Steelers Daily Links: Free Agent DT Off the Market; Bengals Shoot Down Higgins Rumors

A potential Pittsburgh Steelers top free-agent target is off the market and it does not sound like the Cincinnati Bengals will be making a rumored trade of wide receiver Tee Higgins.

🏈 Washington Post: The Washington Commanders announced on Tuesday that they were placing the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne, one of the top potential free agents at a key position of need for the Steelers.

“The guy has been very integral to this football team and this defense, as well as the other guys he plays alongside, and we just wanted to make sure everybody understood we are serious,” coach Ron Rivera said on Tuesday at the combine.

🏈 WCPO: Cincinnati Bengals general manager Duke Tobin loudly shouted down rumors that he might be interested in trading wide receiver Tee Higgins at the NFL Combine on Tuesday.

“I’m not in the business of making other teams better,” Tobin said. “I’m in the business of making the Cincinnati Bengals better. So trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind.”

🏈 USA Today: The NFL put out the 100 best catches of the 2022 season, and George Pickens had five of them. But according to the The 33rd Team, Pickens isn’t among their seven options as to which receiver from the 2022 draft class will have the best second year.

🏈 CBS Sports: Reminder, George Pickens led all rookies in contested catches this season with 19.

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Only two Steelers players made PFF’s top 101 NFL players from 2022 list — Minkah Fitzpatrick at No. 44 and Cam Heyward at No. 29.

🏈 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Steelers, Penguins and Pirates unite for diversity and equity initiative in Pittsburgh. In a program Tuesday night at Acrisure Stadium, the Pittsburgh-based Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) announced its partnership with the city’s three major professional teams. The three franchises all have agreed to adopt and implement B-PEP’s Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable “playbook” within their organizations, with a focus on providing employment opportunities to African Americans. Among those in attendance were David Morehouse, senior adviser to Steelers president Art Rooney II; Travis Williams, Pirates team president; and the Penguins’ Tracey McCants Lewis, chief people officer and general counsel. Steelers President Art Rooney II is in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine but filmed a pre-recorded video for the presentation.

🏈 Tribune-Review: Vento’s Pizza in East Liberty, home of “Franco’s Italian Army” is closing. The family-owned restaurant became a hub for Franco’s Italian Army when Al Vento and his business partner, Tony Stagno, created the fan club in 1972 for the late Franco Harris to celebrate their shared Italian heritage. A Facebook post stated “The Vento Family would like to thank the people of East Liberty for 67 years of friendship and service. We will be permanently closing on Saturday, March 4. Stop by and see us before we lock our doors for the last time.”

🏈 Diontae Johnson is training with James Everett, also known as the “Route God” in Florida.

Effective efficient pic.twitter.com/UIZnhorTsl

— RouteGod (@RouteGod) February 28, 2023

STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

Steelers Draft Digest: Pickett Touts Jordan Addison, Bears to Trade No. 1

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt basketball is ranked for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: What is a bigger Penguins trade deadline, third-line center or top-four defense?

West Virginia Sports Now: WVU escapes with 72-69 win over Iowa State.

Nittany Sports Now: Penn State defensive line coach John Scott Jr. is leaving for the NFL.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Ke’Bryan Hayes‘ home run not enough as Pirates lose to Phillies, 9-7.