Every Sunday during the offseason I plan on recapping for you seven items related to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the NFL that may have fallen through the cracks the past week that should be worth your time to read. This weekly feature will be entitled “Steelers’ Seven Shots.”
Shot #1 – Outside of re-signing two of their own unrestricted free agents, the Steelers spent the first full weekend of the 2017 league year watching other teams sign outside players. Assuming no signings are made on Sunday, this will mark the first time since 2013 that the organization didn’t sign a player within the first full weekend of a new league year. Fear not, however, as the last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl they didn’t have a lot of free agent activity that year. See below:
The last time the #Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2008-2009, these were the free agents they added during main signing period. pic.twitter.com/sqYPT06K50
— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) March 8, 2017
Shot #2 – Auburn edge rusher Carl Lawson had his pro day this past week and the Steelers had quite a few people on hand to watch him go through linebacker drills. After the pro day was over, Lawson talked to the media and passed along what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told him. Hall of Famer and current Jets linebackers coach Kevin Greene put Lawson through the paces during the drills and that’s not overly surprising being as the former Steelers linebacker went to Auburn as well.
ICYMI @NFL pro day was a success for @AuburnFootball
Great to have HOFer @sackmaster91 and @CoachTomlin in the building! pic.twitter.com/ntec6gXnKO
— WarEagle Productions (@AuburnVideo) March 11, 2017
Shot #3 – Unfortunately for Washington cornerback Sidney Jones, his Saturday pro day didn’t go as well as Lawson’s did. Jones, a projected first-round pick, reportedly suffered an Achilles injury while doing defensive back drills. The injury was caught on tape as well by a local television station. It will now be interesting to see how far Jones falls in the draft as a result of his injury. At least one major media mock draft that I saw had Jones being selected by the Steelers in the first round.
VIDEO: Sidney jones going down with a leg injury at @UW_Football pro day #komonews pic.twitter.com/qIrGni82dq
— Paul KOMO sports (@Paul4KOMOsports) March 11, 2017
Talked to scout at UW pro day. He thinks Sidney Jones suffered Achilles injury in press coverage drill but not certain. Taken for MRI.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 11, 2017
Shot #4 – Former Steelers draft pick, tackle Kelvin Beachum, has already found a new home after the Jacksonville Jaguars decided not to pick up his option last month. On Friday, Beachum broke the news on Twitter that he had signed with the Jets. Beachum signed a three year contract worth $24 million with the Jets that contains $12 million in guaranteed salary.
J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets! ✈️✈️✈️
This just in! Congrats to @KelvinBeachumJr on signing with @nyjets today. #GangGreen #NFLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/ErDOpcLexA
— FOX Sports: PROcast (@PROcast) March 10, 2017
Shot #5 – On Saturday, Steelers fan Ava Tarantino asked running back Le’Veon Bell on Twitter if he would go to prom with her if her tweet was retweeted 500 times. Bell said he would but only if she received 600 retweets. It didn’t take long and Tarantino met the required goal and then some and Bell has since said he would honor his part of the deal. Tarantino, by the way, lives in Wisconsin.
@L_Bell26 500 rts and you'll go to prom w me
— Ava Tarantino (@avatarantino26) March 11, 2017
600 & it's a deal https://t.co/nUo76cmH8e
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) March 11, 2017
welllll, a deal is a deal @avatarantino26 ……see youu at your prom ?
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) March 12, 2017
Shot #6 – Actor/comedian Kevin Hart was inspired enough by a recent floor press lifting video that Steelers linebacker James Harrison that he put out one of his own on Saturday as a tribute. Both videos are below and one includes NSFW language.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRf9vfRAgMw/
Shot #7 – Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network posted this gem below on Twitter shortly after the Cleveland Browns released quarterback Robert Griffin III. Steelers guard David DeCastro is one of the 11 from that 2012 draft class to survive.
With RGIII's release, 21 of 32 picks from 2012 1st round have either changed teams, are out of football, suspended, or unsigned free agents.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 10, 2017
