Steelers Revives Defense, Bell Top 100, Mendy Balling

The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially on summer vacation. They’ve wrapped up their minicamp and will head out to parts unknown for the next three weeks until reporting to the dorms of Saint Vincent for the Steelers’ 50^th season of training camp in Latrobe. While the Steelers are enjoying their summer break we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Friday, July 3^rd.

Reviving Blitzburgh

The Steelers have a lot invested in reviving the intimidating, quarterback attacking, turnover forcing defense that has been their hall mark for several years. Three straight first-round draft picks have been invested on linebackers and rookie linebacker Bud Dupree told Cleveland.com that he wants to be part of the group that brings Blitzburgh back to the Steel City.

"“I want to be in that group that brings it back. We want to bring back that hunger, that eagerness to go after the quarterback.” – Bud Dupree"

It’s very unlikely that in just his rookie season Dupree will have people mistaking him for a young Joey Porter but if the Steelers want to get back to being a consistent playoff contender they’re going to need immediate returns on the investments of the likes of Dupree, Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier.

Bell cracks Top 20

The NFL Network continues their countdown of the “Top 100 Players of 2015” and on Wednesday night it was revealed that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell came in at No. 16. Bell was voted Steelers 2014 team MVP and also named co-AFC Offensive Player of the Year by NFL 101 along with his teammate, Antonio Brown. Brown ranking hasn’t been revealed yet which most likely means he will land in the Top 10.

Steelers quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger

was ranked No. 26 and center

Maurkice Pouncey

came in at No. 83.

Mendenhall is Balling

Former Steelers Rashard Mendenhall always had a lot to say. These days since “retiring” from the NFL in 2013 Mendenhall is working on the HBO show, Ballers as a writer. He spoke to the Men’s Journal about his transition from playing professional football to writing exaggerated stories about it.

The show debuted in late June and stars Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson and features several NFL faces as cameos. It’s produced by Mark Walberg so it’s basically an Entourage with a football angle. But quite possibly even more misogynistic, if that’s possible.

Mendy always wanted to portray himself as a “deep thinker” rather than a football player but he definitely didn’t pass up the opportunity to gossip about his days in the league. The quote that’s going to get the most attention is describing a wild party thrown at a nightclub with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a $25K tab was left for a rookie to pay.

"“Ben just did the whole thing. One night – the rookie ended up with a $25,000 bill from the club.” – Rashard Mendenhall"

Mendenhall played for the Steelers from 2008-2012 and as we saw in May, things have changed on the team as far as who take who out for expensive dinners. In the article Mendy even takes a shot at Steelers fans, trying to show how fickle the profession of being a football player is.

"“Fans were like, ‘We can’t wait to see you start. You’re better than Willie Parker.’ I haven’t put on a helmet. This guy’s a two-time Pro Bowler, and you’re already giving me the world? I saw that, and I knew it was gonna happen to me, too.” – Rashard Mendenhall"

I guess in the future he can write about how fickle the life of a cable TV writer is.

Next: Steelers Want Super Bowl LVII in Pittsburgh

More from Still Curtain

Home/Steelers News