Daily News & Links: Ward Speaks on Steelers, Russ Best Fit
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 wide receiver Hines Ward thinks the Steelers need to address the offensive line in the draft.
“You gotta start up front,” Ward told The Schmo in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week. “Anytime you can have great offensive linemen, you can run the ball, you can pass-protect. So, I look for the Steelers to look for some offensive linemen.”
? Colin Cowherd thinks Russell Wilson would be a good fit in Pittsburgh. “The Steelers have an excellent roster and they’re bad at quarterback. In the AFC, you gotta do better than Kenny Pickett at quarterback, so this is actually a good fit.”
Overall, Cowherd just doesn’t think Pickett is it. “Listen, if you’re going to go up against (Patrick) Mahomes and Josh Allen and Lamar (Jackson) and (Joe) Burrow, stop convincing yourself that Kenny Pickett is the guy. You’ve got to have a playmaker back there.”
.@ColinCowherd says why a Russell Wilson/Steelers pairing works for him pic.twitter.com/2q8MrIWEJk
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 26, 2024
? Former Steelers running back and team scout Merril Hoge https://twitter.com/jasrifootball/status/1762164437257969689″>said
on 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. that he doesn’t think North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is a first-round pick.
“I would not touch Maye. He’s extremely inconsistent. His processing (is) inconsistent. He’s not extremely athletic. I find him more stiff. He got a longer throwing motion, which allows more picks,” Hoge said.
? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Developer Walnut Capital and the Pittsburgh Steelers are teaming up on a proposed $30 million commercial mixed-use development to be built in a parking lot across from Acrisure Stadium.
The basic details of the project are contained in an application for a $15 million Pennsylvania redevelopment assistance capital grant. In the application, the development team stated that the project, described as a “commercial mixed-use space,” would allow two Pittsburgh-based corporations “to expand their headquarters, remaining on the North Shore, and increasing economic growth.”
“The development … will include a space that will be attractive to new retail tenants, as well as a parking deck that will serve the complex, but also game day and special events in the area,” the application stated.
It noted that the project is “central to the city’s professional football and baseball facilities, and will increase game day parking options, as well as event space.”
? Only four defensive backs in the NFL this past season allowed a completion percentage under 50% on at least 60 targets, https://twitter.com/StatsGuyDaniel/status/1762256291894800584″>per
Pro Football Reference. Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was one of them.
1. Martin Emerson – 46.8%
2. Joey Porter Jr. – 47.6%
3. Ahkello Witherspoon – 48.1%
4. Denzel Ward – 48.5%
? https://twitter.com/StatsGuyDaniel/status/1762148948423192586″>Daniel
Valente of The Score: There are 14 Steelers quarterbacks who have thrown for 300+ passing yards and 2+ touchdowns in a game. That group includes Bubby Brister, Mark Malone, Mike Tomczak, and Mason Rudolph. Kenny Pickett is not part of that group.
? Longtime NBC Sports columnist Peter King is going to miss Saint Vincent College on his annual training camp tour. King announced his retirement on Monday.
The biggest thing Peter King will miss?
His annual #NFL Training Camp Tour. 👏 pic.twitter.com/s75JFbSUTT
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 26, 2024
? Happy Birthday to former Steelers running back Duce Staley, born on February 27, 1975 in West Columbia, South Carolina.
Selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Eagles, Staley played the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia and totaled 4,807 rushing yards with the team.
Then, Staley traveled across the state and joined the Steelers for the final three seasons of his career. During his time with the Steelers, Staley won Super Bowl XL in 2005. He rushed for 978 yards and two touchdowns in his time with the Steelers.
Staley got into coaching after his playing career and is currently the Cleveland Browns running backs coach.
Also, Happy Birthday to former Steelers cornerback and current Detroit Lion Cam Sutton, born on February 27, 1995 in Jonesboro, Georgia. Sutton played in 84 games for the Steelers, from 2017-2022, starting 39 of them. He totaled 164 tackles, 38 passes defended, and eight picks. He made 15 starts in 2022 and had career-highs in passes defended (15) and interceptions (3).
Sutton signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Lions in free agency last March. Sutton started 17 games in his first season in Detroit, recording one interception and six passes defended. Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game but fell to the San Francisco 49ers.
? Steel City Star posted a throwback clip of Ben Roethlisberger and Max Starks in a Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial in 2006.
Big Ben and Max Starks tackling hunger in 2006
Also included is Elleanor Starks starring with her son in Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial pic.twitter.com/bOS2yjuShB
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) February 25, 2024
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sidney Crosby had four points as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-6 in a back-and-forth slugfest.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jose De Leon has died of cancer at age 63.
Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt football signee Jahsear Whittington has won a state-wide honor.
West Virginia Sports Now: There’s growing hype around one West Virginia football transfer addition.
Nittany Sports Now: Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci suffered an injury in the team’s last regular season dual meet.
Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have new home and away kits.
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