The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 23, No news is good news

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.

Excited yet?

It is hard to believe, but a week from today is the 4th of July. To me, when the calendar flips from June to July is when the countdown to Steelers Training Camp really heats up. There will only be two full weeks in July before the Steelers report to camp on July 23rd. Before you know it, we’ll be launching the SCN Training Camp Confidential, and Steelers fans will be descending on Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent College.

Yes, I’m excited for it…

George Pickens cancels camp

I truly don’t like spending a lot of my time or energy on players who are no longer within the Steelers organization, but in this case I felt as if it had to be brought up how George Pickens absolutely screwed over a bunch of campers, and their families, by pulling the plug on his camp at Highmark Stadium just a week before it was slated to begin.

Here is what was released by his representation:

For all of you #Steelers fans who still defend George Pickens douchebaggery despite the fact that George does not & has never had any fucks to give. Read this. pic.twitter.com/R5Mmda7yai

— AyahuascaBurgh 2025! (@BenAnderson58) June 25, 2025

What makes this all worse is the fact Pickens had an opportunity to cancel the camp after his trade to the Dallas Cowboys, but he chose to keep his word and have the camp. For him to pull the plug at this time is in extremely bad taste; however, one man’s bad decision can be an opening for another player. That player was Pat Freiermuth who is going to hold the camp for the families who paid, but they did have to change the date to accommodate everyone’s schedules. Good for Freiermuth for stepping up, and the look for Pickens couldn’t be worse.

Diontae Johnson explains himself, sort of

Speaking of former Steelers wide receivers, Diontae Johnson made some noise recently as a now member of the Cleveland Browns. His quote about refusing to go into a game with the Ravens because it was cold, and therefore got suspended for it, made waves. I felt it was appropriate to put the full quote here so you don’t just read a part of the quote.

The full Diontae Johnson quote about his suspension last year 😳 pic.twitter.com/mI4cEd1kLG

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) June 25, 2025

While it isn’t nearly as bad as thinking Johnson just said, “It’s cold, I’m not playing.” It’s certainly more information than many have been running with over the past week or so. Still a bad look. Not as bad as Pickens, but not good.

Big Ben called an entire half?!

Recently Ryan Switzer chimed in on a tweet about the Steelers 2018 season. He made a claim Roethlisberger once called an entire half of a game that year. While impressive, you do have to question the state of the offense when it wasn’t the coordinator, Randy Fichtner, doing his job?

Listen to me when I tell you that @_BigBen7 was absolutely dialed that year. Called an entire half of a game by HIMSELF! Never seen anything like it. https://t.co/1sR6bbdJ1f

— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) June 26, 2025

Justin Tucker gets 10 games…at some point

In case you missed it, the NFL has suspended former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker 10 games for breaking the league’s personal conduct policy. What needs to be noted here is how this suspension came after several meetings with Tucker and his representation. In other words, they came to terms on the suspension, hence why Tucker isn’t appealing the ruling.

What’s next for Tucker? Who knows, but he won’t be available to play until Week 11 of the 2025 regular season, no matter who signs him. Or should I say, if someone signs him.

Bengals get the funds, what about the Steelers?

The Steelers will be paying close attention to the other AFC North teams in the coming weeks, months, and years as they all seek to upgrade their stadium situation. For the Browns they are looking for a new stadium. Cincinnati just got a new lease which will keep them at PayCor Stadium, along with upgrades to the stadium.

The #Bengals and Hamilton County have agreed to principal terms for a new lease that keeps the team in Cincinnati playing home games at Paycor Stadium through June 2036, with 10 additional option years that could extend the lease through June 2046. pic.twitter.com/XUvBJhR5M1

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 26, 2025

It was 2001 when then Heinz Field opened, and while they have made some big renovations, nothing larger than closing in the open end of the stadium and adding a second jumbotron, they seek to continue to upgrade the stadium. Pennsylvania governor Shapiro has stated no public funds will go into any new stadiums or renovations of stadiums.

Something to keep an eye on in the future…

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: Chris Hope

Before there was Ryan Clark, there was Chris Hope along side Troy Polamalu. Hope was selected in the third round, number 94th overall, by the Steelers for the 2002 season. He started out the 2002 season on special teams and became a strong special teams player. In an October 27 game against the Ravens he caused a fumble on a second quarter kickoff that led to a touchdown. He got to play his first extensive game on November 24, 2002, against Cincinnati due to injuries in the Steelers secondary, picking up three tackles and one special teams tackle.

The 2003 season was not much different from his first. Hope played mainly special teams.

In 2004, Hope became the starting free safety for the Steelers. He would pick up 58 tackles forcing one fumble, four pass deflection, and intercept one pass with a return of 41 yards. In 2005, Hope would once again start as free safety next to Troy Polamalu. He had 69 tackles forcing one fumble, and he picked off three passes with a total of 60 return yards. Hope was one of the many who helped the Pittsburgh Steelers reach and win Super Bowl XL.

Shortly thereafter, Hope signed a six-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. In his first year, he led the team with five interceptions and 128 tackles. In a 2007 game against Cincinnati, Hope suffered a spinal cord injury that ended his season and required surgery in the offseason.

On June 29, 2012, Hope signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He made his mark with special teams leading with team tackles.

Hope was signed by the Detroit Lions on June 24, 2013. With the signing, he was reunited with head coach Jim Schwartz. Hope was coached by Schwartz in Tennessee, where he earned a pro bowl spot in 2008.

On August 25, 2013, Hope was released by Detroit, and never played in the NFL again.

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.