Chris Adamski stories, Page 68
Former Steelers Javon Hargrave, JuJu Smith-Schuster on big stage at Super Bowl
A few weeks before he can strut into free agency, Javon Hargrave can wobble onto the field at the Super Bowl. Hargrave was affectionately dubbed “J Wobble” by teammates upon being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016. But five days after turning 30, Hargrave could cap his third season...
Maulers’ 10-game season announced, 1st ‘home’ game in Canton
The 2023 Pittsburgh Maulers’ season will begin with a night game Sunday, April 16. The game will technically be a road game against a team named “New Orleans” played in Birmingham, Ala. The following week, Pittsburgh’s USFL team will play its “home” opener in Canton, Ohio, against a team dubbed...
Miles Boykin fit in during 1st season with Steelers, but will he be back for 2nd?
For five seasons of the most recently completed decade, one of Mike Tomlin’s favorite players in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room was a wide receiver who had all the physical tools but was never able to put it all together as an offensive threat in the NFL. That player, Darrius...
2022 Steelers used myriad, varied defensive schemes based on opponent
For their road game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers deployed seven defensive backs who played at least 33 snaps. Throughout their road game against another AFC North opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers played seven defensive linemen. In 2022, perhaps as much as ever and...
Former 4th-round pick Renell Wren jockeys to be part of 2023 Steelers defensive line
Not bad work if you can get it: a reported $207,000 for about 6 seconds on the clock. But that wasn’t necessarily what Renell Wren wanted out of the 2022 NFL season. A defensive tackle who entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, Wren...
Steelers TE Zach Gentry set to hit free agency after gradually becoming bigger part of offense
There might not be any greater “bro-mance” in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room than Zach Gentry and Pat Freiermuth. So when the Steelers posted a sideline interaction of the two tight ends from a December game that involved each saying to the other, “I love you,” it was fitting. But...
Free agent Robert Spillane loves playing for Steelers, wants chance to play every down
Robert Spillane uses a creative metaphor to describe the feeling a professional football player endures at the sudden end of a season. “I’ve tried to describe this to lots of people,” Spillane said the day after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent season ended, “and the best way I can is to...
Steelers’ WR3 over the 2nd half the season, Steven Sims makes case to keep role in ‘23
The longest passing play of what was arguably the biggest win of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season wasn’t thrown to whom you might expect. The clutch, skillful 28-yard catch over the middle at the two-minute warning of the Jan. 1 primetime victory at the rival Baltimore Ravens wasn’t by Diontae Johnson,...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward added to Pro Bowl roster
Cameron Heyward is about to get a chance to show off his dodgeball skills. Heyward, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime co-captain, was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster Tuesday. Heyward initially was listed as an alternate at defensive tackle, and he was summoned when Chris Jones became unavailable because his...
Via big plays, eye-popping catches, George Pickens delivered during rookie season for Steelers
By the nature of how quickly George Pickens showed he could be a playmaker in the NFL, it was fitting that he produced the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longest touchdown of the season in what was the final game as a rookie. After that win, during which he had a 31-yard score...
Safety Damontae Kazee was solid addition to Steelers, but will he return?Video
As Damontae Kazee stood in front of his locker at Acrisure Stadium not long after his sixth NFL season ended, his young son sat on a folding chair behind him. Like most of that toddler’s generation, the youngster was being entertained by Kazee’s phone. And when it rang while the...
Top to bottom, rookie class showed signs it could be cornerstone of bright future for Steelers
Six-year NFL veteran Chris Wormley’s smile revealed it was more a good-natured, ribbing generality than it was a commentary on the character of players who are in their first season in the league. “Rookies,” Wormley said, “are knuckleheads.” These knuckleheads, though — the ones who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers over...
Jaylen Warren goes from undrafted rookie to Steelers’ perfect Najee Harris complementVideo
Last year at this time, some followers of the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted them to draft a complement for Najee Harris. Others were eager to see if they would find a No. 2 running back in free agency. Still others believed the answer to supporting Harris was already in house with...
DL Montravius Adams took circuitous route to Steelers, is glad for itVideo
It would be easy, looking back at the first five seasons of Montravius Adams’ NFL career, to assume 2021 was his toughest year professionally. After all, Adams was let go by one team and released by two others. Adams, a veteran defensive tackle, doesn’t see it that way, though. “Honestly,...
A sleeper for Steelers 2023 WR corps, former 2nd-round pick Anthony Miller re-signs
When training camp began last summer, Anthony Miller was intent on earning a significant role among the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers corps for the 2022 season. Miller did — just not the role he was seeking. “Seeing that I am the oldest guy in the room, I moreso put my...
Former Steelers Super Bowl assistant Ray Horton takes over as USFL Maulers head coach
It’s one former Super Bowl-winning Steelers assistant coach to another in regard to who’s coaching the Pittsburgh Maulers. Ray Horton, the Steelers’ secondary coach during their three most recent Super Bowl appearances, is taking over as head coach of Pittsburgh’s USFL franchise. Horton replaces Kirby Wilson, with whom he served...
Numbers don’t add up for Steelers’ Diontae Johnson in bizarre season
When it comes to Diontae Johnson, perhaps the only thing more difficult to figure than his tweets these days is that he somehow made it through 17-game season without even one touchdown. According to pro-football-reference.com, Johnson in 2022 set dubious NFL records for most receptions (86) and targeted throws (147)...
A case for — and against — the Steelers keeping each of their UFAs on offense/special teams
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming crop of unrestricted free agents, the heavy lean is to those on defense. Nine players who started at least one game on defense are scheduled to be UFAs, including four who were full-time starters. On offense, the pending free agent who played...
The case for — and against — Steelers keeping each of their free agents on defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason has just begun — but the “legal tampering” period for unrestricted free agency begins a mere two months from Friday. As such, the Trib will take a look at each of the Steelers’ 18 players scheduled for free agency, and why (or why not) the Steelers...
Ahkello Witherspoon’s lost 2022 could mean he isn’t back with Steelers in 2023
For the first 12 days of the season, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon never left the field when the Pittsburgh Steelers were on defense. From that point on, though, he barely made it onto the field. Witherspoon’s odds of getting on the field for the Steelers again might depend on the reason...
Steelers add 3 more to offseason roster, including former 4th-round pick RB Anthony McFarland
Running back Anthony McFarland is back for a fourth offseason with the Steelers. The team’s fourth-round pick in 2020 was signed Thursday to a reserve/future contract, adding him to the 90-man offseason roster. McFarland spent all but one game of this past season on the practice squad. During his lone...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward on retirement talk: ‘When I do something, I put my whole heart into it’
Still at the top of his game, there is no tangible evidence Cameron Heyward’s NFL career is over. But whether it’s psychological or motivational or something else, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime captain continues to decline to definitively say he will be back for a 14th season with the team. Speaking...
Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick part of first NFLPA All-Pro team
There was credible new NFL All-Pro balloting introduced for this season, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is on the inaugural team. Voted by his teammates as the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 MVP last week, Fitzpatrick again was honored by peers with his selection as the first-team All-Pro free safety in balloting done by...
Wilkinsburg native, former WVU safety Kenny Robinson among 4 signed by Steelers
Wilkinsburg native and West Virginia safety Kenny Robinson was among four players signed to reserve/future contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Robinson was a PIAA Class A all-state honoree while playing for Imani Christian, though he began his high school career at University Prep. A first-team Big 12 selection...
Steelers sign 10 to reserve/future contracts, including 9 of their 16-man practice squad
Nine of the players who finished the season on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-man practice squad were formally kept in the organization for the offseason when they were signed to reserve/future contracts Tuesday. The moves keep the players on the 90-man offseason roster. The Steelers on Tuesday afternoon announced deals with...
