Steelers First and 10: Uninspiring Start for USFL, Maulers

Alan Saunders |

Updated: May 25, 2022

USFL Maulers Coach Kirby Wilson — BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 18: Pittsburgh Maulers head coach Kirby Wilson during the USFL game between the Pittsburgh Maulers and Tampa Bay Bandits on April 18, 2022 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)

The Pittsburgh Maulers had the start of their new USFL season delayed due to weather on Sunday night. There’s nothing anyone can do about the weather, but football games don’t get canceled due to rain all that often.

Maybe they angered the football gods, as the rest of the week hasn’t gone the Maulers’ way, either.

First, they made headlines for cutting running back De’Veon Smith, allegedly over asking for a slice of pizza instead of the team meal, got roasted for it, then put out a statement that Smith vociferously denied on social media.

Then, the team got pasted by Todd Haley’s Tampa Bay Bandits on Monday night, 17-3 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Kirby Wilson’s offense looked like it could have played the entire 24 hours between the first scheduled kickoff time and the second and not found a way to score more than 10 points.

The Maulers aren’t playing in Pittsburgh, have just one Pittsburgh native and a combined zero Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, and local small college alumni. People aren’t going to tune it all season for bad, losing football.

STEELERS HEADLINES

? Steelers to Host Liberty QB Malik Willis on Wednesday, Alan Saunders

? Draft Talk 4/18: 2022 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings, Saunders & Nick Farabaugh

? Steelers Drafted Alan Faneca, Hines Ward 24 Year Ago Monday, Cale Berger

? Steelers to Host Notre Dame Safety Kyle Hamilton on Tuesday, Berger

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

? Players will be back at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for day two of the first phase of the NFL offseason conditioning program.

? We’re still working on finding out more information about the cause of Haskins’ death. Saunders

? Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and Missouri State defensive end Eric Johnson are expected to make their pre-draft visits this week. Pre-draft visits end Tuesday, April 20.