When do rookies typically get numbers assigned?

[flippy]

Who's wearing 43 this year?

I'd take it. For some dumb reason, I always think there's leftover karma in an old players number that helps the current player overperform in someway. If someone was wearing 43, I'd be saying there's Old Troy helping make a play again.

[Northern_Blitz]

I'd take it. For some dumb reason, I always think there's leftover karma in an old players number that helps the current player overperform in someway. If someone was wearing 43, I'd be saying there's Old Troy helping make a play again.

Only if the 43 helmet comes with the locks.

That ****'s like Samson

[RuthlessBurgher]

Only two numbers are officially retired by the Steelers (Ernie Stautner's 70 and Joe Greene's 75).

There are certain numbers that have not been reissued since certain players retired, though, such as Bradshaw's 12, Franco's 32, Lambert's 58, Bettis' 36, and Polamalu's 43.

For whatever reason, some other great players have not gotten the same number treatment, since Swann's 88, Stallworth's 82, Blount's 47, Woodson's 26, etc. have been reissues to other players numerous times over the years.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Friday, May 03, 2019 07:00 AM

Labriola on Bush, Johnson, jersey numbers


Bob Labriola

Steelers.com


Ready or not, here it comes:


• It was the single trait Bill Nunn valued most in wide receivers he was scouting: speed going into and coming out of the breaks. Beyond the actual catching-of-the-football aspect, that ability to make cuts at top speed, Nunn believed, was the most accurate predictor of a college receiver being able to make a successful transition to the NFL.


• Today, players with that skill are praised as good route-runners, or are said to possess good short-area quickness, and because the sport at the NFL level is played largely from sideline-to-sideline and in a 20-yard area beyond the line of scrimmage, those kinds of receivers are typically the best kinds of receivers.


• As Steelers wide receivers coach Darryl Drake pointed out, there are maybe only a few pure speed receivers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – he cited James Lofton and Randy Moss, plus there’s also Olympic gold medalist Bob Hayes – while most of the others with busts in Canton would be considered by scouts as “4.5 guys.” That list includes Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, Cris Carter, Fred Biletnikoff, Lance Alworth, Paul Warfield, and you get the idea.


• That’s why when Drake faced questions about Diontae Johnson, the Toledo receiver the Steelers selected with their first pick of the third round, he dismissed concerns about the 4.53 he posted in the 40-yard dash.


• “To me speed is overrated, and I’m going to say this because if you look at the greatest receivers who have played the game, those guys who are in the Hall of Fame … those guys are 4.5, 4.55 guys,” said Drake. “I had a guy in Arizona (Larry Fitzgerald) and he’s going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer, and he was not a 4.4 guy, but he’s a 4.4 player. Don’t get me wrong, you like to have that guy who can run really fast and run all of the routes and make all of the plays, but it’s very rare to have that. A guy who played here, the Steelers all-time leading receiver, what did he run? I’m talking about Hines Ward. He wasn’t really fast, but he had the native ability to learn how to get open. So to me, yes, speed is overrated, but we make such a big deal about it. We want that blazer but normally that package, with that dynamic speed, very seldom do you get the total package. Most of those guys who are 4.5 guys, they are total package guys. This guy has the ability to be a total package guy.”


• Drake believes Johnson can become a “total package guy,” because he already has some of the qualities the majority of college wide receivers have to learn/develop/perfect once they become NFL players and get exposed to the way the game is played at the professional level.


• “He’s really good vs. press (coverage), and as you know this is a press league,” said Drake. “These defensive backs walk up in your face and they try to fingerprint you, and he’s very elusive at the line of scrimmage. You need a guy who can get off bump. The thing that he does is get off bump, and he gets in and out of his breaks as well as anybody I’ve seen in a long time.”


• And there was one other quality Drake kept coming back to: “A tremendously gifted young man, and the most natural catcher I’ve seen in a while. He did have some concentration drops like they all do, but he’s very gifted at catching the football.”


• It’s probably stretching things a bit to claim the Steelers invented Ryan Shazier, or even invented the concept of seeing the merit of having the focal point of their defense being a fast, athletic inside linebacker, instead of the focal point being a fast, athletic player at a different position. But in 2014, the Steelers spent the 15th overall pick on Shazier and were roundly criticized for picking him instead of Alabama’s C.J. Mosley, who better fit the prototype of what an inside linebacker is supposed to look like.


• Five years after that draft, a fast, athletic inside linebacker who can make sideline-to-sideline plays vs. both the run and the pass is seen as a necessity, and so coveted are those players that the two best ones available in the most recent draft were snapped up in the top 10 of the first round.


• And just so we’re all on the same page when the topic is Shazier-like contributions, here are some numbers to illustrate the point: Shazier was injured in the first quarter of the 12th game of the 2017 regular season, and so the following numbers represent 11 games worth of on-field contributions in his final regular season: 89 tackles, including three for loss; three interceptions; 11 passes defensed; two forced fumbles; one fumble recovery; and seven hits on the quarterback.


• For me, Shazier always played best when the stakes were the highest, and here are his numbers in the playoffs: in five postseason starts, he had 38 tackles, including three for loss; two interceptions; four passes defensed; two forced fumbles; one fumble recovery; and two hits on the quarterback.


• Not that this means Devin Bush and Diontae Johnson are destined for the Hall of Fame, or even the starting lineup as rookies, but here was what Pro Football Focus thought about the Steelers’ first two picks in the draft:


• “The Steelers had to give up picks Nos. 20 and 52 in the 2019 NFL Draft and a third-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft to get him, but former Michigan off-ball linebacker Devin Bush has a very good chance to be worth the extra draft capital if he can bring his play in Ann Arbor to Pittsburgh. He is a freakishly athletic linebacker with outstanding coverage and pass-rushing ability compared to his peers in this year’s class. He’s also a tone-setter on the defensive side of the ball who craves contact and knows how to lay the boom. He also earned 90.2 and 85.0 overall grades in 2017 and 2018, respectively. ‘I think Bush is perfect for what the Steelers want from the linebacker position,’ wrote Pro Football Focus draft analyst Mike Renner.


• “A favorite of practically everyone at the PFF offices, Toledo wide receiver Diontae Johnson is a superb route-runner who will be a nightmare for opposing defensive backs to match and mirror at the next level. Pro Football Focus draft analyst Mike Renner says it best in that ‘Johnson just moves differently.’ Production fell off a bit for Johnson when AAF superstar Logan Woodside left Toledo after the 2017 season, but Big Ben should help DJ return to form in Pittsburgh.”


• To those who like to keep track of such things: Of the Steelers’ 30-some pre-draft visitors, three of them became draft picks: WR Diontae Johnson, CB Justin Layne, and LB Ulysees Gilbert.

***TO BE CONTINUED IN SUBSEQUENT POST***

[RuthlessBurgher]

***CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST***

• One of the post-draft issues many fans find compelling is the issuing of jersey numbers to the new players – the rookies and big-name unrestricted free agent signings. In Pittsburgh, this is handled largely by the equipment staff, with the understanding that any and all decisions have to conform to NFL rules about jersey numbers with respect to the various positions. And there also is the veto power that once was wielded by Dan Rooney and now belongs to Art Rooney II.


• The history of the Steelers is that the franchise has retired just two jersey numbers – the No. 70 worn by Ernie Stautner and the No. 75 worn by Joe Greene. Fans may believe more jersey numbers should be retired, but the reality is that only two have been, and whether there will be more in the immediate future is something that hasn’t been shared with the general public.


• Anyway, there are a bunch of jersey numbers the Steelers just don’t issue anymore, and the numbers are the ones you would expect: No. 12, No. 32, No. 52, No. 58, and No. 59 from the 1970s, with No. 36, No. 43, and No. 86 from the more recent group of key players from Super Bowl teams. Both No. 82 and No. 88 have been in circulation rather regularly since John Stallworth and Lynn Swann wore those jerseys, but that can be blamed on the NFL’s rule regarding players at certain positions having to wear certain numbers, and No. 86 could be a victim of that rule as well here sometime soon.


• One example of the veto being exercised came in 1994 when the Steelers signed fullback John L. Williams as an unrestricted free agent. Williams had worn No. 32 during his years with the Seahawks, and so he wanted to continue with the same jersey number in Pittsburgh. When he was turned down in the equipment room, Bill Cowher figured he would intervene on the player’s behalf. Dan Rooney stepped in, and Williams wore No. 22 during his two seasons in Pittsburgh.


• The way things are here, those jerseys belong to the team, and those jersey numbers are part of the franchise’s history. The numbers don’t belong to the players who once wore them, and they have no say in whether or not those jersey numbers are returned to circulation. As it should be. But as it’s not in Washington, apparently.


• The Redskins’ picked Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins on the first round of the 2019 draft, and Haskins wore No. 7 for the Buckeyes. The Redskins hadn’t issued No. 7 since Joe Theismann’s career ended after the 1985 season, but shortly after being selected Haskins made some reference to asking “Mr. Theismann” if he could be the first player in 34 years to wear No. 7.


• In typical Theismann fashion, he said, “I’m anxious to sit down and talk to Dwayne about that. I’m not opposed to it. I’m not saying yes yet, but I really want to sit down and talk to the young man and get a chance to meet him. I know he’s reached out and said he wants to ask me, so as early as I can get back into town and be able to set up an opportunity when he gets into town to be able to sit down and talk to him about it.”


• Theismann went on to add, “It’s what’s inside the jersey that makes a big difference. I’ve been very honored to have the Washington Redskins not have it issued to anyone over 30-plus years, and this is the first No. 7 that we’ve had come along, I think. So I really want to sit down and have a visit with him and talk to him about it, and then we’ll sort of decide going forward.”


• We? Theismann actually believes there should be a “we” involved in this and that he’s such an important part of the “we” that he should be the final word on if and to whom the Redskins issue No. 7. Wow. It’s probably a good thing that Haskins isn’t interested in Theismann’s helmet, because it undoubtedly would be too big for him.


• By the way, Devin Bush will wear No. 55. Arthur Moats (2014-17), Stevenson Sylvester (2010-13), Patrick Bailey (2008-09), Joey Porter (1999-2006), Jerry Olsavsky (1990-97), and Jon Kolb (1969-81) didn’t get a vote on that.


https://www.steelers.com/news/labriola-on-bush-johnson-assigning-jersey-numbers

[RuthlessBurgher]

You do realize outside of Brown, all of our WRs are in the 10s.

10 - Switzer
11- Moncrief
13 - Washington
17 - Rogers
19 - Juju

So currently 12, 16, 18 are available for Johnson, as are 14 and 15 in reality.

That'd be weird having all WRs in the 10s.

Rookie WR Dionate Johnson hints at what his jersey number might be with Steelers

Based on a recent social media post by the young wide receiver, it appears that Diontae Johnson might be wearing number 18 this year

By Simon Chester
May 4, 2019, 5:32pm EDT

While the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to officially announce the jersey numbers their new draft class will wear in 2019, it would appear that we might have an idea of the digits that Diontae Johnson has in mind this season.

The young rookie wide receiver posted a new picture of himself in a Steelers uniform on Friday wearing number 18, a jersey that would be available to him based on the team’s current allocations to their veteran players.

Fitting nicely between Eli Rogers (17) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (19), he would be part of a receiver group that does not feature any wideout with a number in the 80’s this year if he goes with 18, joining Donte Moncrief (11) and Ryan Switzer (10) and James Washington (13) in that regard.

With the exception of numbers 70 (Ernie Stautner) and 75 (Joe Greene), no other jersey numbers have been officially retired by the Steelers, but there are many that the team has not issued since they were worn by some of the more iconic players of their Super Bowl teams.

As per Bob Labriola of Steelers.com, these numbers are:

“There are a bunch of jersey numbers the Steelers just don’t issue anymore, and the numbers are the ones you would expect: No. 12, No. 32, No. 52, No. 58, and No. 59 from the 1970s, with No. 36, No. 43, and No. 86 from the more recent group of key players from Super Bowl teams.”

And while Labriola notes that the need for enough numbers to cover all the wide receivers and tight ends has often led to the team being forced to use 82 and 88, the recent trend of younger players like Smith-Schuster, Washington and now Johnson all wanting numbers in the 10’s should mean they should be safe from allocation this year.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/5/4/18529598/rookie-wr-dionate-johnson-hints-at-what-his-jersey-number-might-be-with-steelers-1-8-nfl-news

[RuthlessBurgher]

With rookie minicamp starting tomorrow, we should know pretty soon what the rookie draft pick numbers are. Any predictions?

Bush is 55. We already know that.

Diontae Johnson might get AB's old 84 because they were both MAC WR with return skills, but since the 5 WR's established WR's on our roster all have numbers in the teens (Switzer 10, Moncrief 11, Washington 13, Rogers 17, and Smith-Schuster 19), I think he gets a number in the teens as well (this has already been rumored but not yet confirmed). They have tried giving out Lloyd's old 95 to several LB over the years and it has not gone over well, so I don't necessarily want to give a rookie WR the burden of 84 right away.

Prediction: 18

Justin Layne might be a candidate to take Bell's old 26 back to the defense rather than give it to another RB (after all, before Le'Veon wore 26, it was CB Rod Woodson that made it famous, and CB Deshea Townsend wore it proudly after him as well). But I think they give this upside CB with length Ike Taylor's old 24 instead.

Prediction: 24

Benny Snell could easily be given Bell's old 26. After all, he wore 26 in college. And folks could then take their old Bell jerseys, sew an "SN" patch over the "B" and it would still be useful. However, the team might not want to burden this young kid with expectations like that. They might him his great-uncle Matt's number than he wore leading the Jets to victory in Super Bowl III (Although Namath gets the hype, Snell was much more vital cog to that upset victory than old Broadway Joe).

Prediction: 41

With all of the receivers in the teens, you could then use some of the open numbers in the 80's on your TE's. We don't want to give away Ward's 86, Swann's 88, or Stallworth's 82 if we don't have to. So we have Jesse James' 81 open (looked good on an overly-tall former Big Ten TE recently), but I think we give him 84 instead. Rather than putting pressure on a rookie WR by assigning him AB's old 84, we take that number away from the WR position entirely and give it back to the TE spot (it was Jerame Tuman's number before AB got it).

Prediction: 84

Sutton Smith and Ulysses Gilbert are our two 6th round LB's, and I prefer linebackers wear numbers in the 50's rather than the 40's. We aren't going to give out Webster's 52, Lambert's 58, or Ham's 59, so that leaves 54 and 51. Since Sutton Smith was 15 at NIU, I predict they just reverse his college number to give him Farrior's old 51, leaving 54 for Gilbert.

Prediction: 51 for Smith, 54 for Gilbert

I'd give Isaiah Buggs the last available number in the 90's right now. I like that better for DL than numbers in the 70's.

Prediction: 96

Gray has several options in the 60's and 70's open to him (68, 69, 70, 77). Since he wore a repeating digit number in college with 55, I think he follows that same path in the pros with 77.

Prediction: 77

[RuthlessBurgher]

Friday, May 10, 2019 09:00 AM

Minicamp roster announced


Teresa Varley

Steelers.com


Steelers’ players will take the field this weekend for the team’s rookie minicamp, the first time the new draft class and undrafted free agents will be together.


The team will also be joined by some first-year players, as well as rookies who are there on a tryout basis.


The Steelers will hold five practices over the three days, including two on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.


The team’s rookie minicamp roster, which includes 60 players, is below. The numbers assigned to the players are subject to change, with only first-round pick Devin Bush’s No. 55 official.


41 Askew-Henry, Dravon S 6-0 202 West Virginia
8-Gold Berryman, Ian P 6-0 200 Western Carolina
14 Blackmon, Antonio CB 6-0 195 Purdue
39 Branch, Marcelis CB 5-11 180 Robert Morris
68-O Brumfield, Garrett G 6-4 302 LSU
96 Buggs, Isaiah G 6-4 302 Alabama
55 Bush, Devin LB 5-11 234 Michigan
8 Chryst, Keller QB 6-5 238 Tennessee
64 Craig, Winston DT 6-4 291 Richmond
81 Crawford, Nehari WR 5-11 175 Duquesne
2 Davis, Ravon CB 5-10 178 Maryland
51-O Desjarlais, Drew OG/OT 6-5 325 Windsor
83 Gentry, Zach TE 6-8 265 Michigan
56 Gibbons, Jesse OG/OT 6-5 300 Waterloo
54-D Gilbert III, Ulysees LB 6-0 230 Akron
65 Gilmore, Greg DT 6-4 311 LSU
77 Gray, Derwin OT 6-4 320 Maryland
15 Griffey, Trey WR 6-3 192 Arizona
60 Hassenauer, J.C. C 6-2 295 Alabama
68-D Hayes, Jay DE 6-5 270 Georgia
16 Hodges, Devlin QB 6-1 210 Samford
95 Hooks, Lavon DE 6-3 312 Mississippi
20 Johnson, Cardon RB 5-10 181 James Madison
18 Johnson, Diontae WR 5-10 183 Toledo
74-O Johnson, Fred G 6-7 326 Florida
40-D Jones, JT LB 6-3 245 Miami (Ohio)
14 Jones, Tevin WR 6-2 225 Memphis
3-O Julien-Grant, Kaion WR 6-2 208 St. Francis Xavier
38 Kelly, Kameron DB 6-2 205 San Diego State
31 Layne, Justin CB 6-2 192 Michigan State
24 Locke, P.J. S 5-10 202 Texas
55 Matthews, Ryker OT 6-6 309 BYU
35 McMillian, Travon RB 6-0 209 Colorado
21 McShane, Steve RB 5-8 185 Western Illinois
72 Mondeaux, Henry DE 6-4 280 Oregon
62 Morris, Patrick C 6-3 300 TCU
42 Myres, Alexander CB 5-11 192 Houston
69 Nelson, Chris DT 6-1 300 Texas
45 Oplinger, Matthew LB 6-3 243 Yale
61-O Prince, Damian OT 6-3 320 Maryland
64-O Prince, R.J. OL 6-6 311 North Carolina
87 Rader, Kevin TE 6-4 250 Youngstown State
84 Richard, Milan TE 6-2 232 Clemson
6 Roback, Brogan QB 6-3 215 Eastern Michigan
74-D Sayles, Casey DT 6-3 289 Ohio
46 Scales, Tegray LB 6-0 227 Indiana
49-O Scotland-Williamson, Christian TE 6-9 274 Loughborough University
61-D Sheehy, Conor DE 6-4 295 Wisconsin
15 Skipper, Tuzar LB 6-3 246 Toledo
51-D Smith, Sutton LB 6-0 233 Northern Illinois
24-O Snell Jr., Benny RB 5-10 224 Kentucky
82 Spencer, Diontae WR 5-8 163 McNeese State
49-D Spillane, Robert LB 6-1 229 Western Michigan
3 Tarpley, Arnold S 6-1 203 Vanderbilt
54-O Wallace, Dwayne OG/OT 6-4 325 Kansas
40-O Webb, Ralph RB 5-10 200 Vanderbilt
80 White, Ka'Raun WR 6-1 205 West Virginia
5 White, Matthew P/K 6-1 190 Monmouth (NJ)
88 Wood, Trevor TE/LS 6-6 265 Texas A&M
16-Gold Wright, Matthew K 6-0 179 Central Florida

[Steel Maniac]

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 rookie minicamp will get underway on Friday and the team has finally released the full roster of players that will participate in it.

In total, 60 players will participate in this year’s Steelers rookie minicamp. 9 of those players are the team’s 2019 draft picks, linebacker Devin Bush, wide receiver Diontae Johnson, cornerback Justin Layne, running back Benny Snell Jr., tight end Zach Gentry, outside linebacker Sutton Smith, defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III, and tackle Derwin Gray.

Additionally, the 11 undrafted free agents the Steelers have since signed will also participate and those players are safety Dravon Askew-Henry, punter Ian Berryman, guard Garrett Brumfield, defensive end Jay Hayes, guard Fred Johnson, running back Travon McMillan, cornerback Alexander Myres, defensive tackle Chris Nelson, tight end Trevor Wood, kicker Matthew Wright, and safety P.J. Locke III.

It appears as though there are 18 rookies as tryout players this year:

QB Ravon Davis – Maryland
S Arnold Tarpley – Vanderbilt
WR Kaion Julien-Grant – St. Francis Xavier
K Matthew White – Monmouth
QB Keller Chryst – Tennessee
CB Antonio Blackmon – Purdue
LB Tuzar Skipper – Toledo
QB Devin Hodges – Sanford
RB Cardon Johnson – James Madison
RB Steve McShane – Western Illinois
LB Matthew Oplinger – Yale
G/T Drew Desjarlais – Windsor
G/T Dwayne Wallace – Kansas
T Ryker Matthews – BYU
G/T Jesse Gibbon – Waterloo
T Damian Prince – Maryland
WR Nehan Crawford Duquesne
TE Milan Richard – Clemson

Below is a quick recap of the jersey numbers for this year’s draft class for the rookie minicamp and only Bush’s number has been made official and permanent by the team to date:

55 Devin Bush
18 Diontae Johnson
31 Justin Layne
24 Benny Snell Jr.
83 Zach Gentry
51 Sutton Smith
96 Isaiah Buggs
54 Ulysees Gilbert III
77 Derwin Gray

[RuthlessBurgher]

I'm intrigued by the fact that we seem to be mining Canadian colleges for talent now.

Guys in for tryouts this weekend from University of Windsor, University of Waterloo, St. Francis Xavier University...

Turn over every stone, Colbert...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers set to sign three players invited for tryouts during rookie minicamp

The Steelers invited 19 players for tryouts at their rookie minicamp and it would appear that three of them have now been offered contracts

By Simon Chester
May 13, 2019, 7:50am EDT

While the signings have yet to be made official, it would appear that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be announcing some new additions to the roster on Monday. A trio of players selected from among the 19 names invited to take part in tryouts during rookie minicamp.

As per two of the player’s own social media accounts on Sunday, both Samford quarterback Delvin Hodges and Toledo outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper have signed contracts with the Steelers.

Officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers!!! Thankful for the opportunity! Thank you God!!
#thankful pic.twitter.com/jcDipW6bjB
— Devlin Hodges (@DevlinHodges10) May 13, 2019

TODAY MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE! ALL PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH! I AM OFFICIALLY A PITTSBURGH STEELER!#BlacknYellow
— The Tuzar Skipper (@TuzarSkipper) May 12, 2019

Former Oregon, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux is also expected to be added after a successful tryout, according to Jacob Klinger of Penn Live.

Steelers signing tryout DT Henry Mondeaux, per source.
— Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) May 12, 2019

Ending his career as the all-time leader in passing yards in the FCS with 14,584, breaking a record previously held by Steve McNair, Hodges also recorded 111 touchdown passes and completed 69.1-percent of his passes during four years at Stamford. His addition likely signals the end of Brogan Roback’s time in Pittsburgh.

This scouting report from Draft Diamonds pegged him as one of the hidden gems of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The signing of Skipper will add yet another MAC player to the roster and a teammate of third-round draft pick Diontae Johnson last season as the Steelers return to Toledo for talent once again. A transfer from Monroe Junior College in 2016, Skipper record 60 tackles, 11.5 for loss and 8.5 sacks in his final season with the Rockets.

A team captain with Oregon, Mondeaux was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Saints in 2018 and was waived during the final round of cuts ahead of the regular season. Re-signed to their practice squad towards the end of the year, he would join the Chiefs as a future signing after the season, but was let go the day before Kansas City began their rookie minicamp at the start of May.

A scouting report coming out of college by Draft Analyst suggests a player who could offer Pittsburgh some flexibility up front, but one who figures to have a tough task making the final roster. He finished his college career with 11 tackles, 17 for a loss 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/5/13/18617106/steelers-set-to-sign-three-players-invited-for-tryouts-during-rookie-minicamp-devlin-hodges-nfl-news

[RuthlessBurgher]

Bob Labriola noted in today's Asked and Answered column that Mark Barron will be wearing 26, so I guess folks will have to add a "ARRON" patch to the "B" in "BELL" as opposed to adding an "SN" patch to the "ELL" in "BELL."

Normally, linebackers need to have numbers, in the 50's, 90's, or 40's.

Numbers in the 20's are reserved for DB's and RB's.

His number was 26 with the Rams, but that was okay since he was originally drafted as a safety by Tampa (where he wore 23 and 24). I guess they never made him change his number after converting to a LB. You'd think they'd do it now that he's on a new team, but I guess not.

I hope they end up giving Benny Snell his great uncle Matt's old 41 that he wore when he lead the Jets to victory in Super Bowl III (rather than Ike Taylor's old 24 that he's currently wearing in minicamp, which looks odd on a power RB to me). The minicamp numbers for all rookies, except for Bush's 55 are subject to change.

Speaking of Benny Snell and Matt Snell, wouldn't it be awesome if we won another Super Bowl with Benny Snell on our roster, so there would be a Super Bowl winning RB named Snell on both the Jets and the Steelers, especially if that other RB named Bell gets no Super Bowl rings in his career playing for those same two teams...the Steelers and the Jets.

[hawaiiansteel]

Mark Kaboly (Fat Boy)
✔
@MarkKaboly

A couple of number changes for the Steelers. Sutton Smith is now 42, Tuzar Skipper is now 51 and Zach Gentry is now 81

May 22, 2019

[RuthlessBurgher]

The most recent Steeler to wear 55 before Devin Bush retired today.

And, no, it wasn't Joey Porter.

Arthur Moats.

Arthur Moats announces his retirement

Posted by Josh Alper on June 10, 2019, 3:32 PM EDT

Veteran linebacker Arthur Moats says he has played his final snap.

Moats announced his retirement on social media Monday with a post thanking the Bills, Steelers and fans of both teams for their support over the course of his career.

Moats was a Bills sixth-round pick out of James Madison in 2010 and played four years for the team. He spent the next four years with the Steelers and signed with the Cardinals last year, but landed on injured reserve before the season started. He was released off I.R. in October, but never signed with another team.

He ends his career with 228 tackles, 16.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/06/10/arthur-moats-announces-his-retirement