Steelers Daily Links: Big Ben, Kordell Support Canada

Two former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks have come out in support of offensive coordinator Mat Canada.

🏈 The Steelers were the sixth-best team against the spread this year at 10-6-1. Only the Giants, Bengals, Lions, Chargers and 49ers did better against the house.

🏈 Cam Heyward thinks the Steelers would have made some noise in the playoffs had they got in. “We had an opportunity, you know, (to) play spoiler in the playoffs,” Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast. “I felt like we were a team really starting to find our groove and find a way to win. And, you know, I think we’re developing a formula that can win.”

🏈 Ben Roethlisberger gave a vote of confidence to Matt Canada on his Footbahlin podcast. “I thought Matt did great,” Roethlisberger said. “People talk about ‘get rid of him’ this, that and the other, but 7-2 down the stretch, found a way. “They wanted Randy Fichtner running out of here after we were putting up 30-some points a game and throwing the ball too much, and now we’re running the ball a lot and they want to throw the ball and put up points.”

🏈 Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart thinks firing Matt Canada would cause Kenny Pickett to have a setback. “A new offense? It’s not easy. It’s HARD. It should be a great concern,” Stewart said on 93.7 The Fan.

🏈 Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman thinks the future is bright for the Steelers: “I’m excited for the Pittsburgh Steelers going forward, and I’m so proud and I’m such a big fan of Coach (Mike) Tomlin and how he was able to handle this year,” Edelman said on Inside the NFL.

🏈 In 2022, Kenny Pickett tied Baker Mayfield (2018) for the most game-winning drives (4) by a rookie quarterback in a season over the past five years.

🏈 Since 2021, the Steelers are 17-5 when T.J. Watt plays at least 50% of the defensive snaps. When he plays less than 50%, Pittsburgh is 1-10-1.

🏈 Mike Tomlin encouraged Steelers Nation on Twitter to vote for Cam Heyward as Walter Payton Man of the Year. “Steelers Nation, you know what to do. Retweet this for my guy, @CamHeyward. He deserves your support,” Tomlin tweeted. The 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a prime-time awards special to air nationally on the Thursday (Feb. 9) before Super Bowl LVII on NBC. This is the fifth time Heyward has been the Steelers’ nominee, last nominated in 2021.

🏈 NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger broke down Steelers rookie inside linebacker Mark Robinson’s Week 18 performance against the Browns. Baldinger sees a lot of potential and upside in the seventh-round pick out of the University of Mississippi.

🏈 Former Browns running back Peyton Hillis is “on the road to recovery” after the accident in which he rescued his kids from drowning. Hillis was in critical condition and remained at the ICU for an extended period. Hillis is now off the ventilator and doing better.

🏈 With Lamar Jackson (knee) missing his 17th straight practice on Thursday, all signs point to the All-Pro quarterback missing the Ravens wild-card playoff game against the Bengals on Sunday night. Jackson released a statement about his injury on Twitter Thursday night.

“Thank you everyone for your support and concerns regarding my injuries. I want to give you all an update as I am in the recovery process. I’ve suffered a PCL grade 2 sprain on the borderline of a strain 3. There is still inflammation surrounding my knee and my knee. “(It) remains unstable. I’m still in good spirits, as I continue with treatments on the road to recovery. I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything but I can’t give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans I’m still hopeful we still have a chance.”

🏈 NFL historian Kevin Gallagher posted a great photo of Super Bowl IX between the Steelers and Vikings on the 48th anniversary, which occurred Thursday. Super Bowl IX was the final NFL game at “The Sugar Bowl,” New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium. The game was originally scheduled to be played in the Superdome, but it was unfinished.

Final NFL game at "The Sugar Bowl", #NewOrleans' Tulane Stadium#Steelers–#Vikings
Super Bowl IX, 48 years ago today pic.twitter.com/rR18syGjEu

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 12, 2023

🎂 Happy birthday 51st birthday to former Steelers running back Bam Morris, born this day in 1972 in Cooper, Texas. Morris Rushed for 1,395 yards in 28 games in his two-year Steelers career.

💰Get a $50 free bet and a deposit match of up to $1,000 with DraftKings.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

🏈 The Steelers will continue their exit interviews, locker clean-out and other break-up activities. 

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