Steelers Daily News & Links: Ike Taylor Was Almost Drafted by Washington; Look Back at Jerome Bettis Trade

Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group

🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback and current team scout Ike Taylor revealed on the Bleav in Steelers podcast that he was almost drafted by Washington in the 2003 NFL Draft.

“Washington was the first team that called,” Taylor said. “They were like, ‘We’re about to draft you.’ Then the next phone call came from the 412 and you know when it came to that 412, Coach [Bill] Cowher and Kevin Colbert said, ‘How would you feel being a Steeler? I said, ‘Oh well, there goes Washington.'”

Ike Taylor was selected in the fourth round (125th overall) out of Louisiana-Lafayette by the Steelers. Taylor won two Super Bowls with the Steelers in his 12-year career in the Steel City, so things turned out pretty well for him instead of landing in Washington.

🏈 Saturday marked the 28th anniversary of the Steelers trade for Jerome Bettis, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career. It’s considered the best trade in franchise history, without a doubt. The Steelers acquired Bettis from the St. Louis Rams, along with a third-round draft pick, in exchange for a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick.

OTD in 1996, we acquired @JeromeBettis36 in a draft day trade with the Rams. pic.twitter.com/sRphdFhlau

— Steelers History (@SteelersHistory) April 20, 2024

🏈 Steel City Star shared a clip of ESPN’s draft coverage in 1996 when Jerome Bettis was traded by the Rams to the Steelers. Joe Theismann wanted to see the Steelers select fullback Mike Alstott to pair with Bettis, but Pittsburgh selected offensive tackle Jamain Stephens out of North Carolina A&T instead. Stephens played just three seasons with the Steelers and was cut by Bill Cowher after he failed the conditioning test at the first day of training camp in 1999.

OTD in 1996….

The Steelers trade for Jerome Bettis

Former Steeler Mark Malone was the first to break the news as it happened during ESPN’s coverage of the 1996 draft.

Malone also predicted what Pittsburgh’s first pick would thus be, though I love Theismann’s idea. pic.twitter.com/58afQoqdsI

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) April 20, 2024

🏈 Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson talked about being in Pittsburgh and his experience at PNC Park during an interview with Hannah Mears of SportsNet Pittsburgh at the Pirates-Red Sox game on Friday night.

"The fans have been amazing. We're all excited to get after it… I just love playing the game. This is my first love when I was growing up. So, baseball means a lot to me."@DangeRussWilson on being in Pittsburgh and his experience at PNC Park@mearshannah_ | #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/kQdluoDYgl

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 19, 2024

🏈 Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was spotted shopping at Zeds on the South Side.

Was in Pittsburgh 20 minutes yesterday and met GP at Zeds. It was a fabulous birthday!💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/BlUx6yyklq

— Miranda♛ (@_mirandabman) April 20, 2024

🎥 Caleb Williams talked about the day the Bears traded Justin Fields on The Pivot Podcast.

Caleb Williams talks about the day the Bears traded Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/xu3bsdFUtp

— Dave (@dave_bfr) April 19, 2024

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