Steelers Fact or Fiction: The boys are back in town

BTSC takes five burning questions regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers and labels them as fact or fiction.

There’s always so much to talk about when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the inquiries surrounding the black and gold are definitely ever-evolving, especially this week with the Steelers seeing younger players turning heads so far in Training Camp 2021. It seems like the musical selection that best fits this week’s Fact or Fiction could be Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back In Town.

Here’s a sample…

Guess who just got back today?

Them wild-eyed boys that’d been away

Haven’t changed, had much to say

But man, I still think them cats are crazy

They were askin’ if you were around

How you was, where you could be found

Told ‘em you were livin’ downtown

Drivin’ all the old men crazy

The boys are back in town

(The boys are back in town)

You can ponder the significance or wonder whether these lyrics are really related here. Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to listen to some 70’s Classic Rock. But anyhow, there is surely a lot to wonder about. BTSC tries to answer some of the poignant wonderings ahead of time. Take a listen to some bold statements on this and more as we label them as fact or fiction.

Are we on point? Only time will tell.

Steelers stars do not need to play in the Hall of Fame Game

Fact

They really don’t. I’ve made a big deal about the fact that I want to see a little bit more of Ben Roethlisberger in exhibition action, but not in the Hall of Fame game. We all know what Ben Roethlisberger, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt can do. But who we really need to see are the likes of James Pierre, Jamir Jones, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Kendrick Green, Shakur Brown and a host of others that come in unproven. We will see the stars, but we don’t want to see them too early and often. Shaun Suisham’s career ended in Canton and we definitely don’t need more of that to occur.

Antonio Brown will never be inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor

Fiction

Is he going to get in any time soon? Absolutely not. First off, he’s still active in the league. Second, there needs time for water to flow under the bridge and cool the burning. But time heals all wounds. And despite the problems that AB caused on the way out of town, nobody can deny the historic career that No. 84 had in Pittsburgh. Plus, he would most likely get in automatically as a Hall of Famer if he earns that honor. He eventually should be honored for his black-and-gold accomplishments. But Brown will be a lot more grey when it eventually happens.

Fans and media are crowning James Pierre as “for real” way too early after a week of camp

Fiction

I thought so before, but I don’t now after the former UDFA has been turning heads after a couple of interceptions in camp. Pierre was protected all of 2020 by being kept off of the Practice Squad and remaining on the Steel City 53-Man Roster the entire season. Obviously. the coaching staff saw the value in No. 42 and the risk of losing his talents. The crystal ball that Mike Tomlin and Company was looking into is definitely paying off. With reports out of camp claiming that the former Florida Atlantic product is indeed “for real”, maybe it’s time to start believing that as gospel.

The Steelers should have been more serious about signing Justin Houston

Fiction

The Steelers talked to Justin Houston right before they signed Melvin Ingram last week. But the possible union was not said to be a good fit. Reports suggest that the former Colt and Chief wanted to be guaranteed a starting spot. With Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, that was not feasible. Now Justin Houston is taking his talents to Charm City and the Steelers have to deal with him at least twice next season. That’s okay. Pittsburgh seems to have a great fit with Ingram and the former Charger seems to have team in mind. Signing Houston would have been nice for the same price, but the so-called consolation prize seems like the fit Houston wasn’t willing to be.

The Steelers asking fans not to post training camp videos is fruitless

Fact

It’s also a tad bit hypocritical. This is the age of easy access video recording. It’s not like the old days of damaging your shoulder to the point of major physical therapy or surgery being necessary. It is simple to do. The Steelers talk all of the time about the importance and value of fans. But really, how much are opponents combing through Twitter to see what the Steelers are doing? Plus fans of every team do it. The main video that I’ve seen on social media features a great run by Najee Harris. Isn’t that the expectation? Surprise plays need to be rehearsed within the confines of a practice bubble.

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