James Washington Jersey , the outside linebacker believes his fifth season in the league will be the year he puts it all together" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBehind the Steel Curtaina Pittsburgh Steelers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSteelersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsFiled under:Latest NewsBud Dupree once again confident of a breakout season in 2019New,28commentsEntering a contract year with the Steelers, the outside linebacker believes his fifth season in the league will be the year he puts it all togetherEDTShareTweetShareShareBud Dupree once again confident of a breakout season in 2019Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY SportsOf all the financial moves the Pittsburgh Steelers have made over the past year or so, the decision to exercise the fifth-year option on Bud Dupree is among their more questionable. Rather than attempt to fill his position via free agency or the draft, the front office opted to commit $9.232 million to the former first-round pick in hopes that he will finally play at a level consistent with his draft status. A total of 20 sacks in four seasons is far from the return on their investment the Steelers could have envisaged when taking Dupree with the 22nd overall pick, a feat T.J. Watt has matched in just two years, but it seems his lack of relative success has not impacted the edge rushers belief in himself heading into 2019.When speaking to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN during OTAs, while Dupree is clearly more than aware of the expectations of those around him
Stephon Tuitt Jersey , he remains confident about his prospects this season. And despite only recording 5.5 sacks in 2018, Dupree feels he was far more successful than the statistics suggest.A grade of 60.5 from Pro Football Focus last year indicates Dupree might have more than just a few issues with finishing off a play here and there to worry about, and fans should be forgiven for thinking they have heard this all before.In 2016, a confident Dupree predicted a big year heading into his second season, only to see it derailed by injury. In 2017, he was even more enthused. In 2018, it was the front office hyping up his prospects. A double-digit sack season from Dupree would not only be cause for huge celebration, but would likely accompany a successful season for the team on defense. Should both he and Watt achieve those numbers in 2019
Jesse James Jersey , a deep run in the playoffs could well be a possibility.But given the failed projections of the last four years, it is difficult to take his latest remarks too seriously. While not expecting Dupree to tell reporters he has no chance of improving, it is somewhat disheartening as a fan to hear the same words year after year and yet to see no real change to the product on the field. Hopefully this is the season he finally proves the skeptics like myself wrong. PITTSBURGH (AP) — Antonio Brown’s laundry list of issues with the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to include a problem with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s leadership style and how head coach Mike Tomlin treated the Pro Bowl wide receiver during the regular-season finale against Cincinnati.Brown, who has requested a trade, took to Twitter on Saturday to vent in what amounted to his first expanded public comments since a falling out with the organization that has left his future with the club very much in doubt.Asked by a Twitter user about the root of his conflict with Roethlisberger, Brown responded “No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game. #truth.”Roethlisberger does not hesitate to take teammates to task publicly, a right the two-time Super Bowl winner says he has earned. While rarely overtly critical of Brown this season, Roethlisberger on one occasion declined to name Brown specifically when asked about the benefits of having a No. 1 receiver
Ryan Shazier Jersey , instead naming just about every receiver on the roster.Brown also called out Tomlin for the way he handled Brown during the course of the final week of the regular season. The team sent Brown home two days before the game and ordered him to get some rest and have his knee examined. Tomlin said afterward Brown did not have the exam and did not communicate with the team until early on the morning of the day of the game when his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, contacted Tomlin and said Brown would be available to play.Brown arrived at the stadium in time but did not dress after the team made him inactive. He watched the first half from the sideline but was not around postgame after Pittsburgh won 16-13. The victory, however, did not help the Steelers extend their season. They missed the playoffs after finishing 9-6-1.“After the coach tell the team I quit while nursing some bumps then invite me to watch the show with same guys thinking I quit,” Brown tweeted . “I can not stand with that! I’m the bad guy doe (sic) we miss post season think about it.”Brown is expected to meet with Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II — who has declined to disparage Brown despite futile attempts to communicate with the nine-year pro — in coming days. Any such sit-down — if it even happens — appears to offer no chance at reconciling.Brown tweeted he “Loves Steelers Nation everything to my heart” but said “no more” when asked any comeback might be in the offing.
