AdminTuesday’s “First Call” highlights a new addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ special teams. A previous coach of the Steelers reveals a significant regret, while a former quarterback discusses his new favorite receiver.
We also look ahead to an essential start for Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Special teams signing
It seems the Steelers are bringing in a long snapper. As reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the player in question is Tucker Addington.
Addington has previously played for the Texans and has been associated with New England, Miami, Dallas, Jacksonville, and Washington in various capacities.
A product of Sam Houston State, Addington will fill the vacancy left by the release of running back Jonathan Ward last week.
The Steelers still have Christian Kuntz serving as their long snapper. Kuntz, a graduate of Chartiers Valley, played his college football at Duquesne. He has held the Steelers position since 2020.
Flattering him
At a Fanatics event over the weekend alongside new teammate Malik Nabers, quarterback Russell Wilson shared that he joined the New York Giants due to Nabers being on the team.
According to Empire Sports Media’s Anthony Rivardo, the former Steeler stated, “I came here because of him. I really wanted to play with someone who is special like him.”
That could indeed be accurate. Nonetheless, by the time he finalized his agreement, Wilson seemed to lack significant alternatives other than the Giants.
On that note, Nabers presents a valuable prospect. As a rookie, Nabers accumulated 1,204 yards across 15 games.
Time not healing for Todd
Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley appeared on the ESPN “This is Football” video stream hosted by Kevin Clark on Monday.
He described the Super Bowl XLIII defeat he endured against the Steelers while part of the Arizona coaching staff as the most challenging period of his career.
“Those pains will never diminish. In this league, irrespective of the game, especially the greatest game globally, when you believe victory is within reach and it slips away, it’s tough. The experience was incredible, but those wounds are profound, and they simply do not heal,” Haley remarked.
Haley mentions that his previous quarterback, Kurt Warner, often fixates on the outcome of the game.
“Whenever you speak with him, he immediately engages in discussions about it, and we end up playing the blame game with each other,” Haley noted. “There are numerous games you would obviously wish to replay, but that particular one stands out due to its significance. ”
Haley believes the Cardinals “had secured the victory” because Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald sprinted 64 yards for a touchdown, putting the Cards ahead 23-20 with just over two minutes left.
Fortunately, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes had different plans for how that match should conclude.
That match occurred in February 2009. Following that season, Haley assumed the position of head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and held that position until 2011.
After his dismissal from there, Haley became the offensive coordinator for the Steelers in 2012, continuing in that capacity until 2017.
Run it back?
Evidently, the Pirates wish to replicate their 5-4 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night for their rematch on Tuesday.
Particularly Nick Gonzales. He achieved a perfect 5 for 5 at the plate with two RBIs. The infielder spearheaded a 14-hit offense for the Pirates, a team that has been known for its sluggish performance at the plate this season.
One individual keen on altering past results is Andrew Heaney (3-6). His statistics include a 3.94 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, complemented by 61 strikeouts and 27 walks. Those figures are relatively solid when compared to Heaney’s lifetime averages (4.42 ERA, 1.26 WHIP).
However, his most recent performance was challenging. Heaney took the mound for the first part of a doubleheader in Detroit last Wednesday. He allowed seven earned runs over four innings, leading to a 9-2 defeat for the Bucs.
In truth, the left-hander’s last five outings have been difficult. The Pirates have lost four of these games. He stands at 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA and has allowed 18 earned runs (including six home runs).
On the opposing side, Freddy Peralta pitches for the Brewers. His record stands at 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 90 strikeouts. The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher has experienced only one loss since May 13.
The Pirates hold a record of 32-48, placing them last in the NL Central, while Milwaukee is at 43-36, sharing second place in the division with St. Louis.
