Associated Press Announces All-Pro Players; 3 Steelers Make the Cut

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been named to the Associated Press All-Pro team for 2019.

This honor means you’re the best at your position for that season, and there is one player for each position (22 players) honored each year. This year TJ Watt (edge rusher), Steelers linebacker TJ Watt sacks Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. (Marlon Martin / Golden Sky Media)

Cam Heyward (interior lineman)

Cam Heyward defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers (Marlon Martin / Golden Sky Media)

and Minkah Fitzpatrick (safety) were selected.

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Marlon Martin / Golden Sky Media)

 

Steelers Couldn’t Stick the Landing; Fly Home Following Loss to the Jets

(Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (GSM) — Instead of flying first class, the Steelers are on standby waiting for their ticket to the post season after falling to the New York Jets 16-10, Sunday.  It was a game that was a must needed win in order to control their own destiny. Now they wait in the wings hoping to land in the playoffs.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on the sideline during the game against the New York Jets on Dec 22, 2019 at MetLife Stadium. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Head coach Mike Tomlin, not mincing words, said his team just didn’t get it done. “It’s put-up-or-shut-up time, and we didn’t get the job done.” Tomlin said about playing during December football, “We accept responsibility for the fact and the ramifications of it.”

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrates after recording a sack in the game against the New York Jets on Dec. 22 at MetLife Stadium. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Linebacker TJ Watt had 2 tackles, 1 resulting in a sack said, you win as a team and lose as a team. Nonetheless, everyone is responsible for the outcome of games no matter the position. “Football is the ultimate team game,” Watt said. “This is the Pittsburgh Steelers, we love everybody in the locker room, we believe in everybody in the locker room. It’s just a matter of putting together a complete game”.

 

Devlin “Duck” Hodges during the game against the New York Jets on December 22, 2019 at MetLife Stadium. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

The quarterback carousel continued as Devlin “Duck” Hodges was benched in the first half after throwing 2 interceptions and was replaced by the man he took over for, Mason Rudolph who came in and threw 14-20 129 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph was then injured in the game and “Duck” returned to the game in a losing effort. Hodges says it is unfortunate turn of events.

The 6th seed is still attainable but the Steelers need help to reach the postseason. There is one more game to play for Pittsburgh and it is against AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. In order for the Steelers to make the playoffs however, they MUST beat the Ravens and the Tennessee Titans must lose to the Houston Texans to solidify the final slot in the tournament. There is still a lot to play for as the regular season comes to a close.


BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  
 

Check out his podcast on UrbanMediaToday.com

OG Cooking Show, December 2019 with Ron Alvarado

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — OGCooking Show’s third episode of the season with guest Ron Alvarado of Novus Group who shares some delicious Puerto Rican dishes that will have you salivating!

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CREDITS:

Host/Producer, Olga George 

Guest, Ron Alvarado

Photographer/Editor, Brian Cook

Production company, Golden Sky Media

Special Thanks:
Novus Group
The Commoner
Chris Moore
Hair By Mel
Ya Jagoff Media
Scott Hilty

EDITORIAL: Josh Gordon Needs Treatment Not Criticism

Josh Gordon, all-pro wide receiver. (Courtesy: Seattle Seahawks)

(GSM) — When it comes to embattled NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon, it is another sad chapter in the life of a once mercurial talent.

The life inside the pressure cooker of the NFL is too much for a person who engages in drug use, to overcome. The psychological problems associated with addiction are far too complex, the pressures to perform too great and the lack of real treatment is sorely lacking. Acknowledging the problem is a step, but real treatment geared towards managing the damage done to your brain as a consequence of addiction, is what is needed to save users like Josh. Professional football has far too many triggers, too many risks, too many temptations for any athlete suffering from addiction, including but not limited to opioid use found in many athletes worldwide.

What most people don’t realize, is that drug use changes the function of your brain by burning up synapses that secrete dopamine and enkephalins. The synaptic junction cannot ever achieve the high they once experienced. The brain is telling you to get the drug and will put you through hell if you don’t receive it. You chase a high you cannot achieve no matter how much you take. The user will get high, but the brain tells the individual to get more and more, it is never enough to calm the desire for more drugs.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

“My heart goes out to Josh having to face this again. The fact that he is up against it and all, it poses a great challenge to him. Fortunately he’ll have the great benefit of all of the league’s resources to support him and help him and we’ll wish him the very best in taking care of business. It’s really unfortunate.” – Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll in a press conference 

This week, it was announced that he will be suspended indefinitely by the NFL after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs and substance abuse. For Mr. Gordon’s sake, it is best that he receives the necessary treatment needed to overcome the addiction. Nonetheless, it is best to take a step back from gridiron competition and focus on saving his own life.

Josh Gordon needs treatment, not criticism. 

 

Steelers Fall to the Bills After Committing Overabundance of Turnovers

The line of scrimmage in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The last game of the 2019 NFL season at Heinz Field is an “L”. 

The Steelers lost to the Buffalo Bills Sunday in a game that could have solidified their spot in the postseason. Final score 17-10. Quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges completed 23 for 28 passes and one touchdown.
 
Devlin Hodges drops back to pass on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills 17-10. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

The statistic that stand out the most however, is that he gave up the ball 4-times by way of interceptions. Hodges had this to say about his performance, “It’s disappointing right now obviously. You hate to lose, but I think after the first loss, how you respond is going to define who I am. Hodges said. “I mean, yeah, I’m disappointed right now, but in a couple days I’m still going to be who I am. I’m still going to be confident, still going to know that I can get the job done.”

 
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gazes at the scoreboard as the final seconds tick away in the loss against the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers fell to Buffalo 17-10 at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when asked about his team’s performance, gave more credit to how the Bills executed in all three phases also saying his men will learn from this matchup.
 
“They are a rough and tumble outfit. We have to tip our caps to those guys and congratulate them, not only on winning the game, but not blinking and making the significant plays in the significant moments. That is something that we pride ourselves in. We didn’t make those plays today.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on the Buffalo Bills
 
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
Running back James Conner saw action after returning from a shoulder injury that left him sidelined since week 11. In his eyes, the determining factor to the loss was a result of poor, “…execution and making routine plays.” Conner, rushed for 8 for 42 yards and scored the Steelers’ only touchdown on a reception from Hodges. Despite the score Conner said, “We couldn’t get into a good rhythm where we could be marching up the field and putting up points.” 
 
On a lack-luster showing when attempting to stop Buffalo’s rushing attack, defensive end Cam Heyward — who is usually a dominating force — said about the inability to thwart the Bills’ offensive attack,”Too many times our tackling was very poor in this game. You can’t just bottom down we have to fully wrap and rally,” Heyward said. “They kept the ball moving, got chunk plays and then they hit us for that critical touchdown at the end.”
 
The Steelers (8-6) will play their last two games of the regular season on the road, starting with the New York Jets (5-9) who are coming off of a loss to the Baltimore Ravens 42-21.

BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER