Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group.
? Former Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark thinks there’s been cancers in the Steelers’ wide receivers room over the years, dating back to Antonio Brown.
“From Antonio Brown, to JuJu, to Chase Claypool, to Diontae and now to George Pickens… there’s been a cancer in that room,” Clark said on ESPN’s Get Up.
? Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky reacted to George Pickens not blocking on Jaylen Warren’s run against the Indianapolis Colts.
“When did this become okay in Pittsburgh? I played for organizations that weren’t good. This is the kind of stuff that we did. We weren’t the Steelers,” Orlovsky said.
? The second Heinz Field Ketchup Bottle has found a new home at the Heinz History Center. In April of this year, the other ketchup bottle returned to the North Shore. It was installed at Gate C at Acrisure Stadium.
Two iconic organizations, the Pittsburgh @Steelers and the Heinz Company, joined forces in 2001 at Heinz Field, the city’s newly built football stadium. pic.twitter.com/xeq5B2ObSx
— Heinz History Center (@HistoryCenter) December 22, 2023
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? George Pickens caught 68% of his contested targets last season. This year, that number is just 29%, according to Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus. Pickens got Mossed by Colts safety Nick Cross in last Saturday’s loss to the Colts.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger shared a clip of how San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk threw a block for Christian McCaffrey to score against the Steelers in Week 1. Emphasising how blocking does matter, compared to George Pickens embarrassing effort against the Colts.
.@steelers @49ers some receivers love blocking. Hello @THE2ERA and some just dont seem to think its all that important. You decide. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/zbvl0PSLPk
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 21, 2023
? Former Steelers head coach and Hall of Famer Bill Cowher discussed George Pickens’ lack of effort on Jaylen Warren’s run.
“Culture really is about commitment and sacrifice. You’re not just playing with one another, you’re playing for one another,” Cowher said on the Pat McAfee Show. “The struggle has been on offense all season long and Pittsburgh has to get back to what Steeler football is all about.”
"Culture really is about commitment & sacrifice..
You're not just playing with one another, you're playing for one another..
The struggle has been on offense all season long & Pittsburgh has to get back to what Steeler football is all about" ~ @CowherCBS #PMSLive #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/siAip85O78
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 21, 2023
? Happy Birthday to former Steelers center/guard Kendrick Green, born on December 22, 1998 in Peoria, Illinois. Green was traded on Aug. 29 to the Houston Texans for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 4 after suffering a torn meniscus in the Texans’ 30-6 win over the Steelers. Green started at left guard against his former team and played well before suffering the injury. Green was drafted by the Steelers in the third round out of Illinois in 2021 and was an instant starter at center, which wasn’t his natural position and it ended up being a disaster of an experience.
? Bill Cowher said on the Pat McAfee Show that he was hard on his coaches and made changes for the sake of change.
"I was hard on the coaches and sometimes I made changes for the sake of change..
I've always said that as a Head Coach your only loyalty is to winning..
It's lonely at the top and sometimes you've gotta make tough decisions" ~ @CowherCBS #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kkwom0zOxK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 21, 2023
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Finally, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move to clear space for Andrew McCutchen.
Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt football landed a transfer portal commitment from an NC State offensive lineman.
West Virginia Sports Now: A trade proposed by ESPN would send WVU alum Geno Smith to the Steelers.
Nittany Sports Now: Penn State defensive back and Penn Hills native Daequan Hardy has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The USL has announced the 2024 Pittsburgh Riverhounds schedule.
