Suche / Biete » You make a couple plays like that and now all of a sudden

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have reiterated repeatedly during an eventful offseason that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains the team’s unquestioned leader. They have handed him a new deal to prove it.The Steelers and the two-time Super Bowl winner agreed to terms on a contract extension Wednesday that will keep Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh through the 2021 season. Roethlisberger had been set to enter the final year of a contract he signed in 2015. Financial terms were not disclosed James Conner Jersey , but Roethlisberger figures to get a significant pay bump over the $12 million he was due (with a $23 million cap hit) in 2019.“It has always been a goal to play my entire career in Pittsburgh,” Roethlisberger said in a statement. “This is home for me and my family, and we love this city. I am as excited to be a Steeler in Year 16 as I was when they drafted me. They will get my absolute best.”The deal gives Pittsburgh some stability going forward after the high-profile departures of wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. Brown pouted his way into a trade with the Oakland Raiders in March while Bell signed with the New York Jets as a free agent after sitting out all of 2018 when he opted not to sign his franchise tender.Roethlisberger, who turned 37 last month, is coming off the finest statistical season of his 15-year career. His 5,129 yards passing led the NFL and his 34 touchdown passes broke his own franchise mark. Yet his once-solid relationship with Brown appeared to deteriorate during a late slide that culminated in a 9-6-1 finish, a swoon that caused the Steelers to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2013.Brown sat out a crucial Week 17 game against Cincinnati and in the aftermath lashed out on social media, blaming Roethlisberger for having an “owner mentality .”Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert went out of his way to defend the quarterback, saying that in a way, Roethlisberger was dealing with “52 kids” on the roster , a challenge for some of Roethlisberger’s teammates to take on a greater role in the locker room. Not that Roethlisberger minds the responsibility. He has been unapologetic in his approach and unafraid to call out himself and others when the team fails to play to the standard it has set for itself during his largely successful tenure.Roethlisberger flirted with retirement after the 2016 season but has found a renewed sense of energy in his mid-30s. Having an offensive line that has kept him upright has certainly helped. Roethlisberger has been sacked an average of 20½ times over the last four years — compared with an average of 42 times per season between 2006-13 — due in part to stellar play in front of him and an approach predicated on getting the ball out faster while shying away from the “Ben being Ben” stuff that led to a mix of big plays and big mistakes earlier in his career.The announcement of the extension came on the 15th anniversary of the Steelers making Roethlisberger the seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft. After taking over the starting job in Week 2 of the 2004 season following an injury to veteran Tommy Maddox https://www.thesteelerslockerroom.com/authentic-terrell-edmunds-jersey , Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to three Super Bowls, along with seven AFC North titles and 10 total playoff berths.“Ben is one of the most productive quarterbacks in NFL history, and he continued to climb the lists among the all-time passing leaders in the league last season,” team president Art Rooney II said. “But I know Ben’s focus is on only one goal — to bring another Lombardi trophy back to Pittsburgh.”Roethlisberger will lead an offense in the midst of a generational shift at other skill positions. JuJu Smith-Schuster replaces Brown as Pittsburgh’s top receiver and the running back combination of James Conner and Jaylen Samuels combined to put up numbers in 2018 similar to Bell’s at his peak. There is stability, however, along the offensive line. Four of five starters return and there are plenty of potential in-house replacements for right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who was traded to Arizona in March.Pittsburgh has toyed with finding Roethlisberger’s eventual successor, drafting Josh Dobbs in the fourth round in 2017 and Mason Rudolph in the third round last year. Dobbs won the backup job last summer over Rudolph and veteran Landry Jones, who was cut on the eve of the 2018 season. Having them in place means the Steelers are likely to avoid drafting a quarterback with one of their 10 selections in the draft that starts Thursday.Inside linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver figure to be Pittsburgh’s biggest needs early.Quarterback, for the 15th straight year Womens Terrell Edmunds Jersey , will not. Not with Roethlisberger still very much in charge early into the next decade. PITTSBURGH (AP) — It’s been an uneven rookie season for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington, but he may be needed for a bigger role nonetheless.JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh’s leading receiver, is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans, and if he can’t play, the Steelers expect Washington to help fill the void.Smith-Schuster, who has 95 receptions for 1,274 yards, left Thursday’s practice with a groin injury. He did not practice Friday and did not speak with reporters. Antonio Brown, second on the Steelers with 90 catches for 1,112 yards and a team-best 13 touchdowns T. J. Watt Jersey White , was optimistic about Smith-Schuster’s availability.“I think he’ll be there for us,” Brown said.Meanwhile, Washington will look to continue his recent upswing.Pittsburgh picked Washington in the second round of the draft with the hopes that the former Oklahoma State star could take over as the team’s primary deep threat for Martavis Bryant. However, Washington struggled through most of the season.Washington had just five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown during the first four weeks. He only had eight receptions for 77 yards and a score through 11 weeks and was called out by Ben Roethlisberger for a drop at Denver in Week 12.Washington was inactive at home the following week against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was the second time in six weeks Washington was a healthy scratch, but he has since rebounded.“You can’t come in here and seek comfort,” Washington said. “You have to keep working each and every day and things will get better.”And it has for Washington. The rookie earned praise from Roethlisberger after he established career highs with three receptions and 65 yards in last Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots.“He just needs confidence in himself because I have confidence in him,” Roethlisberger said. “I wouldn’t throw him the ball if I didn’t believe in him, so it looks like his confidence is coming back, which is important.”Washington’s confidence was most evident during a leaping 32-yard grab in single coverage ahead of Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty. Washington also broke free for a 24-yard catch-and-run later in the drive.“It was a lot of excitement just because it was a big catch and it’s something that everybody’s going to look back on and remember,” Washington said. “You just gotta keep moving forward and making plays. You can’t dwell in the past.”Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner expects more of the same from Washington down the stretch.“Now, you get a little taste of it and you can even see the excitement in his eyes Terrell Edmunds Jersey White ,” Fichtner said. “Some of that confidence goes, too, with your quarterback. it warrants more opportunity, because that catch he made on the sideline was not an easy grab.”Washington said he’s becoming more comfortable in the Steelers’ offense and he was happy to contribute to the win over New England. He doesn’t expect a drop-off if he has to fill in for Smith-Schuster against the Saints.“Nothing changes,” Washington said. “Like they always tell us, you have to learn how to play every position. It’s not just one position. You have to learn every position and the concepts.”NOTES: Pro Bowl RB James Conner will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury sustained Dec. 2 against the Chargers. Rookie RB Jaylen Samuels rushed 19 times for 142 yards, while also hauling in two passes for 30 yards, against New England.