QB1—RUSSELL WILSON, WITH COACH MIKE TOMLIN, AT STEELERS TRAINING CAMP IN LATROBE, AUG. 1. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
:10—Steelers training camp at St. Vincent’s in Latrobe is underway, hallelujah and amen. The first four days of camp are behind us and the good news is Justin Fields has looked tremendous, crisp passes, great movement in and out of the pocket, reading the defense very well and being extremely fan-friendly. The flip side is Russell Wilson being a sideline presence only due to a calf injury suffered while hitting a blocking sled. A blocking sled? Whatever person thought Russell Wilson would benefit by doing such a drill earns the Bonehead of the Week hands down.
:09—I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the third-round pick out of N.C. State, rookie linebacker Payton Wilson and the blazing speed he has flashed here at camp so far, chasing down Justin Fields on one particular play as if he had jets strapped on his back. This young man could be the steal of the entire draft if he gets the chance to regularly compete on the field, his penchant for arriving at the ball-carrier with explosive speed, something that has been missing from our linebacking corps since the heyday of Ryan Shazier. It also seems reasonable to state Payton Wilson will be an extraordinary coverage linebacker on tight ends every week on the gridiron. I’m just saying… but watch out Pittsburgh, a superstar is on the way.
:08—Thoroughly glad to see that despite his option not being picked up for next season at the cheap price of $6.5 million, Najee Harris appears to be ready to play football at the highest level and with a line which should be an upgrade over last season’s starting five, I predict big things from Najee as he plays for a new contract and a big payday. Believe me, under new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, expect the Steelers to run the ball effectively and more often than last season, with Jaylen Warren providing the home run spark when in the backfield.
THE STEELERS’ JUSTIN FIELDS.
:07—When the NFL season begins for the Steelers on Sunday, September 8, at 1 p.m. against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Russell Wilson will be the starting QB and he will play well, leading the Steelers to a victory on the road. I also believe by season’s end, Justin Fields will be the QB leading them into the playoffs. He’s younger, faster, stronger, more athletic and elusive and at this point in their careers, has a stronger arm. With both men leading the resurgence of the offense, I also feel deep in my bones, and at my age I feel a lot of things deep in my bones these days, that George Pickens is a legitimate threat to go All-Pro and light up the field each and every week. And rookie Roman Wilson is going to be a major contributor in his very first season, a sleeper draft pick out of Michigan if ever there was one.
:06—The Pirates traded pitcher Quinn Priester, once a highly regarded pitching prospect, to the Boston Red Sox for Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke…wait, what, no, for infield prospect Nick Yorke, a move that is basically a Band-aid for Nick Gonzalez, currently banged up and unable to play. This move does nothing to help the Pirates as a trade for Jazz Chisolm Jr., centerfielder, sent to the Yankees for prospects no better than what the Pirates could have given up. Since the Bucs just sent down Jack Suwinski, he of the 9 home runs and .182 batting average, a new center fielder would have been nice. Yorke was buried in the minor leagues behind starting shortstop David Hamilton. Who? My sentiments exactly. The future is now, not next year or 2026.
:05—As of July 30, Paul Skenes started 12 games and was 6-1 with an ERA of 1.93, the best in baseball. With at least one more good bat in the lineup he would be 9-0. Mitch Keller started 21 games as of July 30 and was 10-5. He should be 13-4. Luis Ortiz was 5-2 with an ERA of 2.75 and over his last 6 starts (dating back to July 30) had thrown 31 2/3 innings and allowed 6 runs. The ownership tried to acquire a bat at the deadline with Bryan De La Cruz from the Miami Marlins, and we’ll see if he’s able to help these Pirates heading into this NL Wild Card race.
:04—The Pirates are teetering on the Wild Card position and with the generational pitching they are getting, this summer could be one to remember. The starting pitching of Skenes, Keller, Ortiz and Jones is going to be extremely hard to beat in a short series, but you have to get to the playoffs first. Do you think the Bucs did enough at the trade deadline?
:03—Let’s move on before one of us blows a gasket in frustration over the Bucs. The Olympics are in full force and watching the basketball team led by Kevin Durant smack down Serbia and 3-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic 110-84, it appears no one can really hang with our men’s team. Same for the ladies of the WNBA, looking to win their 8th straight Gold Medal and cement their legacy as the undisputed greatest juggernaut in the history of the Summer Olympics. Talk about a Dream Team!
:02—Simone Biles, the Games’ and probably the world’s most dominant athlete, tweaked her calf on the first day of gymnastics competition but ended up winning three Gold Medals and one Silver Medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. One of those Golds was with her entire team, including Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera.
:01—For me, the best part of the Olympics is the track and field competitions, just one unbelievably exciting event after another. Although only lasting ten seconds the 100 meter final is as good as it gets athletically for me. I’m also a devout homer, I only root for Americans to win Gold Medals, I don’t care about anyone else’s sad story and what they had to overcome to get to the Paris Olympics. I wanted Sha’Carri Richardson to bring home Gold, I wanted Noah Lyles to win the 100 and 200 meter sprints and the 4×100 meter relay, I want Ryan Crouser to win his 3rd straight Gold Medal in the shot put. Save your sob story for someone else, I want Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone to beat the Netherlands Femke Bol by 5 seconds and set another world record. So far, Noah Lyles got the Gold in the 100 meters! And Sha’Carri got edged out but still won the Silver Medal in the 100…USA! USA! USA!
:00—The next election is less than 100 days away, so let’s all be registered to vote Blue on Tuesday, November 5, and end this nightmare once and for all.
GAME OVER.
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