Daily Links: Former Steelers UDFA Speaks to Team; Pickens Route Tree

Former Steelers safety Robert Golden shared on Twitter that he was asked to come back to speak with the team’s rookies.

“11 years ago I flew into Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent, fighting to make the team. Today the @steelers are flying me into Pittsburgh to tell the rookies how to make the team and how to be pros on and off the field. This full circle moment is surrea,” Golden tweeted.

The Steelers signed Golden as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona in 2012 and he played six seasons for the team, mostly on special teams. After his retirement in 2019, Golden started a school in his native Fresno, California.

? Matt Harmon of Yahoo Sports examined George Pickens’ route tree from 2022, and he found that Pickens’ separation on slants, curls and digs were concerning.

? Footbahlin podcast: Ben Roethlisberger’s next guest on his Footbahlin podcast will be Kenny Pickett. It will air on May 22.

? Darnell Washington is huge. Just look at this photo of him standing next to Pat Freiermuth and tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts. At 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, Freiermuth isn’t a tiny human being either.

? Happy 67th birthday to former Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler, born on May 16, 1956 in Anniston, Alabama. Butler was the Steelers defensive coordinator from 2015-2021. Prior to becoming Pittsburgh’s DC, Butler was the team’s linebackers coach from 2003-14.

Happy 22nd birthday to one of the newest Steelers, 2023 first-round draft pick Broderick Jones, who was born on May 16, 2001 in Lithonia, Georgia.

? On this date, May 16, 1994, the Steelres signed Elbert Ellis to a rookie contract. Ellis, a wide receiver, never played college or high school football, having ran the hurdles at Pitt, where the was a six-time All American.

“He’s a long shot, but you never know, that’s why you work guys out,” former Steelers GM Tom Donahoe told then Post-Gazette.

Ellis was three years removed from his Pitt track career when he signed with the Steelers. He had been teaching at Imani Christian Academy when his PAT bus driver convinced him to give football a shot, and then through multiple connections that included then-Steelers starting quarterback Neil O’Donnell, got word to the team that he was interested in a tryout.

There, Ellis ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. Ellis spent some time with the Steelers practice squad, and also the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and New York Jets, but never ended up catching an NFL pass.

Ellis now works as a trainer in North Carolina. His son El plays basketball, and transferred from Lousiville to Arkansas this season.

? Diontae Johnson continues to train with James Everett, also known as the “Route God,” in Florida.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Duquesne WR Dwayne Menders “felt at home” during Steelers rookie minicamp.

West Virginia Sports Now: WVU alum Joe Mazzula has the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Final.

Nittany Sports Now: Former Penn State center Brenton Strange has signed his rookie contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Cross Kyle Dubas off the Penguins GM list.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates have their ace in Mitch Keller. Now as the for the rest of the squad …

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Dikwa has Hounds “moving in the right direction.”