Steelers Daily Links: Pickens Breakout Predicted; Ward on Claypool

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has been named a breakout candidate for 2023, while former star Hines Ward was critical of the way Chase Claypool conducted his business during his time in Pittsburgh.

ESPN: Matt Bowen thinks George Pickens will be a “breakout player” in 2023. “Pickens has all the traits of a boundary receiver who can be isolated to win with his frame, ball skills and three-level ability,” Bowen wrote. “Given another year of development and with quarterback Kenny Pickett, Pickens should play a difference-making role in ‘23. He had 801 receiving yards in his rookie campaign.

Steelers legend Hines Ward blasted Chase Claypool for his immaturity during his time in Pittsburgh. “With Chase, it became more about Chase and less about the team,” Ward said in a recent interview with Steelers Talk by Chat Sports. “The team comes first before any individual accolade. There is a little more of maturity level, he needs to grow up a little bit.” Although he was critical of Claypool, Ward did wish him the best of luck and wanted to see him succeed in Chicago.

JuJu Smith-Schuster thanked the Kansas City Chiefs training staff for getting him ready for the Super Bowl. Smith-Schuster said he could barely walk after suffering a knee injury in the AFC Championship Game. “I’m so lucky to have a great team and staff helping me get out there. After the AFC title game, I didn’t think it would be possible but they made it happen,” Smith-Schuster tweeted.

Former Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams tweeted that he would go into media but he feels that it’s a lane that is currently oversaturated.

Eric Bieniemy was officially named the Washington Commanders new offensive coordinator on Saturday. Many believe that Bieniemy was bypassed on head coaching jobs because he didn’t call the plays in Kansas City (Andy Reid did). Understudies of Reid like Doug Pederson, Matt Nagy, Brad Childress and Pat Shurmur all got head coach opportunities, but that hasn’t come to fruition for Bieniemy yet. A fact that Mike Tomlin finds head-scratching.

“Bieniemy is a real head-scratcher for me,” Tomlin said in 2021. “Every offensive coordinator Andy Reid has had in the last 20 years got a head job. One of those guys, Brad Childress, hired me in Minnesota in 2006. Now, Andy has the best offense he’s ever had and [Bieniemy] can’t get a job?”

Steelers: breaks down the top touchdowns from the Steelers 2022 season.

STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

Steelers Draft Digest: Kelee Ringo Mock, Julius Brents Fit in Pittsburgh?

🎂 Happy 66th birthday to former Steelers cornerback and current Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judge Dwayne Woodruff. Turning 31 today is former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Foul trouble plagued the Pitt basketball team in a loss at Virginia Tech.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Devils burn Penguins, 5-2.

West Virginia Sports Now: Erik Stevenson said West Virginia basketball was missing energy in its loss to Texas Tech.

Nittany Sports Now: Jalen Pickett scored 32 as Penn State beat Minnesota.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Pirates pitcher Roansy Contreras wants to be known for his attitude.