Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard: Giants game boycott not ruled out
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants haven't ruled out the option of sitting out a game in the regular season to protest social injustice, according to lead running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
Barkley and Shepard were asked on Zoom calls Thursday after practice whether not playing was a possibility. They did not rule it out. Both said it was something that would be discussed among the team.
"I can't really just go and speak on behalf of the whole league, but, for us, that is something that we're going to talk about within our [social justice] groups, within our team," Barkley said. "What's talked about in players meetings stays in players meetings."
It's unclear how serious the Giants players are about skipping a game. The Giants open on Sept. 14, a Monday night, when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
if NFL Players start skipping games its bye bye NFL. I live in a majority black area have good black friends know good black people I tell you there are a lot of who do not want to work use the system and crime to live on. I'm also from an area mostly white area where industry moved out and now use the system and live off crime. to many people vote democrat because don't want them to take my welfare have forgot about education and thinks government owes them something. seen both side and racism is heavy on both sides. if the police shoot black criminals l don't care if the police shoot white criminals l don't care.
Well that would suck if they sat out but at this point in 2020 wtf else cant be expected thos whole damn year has been insanity.
Insane foreigners look at the U.S. and say those people are crazier than hell. Common sense has become uncommon sense. Right is wrong and the seriously insane part is they want to call this the new normal. This stupidity has no boundaries.
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LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1270 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Subject: Re: 2020-2021 Preseason Discussion Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:36 pm
Good article from Gerry Dulac at PPG
Who to watch when you can't watch training camp: Chase Claypool, James Pierre and Anthony McFarland Jr.
One of the reasons training camp at Latrobe was always so popular is it gave fans a chance to watch practice and see how the new players, particularly the draft choices, are performing. If the Steelers were at Saint Vincent College and not Heinz Field this summer, one player in particular would have stood out as majestically as the Laurel Ridge – rookie receiver Chase Claypool.
His ability to quickly get to full speed after a catch is as impressive as his size and talent. Only a Ferrari gets from 0 to 60 as fast as Claypool.
But training camp is not available to the public, unless, of course, they watch the 30-minute live stream on the Steelers website. So, in an effort to get everyone up to speed with what they are missing, here is a bullet-point list of observations and insights from the first two weeks of practice with pads.
■ It is apparent on a daily basis there is nothing wrong with Ben Roethlisberger’s throwing arm – not the strength of his arm or his ability to spin the ball. Still, he has one more hurdle to overcome: Throwing and cutting loose when a defensive lineman or linebacker is barreling down on him in a game. That will tell him more about his arm than any practice sessions.
■ It’s going to be hard for an undrafted rookie free agent to make the 53-man roster without any preseason games to show what they can do. But the one player who has the best chance is rookie cornerback James Pierre, an undrafted free agent from Florida Atlantic who has impressed the coaches at training camp. Pierre not only has the size (6-2, 185) the Steelers like in their corners, he has shown an understanding of his assignments and routinely makes plays on the ball.
■ Do not wonder if the Steelers will find ways to get Claypool involved in the offense, even though he is a rookie who had no OTAs, minicamp or preseason games. They will. Quickly.
■ James Washington elevates better and with more grace and athleticism than any Steelers receiver since Lynn Swann. Roethlisberger will have a new pair of 6-foot-5 targets with Claypool and tight end Eric Ebron, but no receiver can go up and get a ball like Washington. His aerial show is a daily component at camp.
■ Mason Rudolph has the look of a player with eight NFL starts under his belt. He is making quick decisions and looking robotic.
■ Do not hold your breath about hybrid safety Antoine Brooks being a contributor or even making the 53-man roster. He has not stood out at camp and won’t have a chance to prove what he can do in a preseason game. Of course, keep in mind he was a sixth-round draft choice. Not many of those make rosters.
■ The Steelers have three All-Pros on their defense – Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick – but maybe the player they can least afford to lose is inside linebacker Devin Bush. They do not have another player with his speed who can cover as much ground at a position that has grown in importance in today’s NFL.
■ Make no mistake, Anthony McFarland, the team’s fourth-round draft choice, is no Dri Archer or Chris Rainey. He is a better inside runner than what you might think for a big-play running back who had runs of 52, 75 and 81 yards in a game against Ohio State last season. But get him on the corner and his 4.4 speed is evident. He is the perfect type of back for some of the misdirection plays the Steelers have installed.
■ Alex Highsmith, their second pick in the draft, looks like a Steelers outside linebacker.
■ Devlin Hodges will beat out Paxton Lynch for the No. 3 quarterback spot. The coaches will have a hard time forgetting the wide-open receiver Lynch badly missed in practice last week.
■ Speaking of one play making or breaking a player, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, signed 10 days ago, likely cemented his spot on the roster with a one-cut, top-speed kick return for touchdown last week.
■ Curtis Riley, picked up three weeks ago, looks like a safety who has played in the NFL. A competent backup for Fitzpatrick, better than Kam Kelly.
■ There is little room in the defense right now for cornerback Justin Layne, but that doesn’t mean the Steelers are dissatisfied with last year’s third-round draft choice. On the contrary, they like his length (6-2, 192) and physical skills and what they have seen thus far in camp. But with Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton, Layne will have to wait to get into some permanent rotation.
■ Matt Canada’s influence on the offense is very evident. All the concepts that players said have been incorporated into the offense – the pre-snap shifts, motion and misdirection plays – are on display every day.
Steelers may be wise to trade away first-round draft pick in 2021
With a number of talent-producing teams in the Big 10, Pac-12, and ACC canceling their football programs for the remainder of the calendar year, it’s going to be extremely difficult for NFL teams to evaluate talent in next April’s NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh should consider trading away their first-round draft choice again in 2020.
An example might be Washington edge defender, Montez Sweat. Sweat is a terrific athlete who had just an average season as a rookie in 2019. But with the Washington Football Team selecting Ohio State stud, Chase Young with the second overall pick last year,
Steelers may be wise to trade away first-round draft pick in 2021
With a number of talent-producing teams in the Big 10, Pac-12, and ACC canceling their football programs for the remainder of the calendar year, it’s going to be extremely difficult for NFL teams to evaluate talent in next April’s NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh should consider trading away their first-round draft choice again in 2020.
An example might be Washington edge defender, Montez Sweat. Sweat is a terrific athlete who had just an average season as a rookie in 2019. But with the Washington Football Team selecting Ohio State stud, Chase Young with the second overall pick last year,
From Joe Starkey's Q&A at Pitts Post Gazette. He's leaning towards a big year from Ben based on what Ben's been doing in camp
Donny Del Zotto, @DonnyD43: O/U 4,000 yards, 35 TDs for No. 7?
Starkey: Interesting numbers, Dr. Del Zotto — and your question, combined with Ben’s camp performance, has me wondering if Kevin Colbert was correct when he uttered the following words at the combine: “We might have a better Ben Roethlisberger coming out of this surgery.”
I thought Colbert was nuts at the time, and I’ll still say 40% of Ben would be significantly better than what the Steelers got from the position last season.
But what if he was right?
Roethlisberger has been zipping the ball around practice and talking about how he’s pain-free in that right elbow for the first time in years. The rest of his body is 38, it’s true, but maybe a year off helped rejuvenate the non-elbow parts, as well.
Obviously, we can only know by the games and how Roethlisberger is able to withstand the physical abuse. The proof’s in the pounding, you might say, and with the likes of Von Miller, Myles Garrett and J.J. Watt on the docket, he’s going to take some hits (maybe more than we think, depending on how that right tackle position shakes out).
But if the body and arm are willing, Roethlisberger could become the rare athlete to combine a mature mental acuity for the game with still-elite physical skills. So many athletes finally figure it all out when it’s too late (that’s when they become TV analysts or coaches). Roethlisberger’s mental game, as one would expect, has evolved dramatically over the years, even as his mobility has declined.
He has plenty of weaponry, too. So what about the numbers?
You said 35 touchdowns. That would mark a career-best by one. You also said 4,000 yards. Roethlisberger has cracked that number six times and should do so easily if he plays 14-15 games.
So let’s go through Ben’s career bests and add a “yes” or “no” as to whether he’ll top those figures this season:
• Completion Pct.: 68.0 (2015). Yes.
• Touchdowns: 34 (2018). Yes.
• Yards: 5,129 (2018). No.
• Rating: 104.1 (2007). Yes.
• Interceptions: 23 (2006). No, meaning he will (and better) throw way less than 23 interceptions. Half as many or fewer would be good.
Add it all up, and yes, Dr. Del Zotto, I think we might see Ben have his best season.
Steelers may be wise to trade away first-round draft pick in 2021
With a number of talent-producing teams in the Big 10, Pac-12, and ACC canceling their football programs for the remainder of the calendar year, it’s going to be extremely difficult for NFL teams to evaluate talent in next April’s NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh should consider trading away their first-round draft choice again in 2020.
An example might be Washington edge defender, Montez Sweat. Sweat is a terrific athlete who had just an average season as a rookie in 2019. But with the Washington Football Team selecting Ohio State stud, Chase Young with the second overall pick last year,
From Joe Starkey's Q&A at Pitts Post Gazette. He's leaning towards a big year from Ben based on what Ben's been doing in camp
Donny Del Zotto, @DonnyD43: O/U 4,000 yards, 35 TDs for No. 7?
Starkey: Interesting numbers, Dr. Del Zotto — and your question, combined with Ben’s camp performance, has me wondering if Kevin Colbert was correct when he uttered the following words at the combine: “We might have a better Ben Roethlisberger coming out of this surgery.”
I thought Colbert was nuts at the time, and I’ll still say 40% of Ben would be significantly better than what the Steelers got from the position last season.
But what if he was right?
Roethlisberger has been zipping the ball around practice and talking about how he’s pain-free in that right elbow for the first time in years. The rest of his body is 38, it’s true, but maybe a year off helped rejuvenate the non-elbow parts, as well.
Obviously, we can only know by the games and how Roethlisberger is able to withstand the physical abuse. The proof’s in the pounding, you might say, and with the likes of Von Miller, Myles Garrett and J.J. Watt on the docket, he’s going to take some hits (maybe more than we think, depending on how that right tackle position shakes out).
But if the body and arm are willing, Roethlisberger could become the rare athlete to combine a mature mental acuity for the game with still-elite physical skills. So many athletes finally figure it all out when it’s too late (that’s when they become TV analysts or coaches). Roethlisberger’s mental game, as one would expect, has evolved dramatically over the years, even as his mobility has declined.
He has plenty of weaponry, too. So what about the numbers?
You said 35 touchdowns. That would mark a career-best by one. You also said 4,000 yards. Roethlisberger has cracked that number six times and should do so easily if he plays 14-15 games.
So let’s go through Ben’s career bests and add a “yes” or “no” as to whether he’ll top those figures this season:
• Completion Pct.: 68.0 (2015). Yes.
• Touchdowns: 34 (2018). Yes.
• Yards: 5,129 (2018). No.
• Rating: 104.1 (2007). Yes.
• Interceptions: 23 (2006). No, meaning he will (and better) throw way less than 23 interceptions. Half as many or fewer would be good.
Add it all up, and yes, Dr. Del Zotto, I think we might see Ben have his best season.
NFL Rank: Predicting the best 100 players for the 2020 NFL season
TJ is 31
Minkah is 42
Heyward is 73
Ben is 78
JuJU is 100
Marcia is 32, JJ Watt is 38....so TJ is ranked above his brother. AB and Leveon Bell did not make the list
Full article: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29766900/nfl-rank-predicting-best-100-players-2020-nfl-season
Brady only comes in at 32 because he is the GCOAT. No I didn't misspell it. It means GREATEST CHEATER OF ALL TIME. Cam @ 73. Wrong he should be at least in the top 50.
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LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1270 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Steelers announce their cuts, and the bigger names are Ryan Switzer, Deon Cain, Dan McCullers, Antoine Brooks (sixth-rounder this year).
New wideout Ray-Ray McCloud makes it and so does this year’s seventh-rounder, DT Carlos Davis.
Switzer is a bit of a shock.
LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1270 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Subject: Re: 2020-2021 Preseason Discussion Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:31 am
It looks like former Steelers Chickillo and Xavier Grimble released as well.
Also looks like undrafted rookie free agent CB James Pierre made the 53 man roster.
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jak341
Posts : 3511 Join date : 2015-04-09 Location : Pittsburgh
Subject: Re: 2020-2021 Preseason Discussion Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:14 am
Former Steelers released yesterday.
Former Steelers cut on Saturday: JJ Wilcox, Brian Allen, CJ Goodwin, Tevin Jones, PJ Locke, Patrick Morris, Jerald Hawkins, Xavier Grimble, Josh Dobbs, Tony Brooks-James, Anthony Chickillo, Dravon Askew-Henry, Johnny Holton, Donte Moncrief, A.Q. Shipley and Sean Davis.
I'm happy. Always hated when we traded him to Jacksonville, and I think it really bit us in the ass last year (he'd have been objectively better than Duck or Rudolph).
LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1270 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
It makes sense for them to get Davis and Dobbs back. I really like Duck so hate to see him go but Dobbs is the better choice. It must be tough for a guy like Duck being happy Saturday for making the roster then to be out the door the very next day.
They released Curtis Riley to make room for Davis. Riley seemed to impress everyone in camp but they must think Davis a better option
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LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1270 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Maybe Steelers switching punters. His dad was punter when I was kid and always liked him. And it looks like Duck going to practice squad
Steelers bring back quarterback Josh Dobbs, safety Sean Davis
The Steelers are bringing back two of their former players — quarterback Josh Dobbs and safety Sean Davis — after they were cut by their respective teams, according to a team source and national reports.
The return of Dobbs could mean that Devlin Hodges, who started six games in 2019, will be released and placed on the practice squad.
Curiously, it was the performance of Hodges in last year’s preseason that led to Dobbs being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Dobbs was released by the Jaguars on Saturday.
Davis, a former starter until he sustained a season-ending injury at the start of the 2019 season, was not re-signed in free agency. He signed with Washington and was given a $2 million signing bonus but was released by the team on Saturday.
The Steelers have been searching for depth at safety, which is why they signed veteran Curtis Riley last month to back up MInkah Fitzpatrick, who was acquired in a trade after Davis was injured. Riley is expected to be released.
The return of Hodges and Davis is another indication of coach Mike Tomlin wanting to rely on players who are familiar with the Steelers system because of the pandemic-shortened preseason.
Also, the Steelers have brought in punter Dustin Colquitt, son of former Steelers punter Craig Colquitt, as a possible replacement for Josh Berry. Colquitt was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in April and needs to pass a physical and COVID-19 protocols.
Steelers announce 14 practice squad additions. Still two spots open, one would assume for Duck Hodges. No Wendell Smallwood, Kerrith Whyte, Ryan Switzer, Tuzar Skipper.
From Gerry Dulac
Quote :
P Dustin Colquitt had physical with Steelers but team not sure about signing him.
