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!
(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.
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.
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019. (Clyde Harris, Jr. / Golden Sky Media)
PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The Steelers’ training room is filled with the bodies of the fallen. One of those fallen is Dionte Johnson who was injured with a concussion in the Browns game in Cleveland on Nov 14. He has since recovered and provided a much needed spark to the Steelers offense!
Johnson caught 6 passes for 60 yards plus a touchdown and electrified the crowd with an 83-yard punt return. He scored both of Pittsburgh’s touchdowns, in the 23-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals! The NFL announced Dionte Johnson as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week as a result of his outstanding performance.
Dionte’s performance heralds a very bright future!
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
(GSM) — The Steelers gain another victory, this time in the desert!
The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to impress by winning at home — and on road — after leaving Arizona on top of the Cardinals 23-17 on Sunday.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson had 2 touchdowns one from an 85-yard punt return and the second from a Devlin “Duck” Hodges pass from 3-yards out.
Cornerback Joe Haden had 4 tackles and 2 interceptions on the day and helped give the necessary pressure from the secondary. “This is a great team; a great defense,” Haden said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The Cardinals passing attack, led by rookie QB Kyler Murray, played well enough to give the Steelers a run for their money. Murray threw 20/30, 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the game Murray assessed his own performance saying, “If I don’t throw the two interceptions, we probably win that game.”
Linebacker T.J. Watt had an interception of his own in the 4th quarter. Watt says it all about being in the right place at the right time, “We just want to impact the game as much a we can.” Watt says about the defense as a whole, “Everyone is making the most of their opportunities.”
The Steelers will play Sunday night in what could potentially be the last home game of the year when they host the 9-4 Buffalo Bills. Now the Steelers are currently the 6th seed and the Bills are in the 5th slot if the playoffs were to start today. Expect the Bills to come into Heinz Field fired up as they are in a position to move up in the postseason seeding as they sit 1-game behind the New England Patriots who are 10-3 and coming off of a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019. (Clyde Harris, Jr. / Golden Sky Media)
