Steelers Daily Links: Ben Rips RG3; Hamlin Chirps Pickett on Slide

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett and his college teammate, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, traded some barbs about Hamlin’s late hit of Pickett last season, and Ben Roethlisberger defended his position on Lamar Jackson and took a shot at Robert Griffin III.

🏈 93.7 The Fan: NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger thinks Kenny Pickett would be the top quarterback if he was in this year’s draft. “Honestly, I don’t think there’s anybody as good as Kenny Pickett in this draft. That’s where I’m at with these quarterbacks. I’m not in love with this group,” Baldinger said.

🏈 FanDuel Sportsbook released their odds for what position the Steelers will pick at 17th overall in the draft. Offensive lineman stands as the favorite at +100, followed by cornerback at +130. Defensive lineman (+380), wide receiver (+340o), linebacker (+4000), tight end (+5000), safety (+5000) and running back (+7500) round out the list.

🏈 Footbahlin podcast: Earlier this month, Robert Griffin III ripped Ben Roethlisberger for saying “you don’t fear” Lamar Jackson as a pocket passer. While this is old news, it’s still on Roethlisberger’s mind, as he brought it up unprompted when discussing Texas star running back Bijan Robinson with Ryan Shazier on his podcast.

“Even if I compliment (Robinson), Bob Griffin will find a way to turn it around negatively,” Roethlisberger said sarcastically. “So, I’m not going to compliment him.”

“I was actually going to write (RG3) back on Twitter,” Shazier responded. “Cause he didn’t use the whole thing.”

An annoyed Roethlisberger added, “It was nothing but a compliment. I respect Lamar. Lamar is an absolute freak, and he is a game-changer. All I said was people are more scared of his legs than his arm. I have sat in meetings where we have had a game plan. No one ever said, hey get him out of the pocket.”

🏈 Sports Illustrated: Baylor nose tackle Siaka Ika reminds Cam Heyward of Steelers great Casey Hampton. “I watched a lot of D-lineman,” Heyward said. “It’s funny, I was looking at Siaka Ika from Baylor, and I was breaking down some of this tape. And you start to realize the guys you play with and who they remind you of, and you’re just like, the little things and the way he would get off blocks. I’m not saying he is Casey Hampton, but I’m just saying he plays with violent hands and is able to reset the line of scrimmage.”

🏈 The Tennessee Titans new $2.1 billion stadium project has been approved — 60,000 seats,  1.7 million square feet, circular, translucent roof, exterior terraces. The project includes $1.26 billion in public funding — the most taxpayer money for a stadium in US history, according to Joe Pompliano. Nashville’s current stadium opened in 1999 and is not even 25 years old. But the team says a renovation to get it on par with other NFL venues would cost $1.8 billion. Acrisure Stadium opened in 2001, just two years after Nissan Stadium.

🏈 The Pivot Podcast: Kenny Pickett discussed his college teammate Damar Hamlin’s late hit on him in the Buffalo Bills’ blowout win over the Steelers this past season.

“So I slid and he hit me late, and I just got up, (and) I was like, ‘Come on, man.’ Because I’ve know Damar for so long. We’ve been going at it for a long time. Practices, you name it, we would talk, everyday in practice we would go at it. Love him to death but everyday we would go. It’s good, you know competing. So I get up. He’s like, ‘Man, I was worried about the fake slide.’ I was like, ‘Get the f*** out of here!’ I was like come on bro. Whatever, man.”

Hamlin responded on Twitter to the clip of Pickett discussing the play, “I’m sorry brother but I was not about to be the next victim… 😂🫶🏾 @kennypickett10.”

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Steelers fans have done the third-most mock draft simulations this year, behind just Lions and Bears fans.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt running back Talen Brooks has entered the transfer portal.

West Virginia Sports Now: Baylor transfer wide receiver Jaylen Ellis has committed to WVU.

Nittany Sports Now: Former Penn State quarterback Will Levis has the second-best odds to be taken No. 1 overall.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Can Alex Nylander stick with the Penguins next season?

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates finally lost a game.