Steelers Daily Links: 49ers Purdy Out Long Term; Hines Ward HOF Push

A voice from outside of Pittsburgh is making a push to get Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward into the Hall of Fame and San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy could be out long term — potentially even impacting their trip to Pittsburgh in 2023.

Longtime sportswriter Rick Gosselin thinks Hines Ward needs to join finalists Torry Holt, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne in the discussion of wide receivers for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “Ward has been eligible for seven years but has only advanced to the semifinals three times without ever garnering enough support to reach the finals. That needs to change,” Gosselin wrote. “In an era of inflated offensive statistics – with all the rules stacked in favor of the game’s passers and receivers – the Hines Ward candidacy is more than just a jumble of numbers.” Gosselin notes that only 13 players in NFL history caught more passes than Ward’s 1,000. Ward caught more passes than Holt, 70 fewer passes than Wayne and 62 fewer than Johnson. But he scored more touchdowns – 85 – than any of them. Only 16 players in NFL history caught more touchdown passes than Ward.

? NFL Network: Brock Purdy suffered a complete tear of the UCL in his throwing elbow and will undergo surgery. Purdy is getting second opinions, but the initial hope is he can undergo a repair — not reconstruction (AKA Tommy John) — and will be ready for training camp. The Steelers play the 49ers next fall. Steelers 2023 schedule

? Steelers.com: Sat down with cornerback Cameron Sutton to talk about the secondary and coming together as a defense.

? Ben Roethlisberger released his latest “Footbahlin” episode that featured a live audience and guests Pat Freiermuth, Andrew McCutchen and Bob Pompeani. The event took place this past Friday at Cinderlands Beer Co. in the Strip District.

? Darren Rovell: Current price for this view at the Super Bowl: $6,619 a seat.

? NFL historian Kevin Gallagher: A Super Bowl LVII fact. The Eagles and Chiefs have met only nine times — among the lowest number of head-to-head meetings between franchises that existed at the time of the 1970 AFL-NFL merger fulfillment.

? Jalen Hurts is the seventh youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl in NFL history at 24 years old (189 days). Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest QB in NFL history to start a Super Bowl (23 340 days), behind just Dan Marino (23 127 days). Roethlisberger is the youngest QB ever to win a Super Bowl.

? NFL Network: The NFL informed teams on Monday that the 2023 salary cap will be a record $224.8 million per club. That’s up from $208.2 million in 2022, $182.5 million in 2021 (COVID adjustment), 198.2 million in 2020 and $188.2 million in 2019.

? Steelers: The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum Artifact of the Week is a 1934 jersey that was only worn for one season (the organization’s second season in the NFL).

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STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

STEELERS/NFL SCHEDULE

? 9 a.m: Senior Bowl press conference with director Jim Nagy, EDGE Isaiah Foskey, QB Max Duggan in Mobile. Alan Saunders

? 11:15 a.m: Shrine Bowl practice will continue in Las Vegas on the campus of UNLV. Mike Asti

? 12:30 p.m: Senior Bowl practice No. 1 in Mobile on the campus of the University of South Alabama. Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt released its full 2023 football schedule, including a game against Syracuse at Yankee Stadium.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dave Molinari wonders if Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan’s players have tuned him out.

West Virginia Sports Now: Bob Huggins previewed West Virginia’s second matchup with TCU.

Nittany Sports Now: Former Penn State linebacker Deion Barnes got a promotion.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Having more adults in the room could pay dividends for the Pirates.