Steelers MMQB: NFL Offseason News

Kim Myers

Jul 26, 2014; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (center) address the media after drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:

Jags loose first-round draft pick to injury within an hour of rookie mini camp
Terrelle Pryor finds a new home with the Bengals, for now
Cowboys sign offensive lineman La’el Collins
Tom Brady’s suspension up in the air
Browns OC thinks Johnny Manziel doesn’t suck…yet
Steelers sign two more in draft class

We’re just about 122 days and a few hours away from the Steelers kicking off their 2015 season in Foxboro against the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Who the stars of that game will be remains uncertain at this point.

The draft picks are being signed and rookie minicamps are either wrapping up or just getting going all across the league. Soon we’ll be entering the final phase of the offseason workout programs and we’ll hit that lonely part of the summer where all we can do is wait for training camp to open.

In the mean-time, the NFL will never stay very far out of the news cycle; we know that for sure already. Any minute now they could be announcing a suspension or their justification for no suspension for Tom Brady for his intentionally poorly inflated balls. Then we can all wait for whatever eloquent response Gronk has for it.

This is the age of the NFL we live in right now, with or without games being played you can always could on some kind of scandal going on. And if there aren’t any scandals, then at least we can watch videos of James Harrison lifting an insane amount of weight.

Next: Fowler Goes Down

Fight on Fowler

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Dante Fowler, Jr (Florida) is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the number three overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

"“If I didn’t get hurt yesterday, We were going to be talking about probably how good I was in practice because I was feeling good.”- Dante Fowler Jr."

An hour in to the Jaguars first session of rookie mini-camp featuring the third overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft the first devastating injury of the season occurred. Later that day Jags coach Gus Badly confirmed that Fowler will miss the entire 2015 season after tearing his ACL.

Fowler has been upbeat ever since the injury and has vowed to come back in 2016 stronger than ever. According to Around the NFL’s Chris Wesseling, Fowler hadn’t missed a game due to injury going all the way back to his high school playing days.

Jags fans should look forward to seeing Fowler in action next year and take solace in the fact that at least they have a swimming pool and jumbotrons that play the NFL RedZone Channel this year.

Next: Pryor in Cincy

Pryor finds a home in Cincy

Nov 3, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) reacts during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at O.co Coliseum. The Eagles defeated the Raiders 49-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Western Pennsylvania native Terrelle Pryor hasn’t had the easiest start to his NFL career. After having to join the Supplemental NFL Draft he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders only to be handed a suspension by Roger Goodell for selling his own stuff while at Ohio State and violating archaic NCAA rules.

After spending three seasons in the Black Hole and spending some time with the Seattle Seahawks, Pryor was signed by Kansas City this offseason but was released in just four months. This weekend the Cincinnati Bengals announced they’ve signed Pryor after his tryout at their rookie mini-camp.

Pryor will go up against AJ McCarron and Josh Johnson for the precious spot of backing up Andy Dalton. Pryor isn’t up to changing positions if his 6’4”, 233 pound frame doesn’t land him a permanent NFL gig, according to Kevin Patra.

"“If I can’t play quarterback, I can’t play football.” – Terrelle Pryor"

Looks like he found the best possible team to be on.

Next: Collins is Cowboys Latest Steal

Of course he signs in Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys may have gotten away with the biggest draft theft we’ll ever see in our lifetime. With just the price of one first-round draft pick the Boys walked away with cornerback Byron Jones, were able to snag OLB Randy Gregory in the second round and signed LSU’s offensive lineman La’el Collins as an undrafted free agent.

Collins went undrafted last week after his name has been tied to a pair of murders in Louisiana; his ex-girlfriend and her unborn child. After a DNA paternity test revealed that Collins was not the father of the late baby, it seems his NFL career jumped into full swing and he fielded offers from as many as 29 teams.

Naturally, however, the Cowboys came through with the best offer for Collings, the beauty of a GM not having to get approval from his finicky owner before making personnel decisions I suppose. This doesn’t mean that Collins has been officially cleared by the Baton Rouge Police Department in the murders, just that they can’t tie him to them at this point so they’re never really going to rule him out completely unless another suspect comes along.

Collins joins Gregory as part of the Cowboys draft class that involves players with “questionable” histories that made all other teams at least pass on them one time. Whether or not this risky move works out for the boys remains to be seen.

Next: How Many Games Will it Be?

Tom’s Suspension

Feb 2, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left) and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pose with the Pete Rozelle trophy during the Super Bowl XLIX-Winning Head Coach and MVP Press Conference at Media Center-Press Conference Room B. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

We’re going to be waiting all week long to see how many games Tommy Boy will be suspended for his part in the scandal that has everyone from NFL Hall of Famers to Third Grade Teachers talking about balls.

PFT’s Mike Florio says that the New York Daily News’ Gary Myers says it’s not an “if” but a “when” and ultimately “how many games” when it comes to Brady’s suspension. To put it in perspective, Browns GM Ray Farmer got suspended four games for texting down to the field from the coaches’ booth during games. Now there’s no way he was texting actual plays, probably more like winky-face emoticons when he saw plays that he liked but still, four games is four games.

Frankly all I care about is the first game. If he gets suspended one game I’ll be a happy camper. It’s enough to even the playing-field for the Steelers, who will be without Le’Veon Bell, and will probably eliminate shots of Rogeez and Patriots owner Robert Kraft making out in his owners booth during the game. Win win.

Next: Johnny Be Good

That’s a good boy, Johnny

Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a rough year for Johnny Manziel. First he gets drafted by the friggin Cleveland Browns. He then realizes that he’s not talented enough to be able to live the life of Rob Gronkowski and has to check himself into rehab and now the Browns have already named Josh McCown their opening day starter.

Still, Browns OC John DeFilippo has nothing but good things to say about Manziel from what he’s seen out of the workouts so far. Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports says that DeFilippo likes Johnny’s football “traits” and thinks he could have to potential to be a starter at some point.

"“Absolutely. First of all, I think he has fairly good arm strength. I think he gets the ball out of his hand fast. I think Johnny has a lot of traits that good quarterbacks in this league have. It’s just a matter of getting better at them.” – John DeFilippo"

Is it me or does that sound similar to when you have to tell your friend who just had an ugly baby a nice way of saying their baby isn’t ugly? Maybe it’s me. If Manziel is ever going to learn those “traits that good quarterbacks in this league have” I wonder where he’s going to pick them up from. McCown? Really?

Next: Two More Steelers

Two more signed

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Doran Grant (12) in game action against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State won 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers announced on Monday morning that they have signed two more of their 2015 Draft Class. Cornerback Doran Grant, their fourth-round pick out of Ohio State and linebacker Anthony Chickillo, their second of two-sixth round selections from the University of Miami.

Each signed four-year deals and the financial terms have yet to be disclosed. The Steelers have now signed three of their eight NFL draft picks and have wrapped up the rookie mini-camp this weekend.

First-round pick Bud Dupree had missed all but the last session while he participated in commencement ceremonies at the University of Kentucky, where he earned his four-year degree. Chickillo also missed the first sessions while he attended his graduation ceremony at the University of Miami.

Three down, five to go!

Here we go Steelers! Here We go!

Next: Steelers Rookie QB at Mini- Camp

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Kim Myers

Editor for Still Curtain, Fansided's Pittsburgh Steelers-themed site. I write for my Dad. I like sports biographies and french fries on my salad.