“Controversy in camp…” “So & so wants out…” “Patience is done with…”
I can see the headlines right now. The twitter tough guys and keyboard cowboys will be out in full force; the “analysts” on the networks blowing it up and the locker room interview tension coming a mile away.
The cleats will be hitting the pavement at St. Vincent College in Latrobe in a few short days and this season is an absolutely pivotal one for our Pittsburgh Steelers. This offseason was more active than any of us thought it would actually be. The interminable sides of the Kenny Pickett disaster became exhausting to follow. The residual effects of that mess are still being clapped back and forth about by the way. No matter which camp you were in, I’m not sure the realism of him not being a Steeler moving forward was actually going to come to fruition. I, for one, am so glad it happened the way it did. I, under no circumstance, thought that our, normally stoic, no splash, off seasons would include signing a big name QB, dumping our former 1st rounder, and trading for a young gun would actually happen, but IT DID! The door slammed closed on that abomination of an offense we all suffered through watching for the last few seasons and now comes a new offensive coordinator & staff.
In comes Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. A veteran leader and a young man with a lot to prove step into the Black & Gold. They join forces with, what I feel, is a phenomenally talented offense that includes a game breaking WR in George Pickens, a workhorse backfield tandem, and a restructured offensive line that includes a young leader in Zach Frazier coming in at center that can be a true difference maker up front…
So, what’s my point? My point is that, very soon, our beloved football team will begin practice in preparation for the 2024 NFL season. With that, will come camp coverage and endless tweets, posts, reels, and opinions spewing the waves of the internet. Since joining the team at Steel City Blitz a few seasons back, I became uber aware of the media and their intentions. I began paying a bit more attention to the topics that blogs covered and the stories that people posted. I’d watch a press conference or interview and see a dozen postings about them with headlines and details that completely twisted things in their own narratives.
To put it plainly… I’m begging Steeler Nation to stay positive through this coming camp and season. Enjoy the ride and process that our team is in right now. Will Russell be successful? Will Fields break through under Tomlin? Will the new regime at OC/staff make that much of a difference? There’s so much to be excited about as fans. Enjoy it! Don’t be that guy who reads a headline, freaks out, blasts the coaches and players, and feeds into the nonsense. Buy your tickets, go to the games, wear your jerseys, and love the fact that we are fans of the best organization in sports!
