Steelers Daily Links: Ben Talks Camp; Najee Future Warning

🏈 The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently 2.5-point home underdogs for their Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. According to BetMGM, 74% of the bets have been placed on the Steelers at +2.5.

🏈 Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy remains on target for the season opener against the Steelers. Maiocco said Purdy ‘s rehab is on schedule and there’s been no setbacks. The team hopes that Purdy can return at some point late in training camp. Purdy underwent surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on March 10. He was given a six-month recovery timeline, with a slow buildup.

🏈 Former Steelers guard Ramon Foster said on his podcast that fans need to treat Najee Harris better or he’s going to eventually want out.

“Those who say we want Najee gone, don’t be upset if Najee says some stuff in public or Najee is a little bit more sinister about his attitude and how fans treat him,” Foster said. “Because all that will play a part in it too, ‘Oh, y’all want me going? Okay, I don’t want to be here.’ That is my player side because people are so quick to turn the page on a guy because of ‘bad production.'”

Harris has received some flak from fans and analyst for averaging 3.9 yards per carry in his career. There’s even been Trent Richardson comparisons. The rise of Jaylen Warren also has played a factor into the anti-Najee dialogue.

“I’ll say this, when you got two that can work like this, just appreciate both,” Foster said. “Because Najee does stuff that Jaylen doesn’t and Jaylen does stuff that Najee doesn’t.”

🏈 Footbahlin podcast: Ben Roethlisberger and Spence Te’o sat down to catch up before the start of training camp. Roethlisberger shared life updates, how he used to prepare for training camp and some tools he uses to help him lead his family in Biblical discipleship.

🏈 The Score: Minkah Fitzpatrick is the only player in the NFL who has recorded at least 15 interceptions and three pick-sixes since 2019.

🎂 Happy Birthday to former Steelers punter Josh Miller, born on July 14, 1970 in Queens, New York. Miller punter for the Steelers from 1996-2003. In a 2003 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Miller completed an 81-yard touchdown pass to Steelers’ teammate Chris Hope. This tied a record held by Gary Hammond and Arthur Marshall for the longest pass completion by a non-quarterback in NFL history. Miller signed with the New England Patriots following the 2003 season and won a Super Bowl in 2004. In Super Bowl XXXIX, Miller had two notable punts, one to the Eagles’ 7-yard line and another that pinned the Eagles back at their own 4-yard line with just 46 seconds left in the game.

Miller finished his career with the Tennessee Titans in 2007 and 2008. Miller joined KDKA-FM in 2010 and co-hosted The Fan Morning Show with Colin Dunlap and Jim Colony until April 2018.

🎥 Superstars Competition on Twitter posted a throwback clip of the running relay event of the 1976 Superteams final between the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the World Series Champion Cincinnati Reds.

Here is the Running Relay event of the 1976 Superteams final between Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh @steelers and the World Series Champion Cincinnati @Reds @MelBlountYLI @KenGriffeyJr7 @PeteRose_14 @JohnnyBench_5 @mroctober @Lynn88Swann @OfRawly @francoharrishof pic.twitter.com/6Ozy84duCY

— Superstars Competition (@SuperstarsComp) July 13, 2023

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry says he’s healthy after an injury-plagued year.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates have transferred right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras to their Florida Complex League team at Pirates City in Bradenton.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Secondary ACC football and basketball games will move from regional sports networks to The CW, starting with Pitt vs. Cincinnati.

West Virginia Sports Now: Neal Brown will once again be handling the play-calling duties for the WVU offense.

Nittany Sports Now: Penn State waited too long to make an offer to keep Micah Shrewsberry, he said in an interview with CBS.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Albert Dikwa scored his 10th goal of the season as the Riverhounds stayed unbeaten since April with a 1-0 win over Louisville City.