Daily Links: Claypool Predicts Turnaround; Steelers Biggest Draft Steals

After a horrendous 3-14 season last year, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool believes change is coming for the Chicago Bears.

“I truly believe that this year from last year will be a night-and-day difference,” he told talkSPORT about the season ahead. “I think fans will be loving it next year. I’m excited, obviously with the additions we had in the offseason, but just being able to stack that knowledge from last season. All those learning and those growth spurts that we had to go through to this season, I think it’s gonna be great.”

Claypool essentially didn’t do anything for the Bears after Chicago coughed up a second-round pick to the Steelers for him on Nov. 1. Claypool started only three games for the Bears with seven appearances, collecting just 14 receptions for 140 yards and no touchdowns.

Claypool recently received criticism for allegedly lacking motivation both on and off the field. He also got some flak for modeling in Paris.

RELATED: Bears Having Buyer’s Remorse for Chase Claypool Trade

🏈 ESPN: Two former Steelers players, Le’Veon Bell and Javon Hargrave, made ESPN’s list of biggest draft steals over the last decade. Bell came in at No. 20, while Hargrave was ranked 41st.

🏈 Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most overlooked team heading into the 2023 season.

“I’m going with the Steelers,” McCoy said on Speak on FS1:. “I think that Kenny Pickett’s second year under Coach Tomlin who’s a great, excellent, winning coach. I think he learned something in year 1. I think they ball out.”

🏈 The 33rd Team: According to ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, the Steelers have the most passionate fanbase in the NFL. Steelers Nation edged out the fanbases of the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.

The most passionate fan bases from AI 🤖 pic.twitter.com/m3pYgnbXFW

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) July 2, 2023

🏈 Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was one of the most efficient deep threats in 2022. According to the 33rd Team, Pickens recorded 25 20+ yard catches (out of 54) and had a 109.3 rating when targeted. Pickens averaged 13.4 yards per reception on deep passes.

🏈 NFL Research: Over the past couple seasons, the Steelers have averaged just 19.2 points per game (26th in the NFL) and 4.9 yards per play (31st).

🎂 Happy 57th birthday to former Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell, born on this date, July 3, 1966 in Madison, New Jersey. The Steelers’ third-round pick out of Maryland in the 1990 NFL Draft, O’Donnell split time with Bubby Brister in 1991 before becoming a full-time starter under new head coach Bill Cowher in 1992.

He led a resurgent Steelers back to the playoffs and earned his only Pro Bowl nod. In 1993, O’Donnell had his most prolific season, throwing for 3,208 yards, but he was sacked 41 times for an NFL-leading 331 yards. The Steelers made it to the AFC Championship Game after the 1994 season, but O’Donnell’s last-second pass was batted down just short of the end zone.

In 1995, O’Donnell led the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys, but in his final game with the Black and Gold, he threw three crippling interceptions as the Steelers lost their first Super Bowl. O’Donnell left for free agency, landing with the New York Jets the following offseason. He spent just two seasons with the Jets, then one as the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1998. He spent the final five years of his career as a backup for the Tennessee Titans from 1999-2003.

Since his retirement, he has covered the Titans for WTVF-TV in Nashville and works as a sales representative for FieldTurf.

🎥  The All-22 Films account on YouTube examined Matt Canada’s jet motion attack out of the Twin Wing formation from this past year’s Week 17 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins brought back Czech forward Radim Zahorna and made two other moves.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Mitch Keller is the Pirates lone representative for the 2023 All-Star Game.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt cornerback target Terhyon Nichols picked Kentucky instead.

West Virginia Sports Now: Cincinnati beat out WVU for quarterback recruit Samaj Jones.

Nittany Sports Now: Former Penn State basketball star Lamar Stevens has been traded to the Spurs.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The Riverhounds “can’t win on defense and hard work alone,” says head coach Bob Lilley after a 0-0 draw with Louisville.