First name: Bruce Arians describes the discharge from Pittsburgh; Steelers linked to Bengal’s free agent
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Wednesday’s “First Call” offers an interesting free agency theory for the Steelers.
Bill Cowher’s farewell to Marty Schottenheimer too. And Bruce Arians’ admission of his release from the Steelers. And a new job for Antwaan Randle El.
A former Pitt star will also receive a Super Bowl ring. And a trip to the operating room.
Ode to a friend
The connection between former Steelers trainer Bill Cowher and former Browns trainer Marty Schottenheimer was well known.
The Fort Cherry and Pitt product was discontinued by Cowher for his Cleveland employees after training him as a player.
Schottenheimer died this week at the age of 77 after a battle with Alzheimer’s. He is the eighth-winning coach in NFL history, playing 200-126-1 in 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington and San Diego Chargers.
Cowher sent this tweet when he got the news.
Marty, you always said, “There’s a glimmer, men!” It is true, and that shine is and always has been YOU. Rest in Peace Coach, love you. pic.twitter.com/PONiVZxm8f
– Bill Cowher (@CowherCBS) February 9, 2021
Cowher coached the Browns specialty teams from 1985 to 1986 and coached the second coach from 1987 to 1988, before joining Schottenheimer in 1989 as defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He then took the Steelers job in 1992.
Arian answers
As is so often the case, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians had a very candid quote. This time during an interview with the LA Times’ Sam Farmer after his team’s Super Bowl win.
And this time, the former Steelers offensive coordinator spoke about his days in Pittsburgh.
Farmer asked Arians about his loyalty to the players.
“I was accused that this was a mistake,” said Arians. “I was fired in Pittsburgh for being too loyal to Ben [Roethlisberger]. If that’s a problem, you have the problem. I do not have a problem. I get very close to my quarterbacks. “
Let’s call it loyalty. Or nobility. But when do these traits turn into stubbornness?
Maybe when your “loyalty” fired this quarterback 40 times in a season, as was the case with “Big Ben” in 2011, because Arians always allowed Roethlisberger to throw as often as he wanted. And allowed him to hold the ball for as long as he wanted.
Call Randy Fichtner now and you may receive a similar offer, just under different circumstances.
Free agent function
ESPN.com launches for the NFL Free Agency. And so are the Steelers.
Well, to adjust to who they are losing in their free hands.
With the salary cap likely to drop significantly due to the impact of Covid-19 on revenue and the current Steelers salary caps, the free-hand franchise is far more likely to lose than gain a lot more.
That said, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler puts the Steelers as the most likely free agency target for Cincinnati cornerback William Jackson III. Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert reportedly planned to draw Jackson back in 2017, but Cincy got him out first. The Steelers landed instead with the since deposed Artie Burns.
It’s Fowler’s theory that the Steelers might want Jackson since Joe Haden and Steven Nelson will be free agents after 2022.
This is fair. But I would envision the cap dollars the team may have left would be used to hold either Cameron Sutton or Mike Hilton at potentially cheaper prices. Or even make sure they can keep Nelson and Haden for 2021. Haden’s cap is $ 15.5 million and Nelson is $ 14.4 million.
So it seems like a long way to go. But Fowler’s other projections of Bud Dupree to the Tennessee Titans and JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Jets seem to make a lot more sense.
Fowler also plans to have Steelers Alejandro Villanueva take on the Los Angeles Chargers if Sam Tevi leaves through a vacant agency.
“Villanueva would be an upgrade, and while Pittsburgh suits him best, the Steelers are unlikely to be aggressive funders. Villanueva is 32 years old but has only had six seasons as a starter so he’s still fresh and his 74.6 Pro Football Focus grade is solid. “
Keep in mind that former Steelers offensive coach Shaun Sarrett now has an assistant job with the Chargers.
Familiar environment
As a Pittsburgh Steeler, Antwaan Randle El certainly had at least one memorable moment at Detroit’s Ford Field.
# 80: @Steelers WR Antwaan Randle Els Pass to Hines Ward in @SuperBowl XL (Feb 5, 2006) # NFL100
📺: NFL 100 Greatest Plays on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/imEdUo8VSm
– NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2019
Now he’s going to train there with the Lions, said Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Detroit hired Randle El as their new wide-angle receiver coach after serving as an assistant at Arians in Tampa Bay.
Former Steelers quarterback Tee Martin got a job coaching wide-angle receivers for the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Post Super Bowl Operation
The Pitt product Jordan Whitehead just got a ring on his finger.
And an operation on his shoulder.
Tampa Bay Bucs Safety appeared on the ACC Network Tuesday, confirming reports that he will need the procedure to repair a torn labrum that handicapped him during the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
“When I went off the NFC championship in the first week after my recovery, I couldn’t really raise my arm,” said Whitehead. “So I wasn’t sure how close I was to being able to play. It got better every day. In the week of the game, I made a decision. I just had to get this thing right. Whatever. If it’s 80% or 90% I’ll be out there. My coaches did a great job and pushed me. “
Whitehead had two tackles in the Super Bowl. The Central Valley graduate had 74 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fiddle, and a fiddly recovery for the Bucs in the regular season. He had seven tackles and two forced fumbling in the playoffs.
Tim Benz is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or on Twitter. All tweets could be republished. All emails can be published unless otherwise stated.
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Pitt | Sport | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz
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