deal)
DE Shaq Lawson (Signed by the Dolphins; three-year deal)
DT Jordan Phillips (Signed by the Cardinals; three-year deal)
CB Kevin Johnson (Signed by the Browns; one-year deal)

RETIREMENTS

LB Lorenzo Alexander

FREE-AGENT ADDITIONS

CB Josh Norman (One-year deal)
DE Mario Addison (Three-year deal)
LB A.J. Klein (Three-year deal)
LB Tyler Matakevich (Two-year deal)
DL Quinton Jefferson (Two-year deal)
DT Vernon Butler (Two-year deal)
RB Taiwan Jones (One-year deal)
CB E.J. Gaines (One-year deal)
OL Daryl Williams (One-year deal)
OL Evan Boehm (One-year deal)
OL Garrett McGhin (One-year deal)
LB Mike Bell (Three-year rookie deal)
DE Bryan Cox, Jr. (One-year deal)

PLAYERS VIA TRADE

WR Stefon Diggs

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Recently drafted Kevin Dotson and Carlos Davis join Maurkice Pouncey as beeing Steelers players who have twin brothers

Two draft picks are part of a matching set

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

(This article first appeared in the most recent issue of Steelers Digest)

Its name on a map is Pittsburgh, and to Steelers fans who remember the early 1990s it’s sometimes referred to as Blitzburgh. And now, in the Steelers locker room, the city we call home can be known as ‘Twins-burgh.’

The reason is simple. After the 2020 NFL Draft the Steelers now have three players on the roster who are one of a set of twins. Everyone knows about Maurkice Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike Pouncey. But he now is joined by two rookies who have twin brothers, fourth-round pick Kevin Dotson and seventh-round pick Carlos Davis, whose twin brother, Khalil Davis, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

You don’t have to ask Kevin Dotson to identify his best friend. It’s a given. It’s his twin brother, Kenny Dotson.

“That’s the thing about it,” said Dotson. “Having a twin, you are born with a best friend already. You have a head start on everybody else. Having that close bond, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. He is the person I am closest to. Everything we have done we have done together.

“I think the most fun thing is knowing you have someone to do something with any time of the day. When we were younger you didn’t have to have a cell phone or any type of social media to say, let’s go to the park. That is guaranteed time right there to have someone to hang out with.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed

BTSC’s exclusive interview with Zach Banner

Chris Boswell enters the 2020 season as one of the NFL’s best kickers

Steelers secondary film room: Looking to 2020

NFL training camps are expected to begin on schedule

Will TE Zach Gentry find a role with the 2020 Steelers?

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