Ex-Steeler Mike Hilton returns with Bengals, in possession of something he nabbed from Joe Haden
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During his time with the Steelers, I always found Mike Hilton to be one of the more friendly and genuine players in the locker room. An engaging person who really appreciated the role he earned while he was here.
A role he eventually parlayed into a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. Now the former Steelers nickelback will return to Heinz Field wearing Bengal stripes instead of Black and Gold.
The AFC North rivals renew acquaintances Sunday afternoon. Hilton says he will be coming back with a lot of knowledge that he absorbed in Pittsburgh.
“(Playing in Pittsburgh) taught me a lot of winning intangibles being there for four years,” Hilton told reporters in Cincinnati. “I’ve been to the playoffs and been deep in the playoffs. I was getting that experience and learning from the guys that I played with. … They taught me how to be a leader and bring a different culture to an organization.”
He’ll also be coming back with a little something he nabbed on the way out from the defensive backs meeting room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.
“He brought an ‘accountability chart’ from the secondary room that apparently he stole from Joe Haden,” Bengals play-by-play voice Dan Hoard said during Thursday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. “That’s been a big hit. Guys are grading each other. Not only for traditional football metrics and stats but on a stat called ‘loafs.’ They are critiquing each other for the number of times they are caught loafing in practice. He’s had a huge impact.”
Hilton’s contributions haven’t resulted in a turnover yet, but he does have nine total tackles (two for a loss). Hoard says Hilton has been very good in the team’s first two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, and he’s influenced the team off the field.
“Mike Hilton has been fantastic,” Hoard said. “Not only in terms of his play, but he has taken an overall leadership role on this defense.”
Hilton always brought energy and tenacity to the Steelers defense. Now he’s looking forward to a little trash talk with some of his former teammates. He was asked which Steelers and Bengals tend to do the most yapping.
Something that has never been in short supply during Steelers-Bengals games over the years.
“If I say defensively, surprisingly T.J. (Watt) talks a good bit. But he’s one of the guys that definitely backs it up,” Hilton said. “(On offense) I would probably say (Chase) Claypool. … He definitely likes to talk, but he’s just like T.J. He makes a lot of plays for them, and he embraces his role.”
And on Cincinnati’s side of the ball?
“I have to put myself up there. Either me or (linebacker) Germaine Pratt,” he said.
You can hear more from the Bengals side of the rivalry during Thursday’s podcast with Hoard. We get into the Bengals’ improved run defense, the return of quarterback Joe Burrow and the attempts by the young offensive skill position players to get their coaches to call more deep passes.
Listen: Tim Benz and Bengals play-by-play voice Dan Hoard talk Steelers-Bengals