The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 19, OTAs Week 1

Recently I was thinking about my time writing about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout my career doing so, I’ve essentially done it all.

Commentary, news, breaking stories, features and even took a stab at simple film room breakdowns.

The one thing I’ve never done is work on just a random thought type format.

I can’t speak for you, the reader, but I am always thinking about writing and the Steelers. Thinking about different aspects of the team and game. Thanks to reading Myron Cope’s biography I decided to put a unique spin on this type of feature.

Now, for the name of the article, anyone who is familiar with the Styx song “Renegade” should know where it came from. If not, this is where it came from…

The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Nevermore to go astray
This’ll be the end today of the wanted man

The jig is up…time for some randomness.

OTAs Attendance Matter?

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are a great way to get some football injected back into our veins, but the one question I always have during these days is, “Does attendance matter?”

As you probably know, T.J. Watt and DK Metcalf missed the first week of OTAs, but does it matter?

These workouts are voluntary, but does the absence of two of the biggest names on the roster impact the team? While the coach in my says it absolutely does, but the reality is it likely doesn’t mean much.

The Steelers Bashing Continues

For some reason there is a going trend on social media when it comes to covering the Steelers, and maybe all Pittsburgh sports teams for that matter. The trend is this — focus on the negative.

It is a dark time for Pittsburgh sports. For decades fans could always say, “Well, just wait till…” In other words, if the Pirates struggled, which they typically do, fans would say, “Just wait for the Steelers/Penguins season to start.” But for the first time in a long time, those aforementioned teams don’t have the brightest outlook either. Maybe that is what is stemming this negative trend when talking about Pittsburgh sports scene.

Either way, I find it exhausting. As you heard if you listened to Friday’s “Let’s Ride” podcast, I’m choosing to focus on positive aspects of the team. I’ll call out individuals on a need-be basis, but there are some things to be excited about for the Steelers in 2025.

New Digits

I hope you all didn’t go out and get a new Kenny G, Kenneth Gainwell, jersey when he signed with the team and jersey numbers weren’t announced.

Why?

Gainwell has taken George Pickens’ old No. 14, a number he wore in Philadelphia. So if you got a Gainwell No. 21 jersey, my apologies.

Kenneth Gainwell is back in No. 14 after a brief stint in No. 21 when he signed in Pittsburgh.

“It means a lot to me. I’m excited about it. I know it was a previous guy number, but that don’t mean nothing these days, but I’m excited to be back in 14 and continue that legacy.”

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) May 29, 2025

Holcomb’s potential return

I’m not suggesting Cole Holcomb could ever return to his pre-injury form, but the videos we saw from Week 1 of OTAs certainly was encouraging. Holcomb isn’t wearing a brace, and looks to have some burst back. Check it out:

#Steelers linebackers, including Cole Holcomb, getting after it pic.twitter.com/jol7xNYKOp

— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) May 29, 2025

If Holcomb could return even close to his old form, the Steelers could have the deepest ILB room in the entire NFL. Think about it…

• Patrick Queen
• Payton Wilson
• Cole Holcomb
• Malik Harrison
• Mark Robinson
• Carson Bruener (Rookie)

I’m not saying all those players will make the team, but if Holcomb can provide something it isn’t just a bonus for 2025, it makes the ILB room an absolute strength heading into the season.

“Good Route Roman”

It was good to see Roman Wilson back on the field and looking healthy this week. On top of that, his route running looks as if it has been improved upon this offseason. In the video below you can hear a coach say, “Good route Roman!” It’s one route in shorts, but the coach could be saying nothing, or a negative comment about the route needing to be better.

More Roman Wilson pic.twitter.com/Ab6f4u0yLL

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) May 29, 2025

I’m not about to suggest Wilson is the answer at WR2 for this team, but if he can even contribute what Calvin Austin III did last year it would be a big boost for a receiving corps that needs as many playmakers as they can get.

Checkers, with everyone else playing Chess

Thursday is when rumors swirled surrounding the Steelers reported interest in Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith. When I saw this my first thought was how this is so on brand for the Steelers.

When the team needs a wide receiver to compliment DK Metcalf, the team is calling about a tight end. I’m sure they’re calling about a lot of players on a myriad of teams, but at the same time the team doesn’t even utilize the two tight ends they have on the current roster. Why bring a third? So Arthur Smith can run 13 personnel until our eyes bleed from watching?

People love to say how Omar Khan and company are playing chess while others are playing checkers. Well, there are times when it seems like the opposite is true. That it’s the Steelers playing checkers while everyone else is playing chess.

Steelers Fans: Man, we need another explosive wide receiver!

Steelers Organization: Let’s try and trade for a tight end!

😂

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) May 29, 2025

Player Spotlight

I wanted to start doing a spotlight segment every week during the offseason of a lesser known player who donned the black-and-gold for a time.

This week’s player: Bam Morris

There haven’t been many players in Steelers history who have been known for both their tremendous play, and yet their brief and sad careers. Bam Morris would fall into that category.

Morris was selected by the Steelers in the 3rd Round of the 1994 NFL draft. During his NFL career, he recorded 3,809 yards on 974 attempts and scored 35 touchdowns during 75 games. He also caught 103 passes for 790 yards and one touchdown. He was the leading rusher for the Steelers in their Super Bowl XXX loss to the Cowboys, gaining 73 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.

Morris has become more well known for his off-field legal troubles than his football prowess. On June 27, 1996, Morris pleaded guilty to felony possession of marijuana in a plea bargain deal in front of a Rockwall County, Texas, judge. Police testified that they found 6 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop. He was fined $7,000 and sentenced to 200 hours of community service and six years’ probation.

He was cut by the Steelers after the guilty plea and signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. After two seasons, both marked with suspensions concerning the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Morris was released. He signed with the Chicago Bears the following year, but was cut after playing in only two regular season games. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Morris pleaded guilty in August 2001 to two counts of federal drug trafficking and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. As part of the plea bargain, Morris admitted to distributing more than 100 kilograms of marijuana in the Kansas City area between 1998 and 2000.

On September 10, 2001, Morris was convicted of violating his parole stemming from his 1996 plea bargain and sentenced to 10 years in a Texas prison. He was released early on February 29, 2004.

He played arena football with the Katy Copperheads in 2006.

Check out the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below:

That does it…the jig is up, they’ve finally found me. This renegade is outta here…be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of offseason leading up to training camp.