Bell doesn’t show, but Brown does, in a helicopter
LATROBE 无毛视频� Le无毛视频橵eon Bell didn无毛视频檛 show up at all, but Antonio Brown pulled into the upper field in a helicopter.
It was a reporting day of extremes for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday, but the only actual news was the signing wide receiver Eli Rogers to a one-year contract.
Rogers tore an ACL in the playoffs last season and as a free agent took a bit of a tour around the NFL before returning to sign yesterday with the Steelers.
The slot receiver无毛视频檚 production dipped precipitously last year due to the emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster.
After catching 48 passes for 594 yards in 2017, Rogers finished his second NFL season with only 18 catches for 149 yards, although he did add five catches for 42 yards in the playoff game before the injury.
Rogers will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list without an immediate agenda.
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 been rehabbing at UPMC无毛视频檚 facility, so we无毛视频檝e seen him some around,无毛视频� said Mike Tomlin. 无毛视频淗e went through the process, felt like this is the best place for him. We feel like it might be an opportunity for him when healthy. We know enough about him that we don无毛视频檛 have to rush that process. When he is ready to go, we无毛视频檒l proceed.无毛视频�
Tomlin knows that his primary receiver is ready. The coach was asked about Brown无毛视频檚 theatrical arrival by helicopter and Tomlin said, 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 A.B. It无毛视频檚 a beautiful thing. He无毛视频檚 ready to go.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚t was less driving,无毛视频� explained Brown. 无毛视频淢ore convenient for the time, so I could get here to get ready to go.无毛视频�
After catching more than 100 passes in each of the last five seasons, was Brown perhaps making a statement about this season?
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 just ready to go,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淩eady to go here professionally, ready to work, and excited to get ready for the year. 无毛视频� We know what is expected. We know what无毛视频檚 at stake.无毛视频�
On the absence of Bell, Brown said, 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a business. Everyone has to do what无毛视频檚 right for their business.无毛视频�
Bell, of course, used a camp holdout as leverage during his failed contract negotiations that left him on the franchise tag for the second consecutive season.
Last year, Bell didn无毛视频檛 sign his tag until the week of the first game, and he gained 32, 87 and 61 rushing yards before erupting for 144 in the fourth game. Tomlin said he无毛视频檚 not looking to apply any lessons this season from what he may have learned about Bell无毛视频檚 holdout a year ago.
无毛视频淢y mentality regarding Le无毛视频橵eon will be very similar to the way it was a year ago,无毛视频� Tomlin said. 无毛视频淲hen he gets here, we无毛视频檒l evaluate his overall readiness and how much time he missed and see the ramifications of that. Until then, I无毛视频檓 going to be singularly focused on those that are here working and their development.无毛视频�
Tomlin said he thought Bell last year 无毛视频渄id a nice job when he showed up, in terms of his overall approach and attitude. I didn无毛视频檛 have any qualms with that.无毛视频�
A couple more questions about Bell were the last Tomlin said he expects to field this training camp.
无毛视频淎gain, I无毛视频檓 going to stay focused on where I无毛视频檓 at, respectfully,无毛视频� Tomlin said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 done with the Le无毛视频橵eon questions.无毛视频�
Tomlin only fielded the first of what will be many questions about his new offensive coordinator, former QBs coach Randy Fichtner, and the changes he may bring.
无毛视频淚 was a wideout coach (at the University of Memphis) when he was a playcaller in 1997,无毛视频� Tomlin said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e seen that show before. It无毛视频檚 going to be fun.无毛视频�
But Fichtner called plays out of the spread at Memphis.
无毛视频淣ot much has changed in the big scheme of things,无毛视频� Tomlin said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檝e got 11; we无毛视频檝e got 11. We better move the ball fluidly down the grass.无毛视频�
Tomlin was also asked about last week无毛视频檚 criticisms by former All-Pro linebacker James Harrison, which included a perceived lack of discipline enforced by Tomlin.
无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 think a lot about it,无毛视频� Tomlin said. 无毛视频淗e has an opinion. He无毛视频檚 entitled to it. He doesn无毛视频檛 play for us right now. I无毛视频檓 focused on 2018, man. That soap-opera stuff, I无毛视频檒l let you guys play that game.无毛视频�
Only one player, veteran offensive tackle Bryce Harris, failed the conditioning test. Undrafted rookie cornerback Trey Johnson didn无毛视频檛 participate because of a shoulder injury.