Steelers Brown Redefines WR, Bettis Renegade, Ward Restaurant

The 2015 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away and offseason workout programs are starting across the league. While the Steelers get ready to build their big board and head out on the practice fields we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Wednesday, April 8^th.

Who needs a tall receiver?

Not necessarily the Steelers. Antonio Brown is single handedly changing what the typical No. 1 receiver in the NFL looks like. It seemed at one point that the popular thought would be that Ben Roethlisberger needed and wanted a tall target to be successful. Antonio Brown ain’t anybody’s tall target.

As ESPN’s Scott Brown reminds us, the Steelers Antonio Brown out produced all other prototypical No. 1 receivers last season. He finished with more receptions than Dallas’ Dez Bryant, Denver’s Demaryius Thomas, Chicago’s Alshon Jeffrey, and Detroit’s Calvin Johnson. He led the NFL with 85 first downs to top it off as well.

Oh mama I’m in fear for my life

Mike Mettler, the official biographer for the band, Styx, shared with us what an impact the song had on the band after seeing the impact it had on the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans. Jerome Bettis, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, shared one of his favorite memories of hearing “Renegade” played in the stadium and how he felt it changed the momentum of the game.

"“I remember one good one, when we were playing the New York Jets in Pittsburgh; it was a playoff game [the AFC Divisional playoff on January 16, 2005]. We were losing the game. They played ‘Renegade,’ and I’ll never forget seeing those towels all waving at us, and it was amazing. I would definitely attribute that song to making a big difference in that game. It was like the 12th man. It was huge.” – Jerome Bettis"

The Steelers ultimately tied the game and won in overtime, 20-17 with Bettis running for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Hines Ward Restaurant

Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward probably hopes to follow in his former teammate’s shoes when Jerome Bettis gets inducted into Canton this August but for now, he’s going to follow in his business shoes by opening a restaurant in Pittsburgh later this year.

Actually, it’s expected to be a pair of restaurants according to Kristina Martin of Pittsburgh Magazine. The concepts of the restaurants, Table 86 and VINES, is something Ward has been working on with Howard Shiller, who is partly responsible for Jerome Bettis’ namesake joint on the North Shore.

Next: Steelers Rookies: Why don't they make immediate impacts?

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