Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 9:57AM |  12°
MENU
Advertisement
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown center, talks with reporters after he arrives for training camp at St Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa
3
MORE

Steelers hoping Brady, others can play in season opener

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Steelers hoping Brady, others can play in season opener

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.

Advertisement

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.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the 2015 season, including the Sept. 10 opener against the Steelers.
Gerry Dulac
Tom Brady loses appeal of 4-game suspension from NFL

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.”

Advertisement

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.

Le'Veon Bell said that “I have no idea” why an appeal has not yet been heard and said he did not know if his agent and/or lawyers had even filed one yet.
Ed Bouchette
Steelers' Bell says his suspension appeal has not yet been heard by NFL

“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.

RELATED
Given his age and list of accomplishments, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is on pace for a Hall of Fame career.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Despite some lost pieces, the Steelers' core remains
Former Steelers coach Chuck Noll observes his players during training camp in 1975.
Max Cohen
Steelers faithful: 50 years at Saint Vincent
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watching training camp drills in Latrobe last July.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A fan's guide to 2015 Steelers training camp
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Traffic passes by U.S. Steel in Braddock on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. An activist investor has accused U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt of potential insider trading as the group pressures investors to support its own plan for the iconic Pittsburgh steelmaker, which includes a new board and abandoning a planned merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel.
1
business
Ancora launches ‘Make U.S. Steel Great Again’ campaign, accuses CEO of insider trading
The WPIAL basketball playoffs are underway.
2
sports
WPIAL boys basketball playoffs: Down go the Highlanders, all the way out of PIAA playoffs
Gov. Josh Shapiro is joined in the broadcast booth by Curtis Aiken before the start of Pitt-Syracuse on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.
3
sports
Governor Josh Shapiro aims to make Pennsylvania 'compete' in NIL, bring 'stability' to transfer portal
President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
4
news
McCormick on board with Trump, DOGE shakeup while Fetterman blasts 'chaos, confusion'
Pitt’s Jalend Lowe (15) shoots a 3-pointer against Syracuse at the NCAA men’s basketball game on Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025 at Petersen Event Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.
5
sports
Instant analysis: Opportunistic Pitt defense flips another first half deficit into win over Syracuse
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown center, talks with reporters after he arrives for training camp at St Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown arrives in a custom Steelers signature Rolls-Royce tricked out in Steelers' colors in Latrobe.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Steeler DeAngelo Williams reaches for his backpack in the bed of his truck as the Steelers report to camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe Saturday. Today is the first day of camp.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story