‘“I appreciate what you’re saying about Marv. I don’t see myself in that conversation,” McDermott said. “To be on a Zoom with him or to get an email from him after we won the division title, to be able to call him, he is a special man. That he roots for us and is able to share his wisdom he’s built over the years with us, it’s very humbling.”’
Archives for September 10, 2021
PlayAction: Bills DL vs. Steelers’ OL will show who ‘won’ the offseason
‘The Steelers essentially will have four new starters on the offensive line Sunday. That includes two rookies – left tackle Dan Moore and center Kendrick Green – plus two other young guys – left guard Kevin Dotson (four starts) and right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (19 starts).’
Bills fans get to place billboard in opponent city after repeating as Fox’s top fan base
‘Last year, Bills fans chose to place the billboard in Foxborough, Mass., in a landslide over Miami and East Rutherford, N.J. The billboard was put up days before the Bills visited the New England Patriots in Week 16. The billboard was located about three miles south of Gillette Stadium on Route 1.’
How we see it: News predictions for Bills vs. Steelers in opener
‘The Steelers struggled to run the ball last season, finishing last in the NFL in rushing yards, and aren’t likely to have significant success on the ground against the Bills, particularly if Star Lotulelei is healthy enough to anchor the middle of the defensive line. He has been sidelined with a calf injury.’
View from Vegas: Bills should win but might be giving too many points in opener
‘An NFL team that went 6-0 in division games the previous year, as the Bills did, is 8-17 against the spread as opening week favorites. With Buffalo’s rapid ascent last season and Pittsburgh’s sudden fall from grace, there is enough wood here to form a nice safety net for the Steelers as they improve to 10-3 against the spread as of late in this series.’
Here are six things the Bills need to have happen if they hope to earn a Super Bowl berth
‘One of McDermott’s greatest strengths will really come in handy this year, that being his ability to stick to his beloved process, which his players are fully invested in, and keep the team’s focus right where it needs to be.’
Bills flyover will have extra special meaning for Portville native Blue
‘“To get offered the home-opener in the 2021 season with hype surrounding the Bills; the first time the fans are in the stands (in two years) …” said Blue, born and raised in Portville. “Not only is it the home-opener, but it’s opening week. It’s just the whole thing is way too big for me not to have been absolutely ecstatic to accept.”‘
Bills’ Ed Oliver to have ‘bust-out season,’ open eyes around NFL in 2021, says Leslie Frazier
‘“He has a chance to really open some eyes around the league this season,” Frazier said this week. “Looking forward to him having a bust-out season, and that will be really good for our defense. He’s been consistently good, but there’s a chance he can go to another level and this would be an ideal year for that to happen.”’
Steelers DC issues warning to Bills’ Josh Allen ahead of Week 1 matchup
‘“I hope he does try to finish his runs like a running back. We’ll treat him like a RB,” Butler said. “If he wants to be treated like a running back, we’ll do that too.”’
In Q-and-A, Bills GM Beane addresses Josh Allen, club’s turnaround, the disadvantage of having anti-vaxxers, and more
‘“We want to be about sustained success. Nobody’s going to win the Super Bowl every year, as much as we’d love to. But we want to be a team that’s looked at as a contender every year. We’ve reached that. Now we just have to see what we can do every year, and not just making a run for one year and back down the next. We want to be talked about year in and year out.”’
Steelers’ Keith Butler on Josh Allen: ‘There’s a price to pay’ for QBs who ‘want to be treated like a running back’
‘“I hope he does try to finish his runs like a running back. We’ll treat him like a running back. If he wants to be treated like a running back, we’ll do that, too,” Butler said.’
Friday’s Pittsburgh Coverage
Steelers sign T.J. Watt to new $122M deal ahead of season opener (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Chase Claypool, a fiery young star, can be a favorite for Steelers fans but a villain for opponents (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Steelers mailbag: Why isn’t T.J. Watt a team captain again in 2021? (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Steelers’ Keith Butler on Josh Allen: ‘There’s a price to pay’ for QBs who ‘want to be treated like a running back’ (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Steelers, T.J. Watt reportedly agree to contract extension making him NFL’s highest paid defensive player (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Kendrick Green aims for physical, emotional consistency in NFL debut for Steelers (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Steelers OLB T.J. Watt to earn highest annual salary of any defensive player in NFL history (USA Today)
Steelers’ New-Look Offense Bracing For ‘Growing Pains’ (AP)
AP Source: Steelers, Watt Agree To Lucrative Extension (AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt agrees to a 4-year, $112 million extension, source says (ESPN)
Steelers extend T.J. Watt on four-year deal worth $112M, making pass rusher NFL’s highest-paid defender (CBS Sports)
Report: Steelers Sign T.J. Watt to Four-Year, $112 Million Extension (SI)
T.J. Watt contract details: Steelers pass-rusher becomes NFL’s highest-paid defensive player (The Sporting News)
Report: Steelers sign T.J. Watt to mega extension (KDKA-FM)
Watt reportedly overruled agents in contract signing (KDKA-FM)
Minkah Fitzpatrick watching how Steelers handle Watt (KDKA-FM)
Another Steelers captain calls for team to sign Watt (KDKA-FM)
Butler hopes Watt plays against Bills, but snap count could be limited (KDKA-FM)
Schobert sure to be pivotal in Steelers debut (KDKA-FM)
Dunlap: I don’t think this will be the one (KDKA-FM)
Recognizable threat (Steelers.com)
Week 1 Injury Report (Bills) (Steelers.com)
Allen Draws Comparisons To Big Ben As Bills Face Steelers
‘“I think it’s more than I ever realized as a kid. … I see the comparisons of where we’re at physically,” he said. “But that’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. And I’ve got some time to go before we get into that conversation.”’
Bills open against Steelers in matchup of division champs
‘After losing six straight, the Bills have won the past two meetings — both in prime time in consecutive years. … The Bills have combined for six interceptions in their past two meetings, with CBs Tre’Davious White and Levi Wallace having two each. … This marks just the second time the teams have met to open the season, with Pittsburgh beating Buffalo 28-17 on Sept. 3, 1978. … The Steelers open on the road for the seventh straight season, having gone 3-2-1 in their past six. … The Bills are 3-1 in season openers under coach Sean McDermott.’
Stefon Diggs says he ‘became a bad teammate’ when he wanted to leave Vikings
‘”Coming from my old team — I hate talking about old stuff — but up to me wanting to leave and wanting to go to another place, I was a great teammate,” Diggs told reporters Tuesday. “It wasn’t until I wanted to do something else is when I became a bad teammate. So as far as when things aren’t going good, you know, it’s all good until it’s not good. So for me, even then, I always tried to play with a chip on my shoulder and lead my team the best way I know how. Coming here I had a fresh start. It was fair for people to make their assumptions or their assessments from the outside looking in. That’s fair. I just look at it as in, when I get there I’ll show them who I am and we’ll go from there. As far as my new chapter with my new team, things are going pretty good and trying to keep it that way.”‘