The Pittsburgh Steelers have lengthy had a fame for being powerful and intense. For thus a few years, their protection was referred to as the Metal Curtain, and so they’ve lengthy mirrored the id of the Metal Metropolis wherein they play. It is a blue-collar city; they’ve all the time been a blue-collar group.
Nevertheless, that toughness and depth appear to have boiled over early throughout the 2022 NFL coaching camp. Steelers gamers have been caught on digital camera in an intense brawl with one another.
The group was scrimmaging in opposition to itself. Typically these brawls escape when two NFL groups maintain a joint follow and naturally have some animosity towards one another.
It isn’t widespread for a group to brawl amongst itself, nevertheless it does occur. Earlier than making a Tremendous Bowl run in 2015, Carolina Panthers gamers Cam Newton and Josh Norman have been concerned in a scuffle in coaching camp. May the Steelers be headed down the identical path?
Pittsburgh Steelers have an uphill battle in 2022
As evidenced by the obvious disdain for different group members exhibited by some gamers, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin faces an uphill battle this 12 months. He has by no means had a shedding season and doubtless would not plan to endure one this 12 months.
Nevertheless, that is going to be a critical problem. The Steelers are with out their beginning quarterback this 12 months for the primary time since Ben Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004 (they’re additionally with out Heinz as their sponsor for the primary time since 2001).
Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, or rookie Kenny Pickett will earn the quarterback place. The choices there are lower than awe-inspiring.
They only snuck into the playoffs final 12 months however are actually with out beginning quarterback Roethlisberger, former No. 1 wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, and some different key items.
To make issues worse, the remainder of the division and convention has gotten fairly robust. The Cleveland Browns are a lot improved this 12 months, particularly if Deshaun Watson’s suspension is shorter than anticipated.
The Baltimore Ravens presumably will not have accidents, and Lamar Jackson is in a contract 12 months. The Cincinnati Bengals are unlikely to go wherever, both.
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The Denver Broncos added Russell Wilson, and the Los Angeles Chargers are on the rise. All of the sudden, even with three wild card slots accessible, the AFC obtained far more crowded.
Tomlin is without doubt one of the finest within the enterprise, however he should show that this upcoming season.