Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert yesterday spent more than a half-hour taking questions from reporters, with the first day of the NFL draft coming up on Thursday.
Colbert said the team is happy with the five quarterbacks on the roster – Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges, Paxton Lynch and JT Barrett – but he would not rule out taking another one.
Asked whether the team is focusing more on offense or defense in the draft, Tomlin said the team has needs on both sides of the ball.
Tomlin also addressed speculation that the team is looking for a running back.
Some draft predictions have the Steelers taking a wide receiver with their first pick, which will be in the second round at #49 overall. Colbert says the talent at that position is very deep, which may be a hint that they can still get a good prospect lower in the draft.
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The NFL did a dry run of the virtual draft yesterday morning and had only some minor issues, such as a two-and-a-half minute delay from the Cincinnati Bengals to make the first overall pick (but then again, it is the Bengals). There were also a few times where teams forgot to turn off the microphones once their choice was made.
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The Steelers yesterday signed former XFL offensive lineman Jarron Jones, who has spent time in the NFL on the rosters of the Giants, Seahawks, Cowboys, Bucs, and Lions. He played his college ball on the defensive line for Notre Dame.
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Troy Polamalu makes another big play in Western PA. The former Steeler and his wife donated gift cards from local businesses to help more than 400 employees who were recently furloughed from government services. County officials said the gift cards would be mailed to the workers this week.
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Former Steelers quarterback Terry Hanratty tells WTAE in Pittsburgh that Covid-19 put him in the hospital on a ventilator, but the 72-year-old is finally off oxygen and fighting to regain his energy. Hanratty says he lost sixteen pounds during the ordeal and was treated with the hydroxychloroquine/Z-pack combination that has been so successful in fighting off the disease.
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