As crazy as it may sound, the Steelers want Tom Brady to win the appeal of his four-game suspension so they can play against him in the NFL’s opening game on Sept. 10 in New England.
“Yes, of course,’’ said defensive end Cam Heyward, almost surprised by the question. “The competitor in you wants to see the best team out there and why not beat Tom Brady in Gillette Stadium on a Thursday night game?’’
The Steelers reported Saturday to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe for the start of training camp, two weeks before they play the NFL’s first preseason game against Minnesota in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. They will open the NFL regular season against the Super Bowl champion Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., in what the league calls its Kickoff Classic.
Many Steelers say it would be a shame not to have Brady at quarterback for New England that night, even though most might agree they would have a better chance at winning if he were not to play.
Some Las Vegas oddsmakers adjusted the betting line that favored New England down five points after the NFL announced its suspension of the quarterback for his alleged involvement in Deflategate. Brady is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game and a Hall of Fame shoo-in. Jimmy Garoppolo is New England’s No. 2 quarterback, a second-round pick in 2014 who attempted 27 passes as a rookie.
“We might have a better chance, but when you look at playing these teams and seeing them in the playoffs you want your guys to be ready to go into that situation,’’ Heyward said. “So if guys can prepare against playing against the best early, it’s going to help us later down the road.”
Brady appealed his four-game suspension and awaits those results from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The NFLPA says it will help him take his case to federal court if Goodell does not wipe out the full four-game suspension. In that case, an injunction by the courts could allow Brady to play against the Steelers.
“If it gets dragged into a legal battle, I think he’ll be playing,” Heyward said.
Also suspended for that game is Steelers halfback Le’Veon Bell and Patriots halfback LeGarrette Blount. Bell received a three-game suspension for marijuana possession and a DUI on a traffic stop in Ross in August 2014, with his then-teammate Blount a passenger. Bell said Sunday his appeal of that suspension has not yet been heard.
Cornerback Antwon Blake said no one should be surprised that the Steelers prefer to play against Brady in the opener.
“That’s Steelers football,” said Blake, a four-year vet. “We want to play against the best so we want the best out there. It’s definitely a challenge. We’ll stand up and be ready for it.
“It would be a great opportunity to play against a legendary quarterback like that.”
The Steelers lost to Brady and the Patriots, 55-31, the previous time they played, 2013 in New England. They have beaten Brady only twice, at home both times, 25-17 in 2011 and 34-20 in 2004. Brady beat the Steelers seven times, including in two AFC championships at Heinz Field in the seasons of 2001 and 2004. The Steelers also won at New England, 33-10, in 2008 when Brady was hurt and did not play.
Despite his success against them, the Steelers want Brady, even their offensive players.
“I want to,” right tackle Marcus Gilbert said . “I mean, it’s Tom Brady and the opening game of the NFL! I hope he wins his appeal, it would be great for the NFL. It would be great for both of the [teams’] fans. We’ll get their best and they will see our best.
“The NFL and the fans want to see the best on the best and hopefully they’ll give it to us the first game.”
Gilbert said the sentiment throughout the Steelers team is the same, they want Brady to play.
“We talked about it. What he did [in Deflategate] was probably not right but obviously he’s a proven guy, a proven winner, probably one of the greatest to ever play. To see him in the opening game of the season would mean a lot, especially to both teams.”
Veteran nose tackle Steve McLendon has a somewhat selfish reason to want to play against Brady in the opener.
“I always want to sack the quarterback and his name is a good one to have. If the best is there, play the best.”
First Published: July 26, 2015, 4:00 a.m.