The Pittsburgh Steelers were often laughed at by the other three teams in the AFC North for their off the field issues during the late 2010s. Between Le'Veon Bell holding out for an entire season in 2018 and Antonio Brown requesting a trade and then throwing his entire legacy down the drain in the years since, it seems rare that the Steelers are ever heading into training camp without any drama. However, 2023 is different. The Steelers have no looming contract negotiations and have escaped off the field issues as of right now. Something that no other team in the AFC North can say.
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Steelers TJ Watt during the 2023 training camp.
Steelers Flawless Offseason
The Steelers looked like they might have some contract negotiations hanging over their head as they went into training camp in 2023. Alex Highsmith was seeking a multi-year extension and the team was having trouble reaching agreement on a rookie contract with Joey Porter Jr. However, the Steelers front office made both of these objectives a priority. Porter Jr. signed his contract the day before the team arrived in Latrobe for training camp and Highsmith signed his big contract extension on July 19th that will keep him with the team through the 2027 NFL season.
Due to the Steelers proactiveness, there are currently no contract negotiations going on for the team. General Manager, Omar Khan said that to the media during his press conference on July 27th. With no players being unhappy with their current contracts and no players having any off the field issues, the Steelers are all clear to focus solely on football and the upcoming NFL season.
AP Photo / Matt Freed
Steelers' rivals Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56).
It seems as if every other team in the AFC North is not in the same boat as Pittsburgh. They all have different issues they are dealing with that could be distractions during the beginning of the season. The Cleveland Browns had to release a player due to off the field issues and they are still dealing with the repercussions of signing Deshaun Watson. The Baltimore Ravens have their star running back complaining about the way the team treated his injury and his contract situation and the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to sign their franchise quarterback to a contract extension and have their running back is caught up in a lawsuit.
Let us dive into what is the disaster of the rest of the AFC North.
Cleveland Browns
Apart from being one of the worst franchises in the NFL throughout the 21st century, the Browns have players that always seems to find themselves in legal trouble. One of these players is defensive tackle, Perrion Winfrey, who was the Browns fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In April of 2023, he was arrested for misdemeanor assault. In July, he allegedly pulled a gun on a woman and threatened her in Cleveland. These two incidents were enough for the Browns to decide to release Winfrey. He remains a free agent.
On top of all the drama that came with Winfrey's off the field issues, the Browns are still being ridiculed for signing Watson. Especially since they knew all of his legal issues and still decided to give him $230 million guaranteed. Most recently, the Browns made the news for possibly being the reason for a flight delay. These certainly are a lot of off the field distractions for a team that, for some reason, thinks they can compete in the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finally decided to show their franchise quarterback that they appreciate him by giving him a $260 million extension over five years. But when one contract negotiation ends, another begins. Baltimore's star running back, JK Dobbins, is now holding-in. He is at the team's training camp, but not practicing with the team until he gets a better contract. Dobbins has also recently accused the organization of malpractice that has to do with his knee injury from the 2021 preseason.
nfl.com
Steelers' always have trouble against JK Dobbins
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are currently trying to agree to a deal, which will likely be expensive, with their franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow. For reference, Justin Herbert is in the same draft class as Burrow and he just signed a $262.5 million extension over five years.
Burrow has led the Bengals to a lot of playoff success so far in his career, so his contract will surely be more than Herbert's. The Bengals will also have to find a way to sign star receiver, Ja'Marr Chase to a deal, as well as possibly re-signing Tee Higgins as well.
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Steelers' rivals Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase
Aside from contract negotiations, the Bengals also have their long-time running back, Joe Mixon currently tied up in a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit stems from an incident Mixon had where his teenage neighbor was shot in the foot. According to reports, some of his teenage neighbors were playing with toy guns near Mixon's property.
Mixon was not the one who shot the gun. It was his sister's boyfriend. However, the police report states that the gun used belonged to Mixon and he supplied it as well as the bullets used.
The Steelers have none of this contract drama that other teams have and there are no off the field issues with the team that have been reported. This gives Pittsburgh the clear advantage when it comes to focusing on football and and limiting distractions as the preseason and the beginning of the year gets underway.
What do you think of all the other drama going on in the AFC North, Steeler Nation? Let us know in the comments below, or discuss it with me on twitter @BroganNoey!
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