Steelers offensive lineman Derwin Gray following the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 21, 2020 at Paul Brown Stadium. (Marlon Martin / Golden Sky Media)
PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Heading into the final game of the 2020 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released offensive tackle Derwin Gray to make space in the 53-man active roster and 10 on the practice squad.
Gray was a seventh round draft by Pittsburgh out of Maryland in 2019. He spent most of his time on the team’s practice squad but played in five games this season.
Steelers offensive lineman Derwin Gray in action during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 21, 2020 at Paul Brown Stadium. (Marlon Martin / Golden Sky Media)
On Twitter, Gray thanked the city of Pittsburgh and fans for the support during his time as a Steeler but mentioned that he is excited to begin the next journey in his career. The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed him from waivers on Tuesday.
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.
PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The National Hockey League was forced to reduce its regular season game count from the normal 82 to 56 games due to COVID-19. On Tuesday, the NHL released the schedule for all 32 teams.
Locally, the Pittsburgh Penguinshave released their scheduled matchups and begin play on Jan. 13 at the Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia Flyers. The home opener against the Washington Capitals will take place on Jan. 17 at PPG Paints Arena.
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.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison speaking to the media at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in Pittsburgh on September 5, 2014. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media, FILE)
(GSM) — James Harrison, who was once a dominating force on the Steelers’ defense, took to social media following his former team’s loss to the Bengals Sunday.
The linebacker who has one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, posted a video to his Instagram page where he showed disbelief that the Steelers would fall to the Bengals who — at that point — had only won two games all season.
His most recent post was coupled with a John Fogerty song titled “Centerfield” blasting in the background. Harrison can be seen picking up a game-worn Steelers helmet from his in-home trophy case, sarcastically insinuating he is ready to return to action to help the “Black-n-Gold.”
The Steelers (11-3) entered the game Sunday with a chance to clinch the AFC North title. However, the Bengals (3-10-1) had other plans as they walked away with a convincing 27-7 victory.
Harrison — a five-time All Pro — played for the Bengals, Patriots and Ravens in addition to the Steelers and hasn’t seen the field since 2018.
Harrison played 16 years in the National Football League.
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.
Josh Gibson, a catcher for both the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays in the Negro Leagues. (Courtesy: Josh Gibson Foundation)
PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Negro League Baseball has long been a staple in U.S. history. However, it has been considered separate from those who played in the Major Leagues. Until now.
The Negro League began play in 1920, and in this, the centennial year, the highly talented records of players like Satchel Paige, “Cool Papa” Bell, Buck Leonard, Buck O’Neil and so many others — who took the brunt of racism from a separatist society that didn’t see them as equal — were recognized by Major League Baseball and “elevated to Major League status.”
Josh Gibson, who played in Pittsburgh for both the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords, may be the most well known player from the Negro Leagues. Gibson (1911 – 1947) would have turned 109-years-old Monday and his great grandson — and executive director of the Josh Gibson Foundation — Sean Gibson has been successful in keeping Gibson name and legacy alive.
Gibson, responding to the news that Josh Gibson’s statistics will be recognized in the Major Leagues, says this is, “…going to shake up the MLB stats due to his greatness of playing in the Negro Leagues.” Statistics from both leagues will be merged, which will most certainly move some historic players from the leaderboard and Gibson says, “Records are made to be broken.”
Sean Gibson, great grandson of Negro League slugger Josh Gibson, stands in front of the field that bears the baseball legend’s name. The Josh Gibson Field is located in the historic Hill District neighborhood in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
Gibson said, “Josh Gibson’s birthday is just part of the celebration, and a small representation of the sacrifice of Negro League players over the years. People can use this day as way to honor the legacy of those who made the league so great.”
The Josh Gibson Foundation is pushing for the MLB Most Valuable Player trophy to be renamed after Josh Gibson. The award is formerly named after Kenesaw Mountain Landis who served as Major League Baseball’s commissioner from 1920 to 1944. Landis was someone who championed segregation within baseball’s ranks and resisted integration of any kind in the league. Landis’ name was removed in October 2020 after some saw the name as controversial.
Gibson’s name has been floated as one to be the successor. However, it will come down to a vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 2021.
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 cornerback Joe Haden runs onto the field at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on December 1, 2019. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media, FILE)
PITTSBURGH (GSM) — For the past 3 years, Steelers cornerback Joe Haden has been the nucleus of the secondary and it appears that he may return to action Monday night.
Haden suffered a concussion against the Washington Football Team and was placed under the NFL’s protocol, which made him miss the matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Nonetheless, Haden took to Instagram, assuring his fans that he will see action against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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.
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.
