Steelers' Insider Ed Bouchette Says There Is Renewed Enthusiasm With Team
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers Hall of Fame beat writer Ed Bouchette joined The Cook and Poni Show Tuesday afternoon as the Steelers are just 10 days away from the opening of training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
Bouchette opens up talking about the reported claims from a man at a Miami night club who said he was allegedly assaulted by Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and his twin brother, Miami Dolphins' offensive lineman Mike Pouncey, at their birthday party this past weekend.
"Sounds to me like he is okay," Bouchette said. "The only person saying anything is the person who got whacked, unless the cops say something, he is okay."
Bouchette told the guys that there seems to be a bit of a buzz in the Steelers offices as they prepare for another upcoming season, but he is not ready to agree with the comments made by coach Mike Tomlin on a national show last week saying it could be a special year.
"I'm not sure what he means by special year because usually around here that means Super Bowl," Bouchette said. "There is a renewed enthusiasm and it's a lot to do with the young people they brought in."
He says there is excitement among the young receivers, but still question marks as to how good they can be. There is an extra excitement knowing they will finally let QB Ben Roethlisberger open the season with the no huddle offense and let him do his thing. He thinks the defense should be faster, but there is a weakness in the secondary.
"I think they are better at safety, but they didn't improve at corner one bit," Bouchette said.
Ike Taylor one of the Steelers corners may have ruffled feathers when he came out on the Jim Rome Show a few weeks back and said he was unhappy with the pay cut he took to stay with the Steelers. But Ed tells the guys he doesn't think he could have made more anywhere else, and that if he was unhappy about it, he had the power to say no.
Bouchette also tells the guys that unless Brett Keisel is willing to play for minimum wage, he won't play for the Steelers, and there were reports today that free agent tight end Jermichael Finley has been in contract talks with the Steelers and he thinks that is unlikely as well.
"They could always use a strong No. 2, but they are not going to pay him a lot of money," Bouchette said. "It's a luxury they don't have the money for."
Steelers camp opens July 25 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette On Team's Renewed Enthusiasm
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