Pumping some local flavor into the Pittsburgh Steelers is easier said than done — though the team has plenty of opportunities to do so this offseason.
Jeannette product Terrelle Pryor was cut loose by the Cleveland Browns in an obvious gamble to re-sign him rather than have to pay him the $15.8 million franchise tag.
That gamble back-fired — as things so often do with that franchise — as Pryor signed with the Redskins Friday.
One would think the Steelers would have been interested as well. The guy did accumulate 1,007 receiving yards last year with numerous sub-par quarterbacks throwing him the ball.
With Markus Wheaton leaving via free agency, the uncertainty of Martavis Bryant’s dependability and questionable production from the tight end position, the Steelers are in the market for another productive receiver to go with Antonio Brown.
Ben Roethlisberger throwing to Pryor, with Brown drawing ample attention in coverage, would have been golden.
Help is definitely needed in the Pittsburgh secondary and Darrelle Revis is a former All-Pro corner and likely Hall of Famer. But the key word here is former for the Aliquippa graduate.
Reports state that Revis is asking for at least $8 million to play for anybody in 2017.
He would be a reclamation project in Pittsburgh at best. And that’s not happening at that price tag.
Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock University graduate Brandon Fusco was released by the Vikings in a salary cap move this offseason. How nice would it be to see him wearing the Black and Gold?
Alas, Fusco and his agent are likely looking for a place he could land as a starter and the Steelers offensive line appears to be set in stone.
His versatility would be welcomed here, though.
Running back is a position where the Steelers definitely need some depth. With DeAngelo Williams now an unrestricted free agent — and assuming he does not re-sign with the team — Pittsburgh will be on the lookout for viable reserve backs behind Le’Veon Bell.
Pitt running back and Erie product James Conner immediately comes to mind. Would the Steelers consider spending a middle-round draft pick on Conner, should he still be available?
Could be.
Or how about signing graduating Slippery Rock University running back and West Mifflin product Shamar Greene? Despite missing half of his senior year to injury, Greene is The Rock’s all-time leading rusher.
He would also be thrilled to report to Steeler camp as a free agent and show what he’s got.
Former Mercyhurst University running back Brandon Brown-Dukes has stuck around for two years on the Steeler practice squad.
Greene could certainly match that.
John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle
