Tag: Kevin Colbert

Mickey Loomis goes on the record and admits that yes, he does hate the Falcons

Mickey Loomis went on the record and admitted that yes, he does hate the Falcons, during a podcast with ex-Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff:

This is interesting: New Orleans Saints Saints general manager Mickey Loomis made a rare media appearance on the GM Journey podcast, hosted by longtime Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Dimitroff worked against Loomis and the Saints during his 13-year run with Atlanta, and cultivated a unique relationship with Loomis as one of his peers and rivals. Loomis shared his perspective on the Saints-Falcons strife to lead off the conversation.

“First of all, I do hate the Falcons, I just don’t hate the people that work for the Atlanta Falcons,” Loomis clarified. “I have a lot of respect for the coaches that you have there, the owner, all the people involved in the building. I can separate the people from the rivalry.”

It’s a really fascinating discussion. Loomis spoke about the complexities involved with the job, especially when paired for so long with a head coach like Sean Payton: how often egos had to be checked at the door, all of the different personalities to manage on staff and in the locker room, and the challenges that arise when different priorities run against each other.

He’s seen a lot since being named Saints general manager in 2002; when Kevin Colbert steps down from the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2022 NFL draft, Loomis will become the longest-tenured general manager around the league (not counting hands-on owners Jerry Jones and Mike Brown, or New England Patriots shot-calling head coach Bill Belichick). And Loomis credited 15 years of his success to the Hall of Fame-worthy run that Drew Brees accomplished. Now it’s up to him to find the next face of the franchise for New Orleans.

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Eagles’ VP of Player Personnel Andy Weidl interviews for Steeler GM job

#FlyEaglesFly could be in danger of losing another key front office staffer, as #Eagles’ VP of Player Personnel Andy #Weidl interviews for the #Pittsburgh #Steeler GM job

The Eagles could be in jeopardy of losing another key front office member after the Steelers announced that Andy Weidl has interviewed for their general manager job.

A key fixture in Philadelphia with 24 years of NFL scouting experience, Weidl just completed his sixth overall season with the Eagles and his third as the team’s vice president of player personnel.

Weidl has played an integral role in helping construct rosters that have produced playoff appearances in four of the last five seasons, including two NFC East championships (2017 and 2019) and a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

Weidl originally joined Philadelphia’s scouting department as the assistant director of player personnel (2016-17) under current Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

During the 2018 offseason, Weidl was promoted to director of player personnel.

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Former Eagles director of pro personnel Louis Riddick to interview for Steelers’ GM opening

Former #Eagles director of pro personnel and #MNF analyst Louis #Riddick to interview for #Steelers’ GM opening

Louis Riddick is one of the top football minds on broadcast TV and the Pennsylvania native is currently an analyst for ESPN on Monday nights, but constantly has his name mentioned when a front office or personnel job opens up around the league.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the former Pitt and NFL safety will interview for the vacant Pittsburgh Steelers general manager openings.

Longtime Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert will step down after the 2022 NFL draft in April, team owner Art Rooney II said of the veteran front office executive who has been with the Steelers for 22 seasons. Colbert took over as general manager in 2010 after a decade as the director of football operations, helping the storied franchise win two Super Bowl titles and three AFC championships.

Riddick started out as a scout in 2001, before being named pro personnel director for the Washington Football Team.

He later joined the Eagles and was promoted to pro personnel director.

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Steelers GM Kevin Colbert to step down, says team President Art Rooney II

Art Rooney II confirmed what NFL insiders have been speculating for weeks, Kevin Colbert will step down after 2022 NFL draft.

As has been reported by Steelers Wire earlier this month, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert will, indeed, be stepping down after the 2022 NFL draft.

Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers owner/president Art Rooney II said external interviews for Colbert’s replacement would begin immediately. They’ve already interviewed internal candidates Omar Khan (vice president of football and business administration) and Brandon Hunt (pro scouting coordinator).

Colbert may stay on with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a more limited capacity.

Colbert has been with Pittsburgh since 2000 and is one of the longest-tenure general managers in the NFL. He’s responsible for drafting some of the best players ever to grace Heinz Field.

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Steelers expected GM candidate interviews with Las Vegas Raiders

Top candidate to replace Kevin Colbert has just been interviewed by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Brandon Hunt, Pittsburgh Steelers pro scouting coordinator, has interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders for their general manager vacancy. He’s been discussed as one of the top candidates to replace Kevin Colbert who is expected to step down after the 2022 NFL draft.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Hunt interviewed with Vegas on Tuesday.

Hunt has been with the Steelers staff in his current capacity since 2010.

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‘Very, very strong feeling’ in Pittsburgh that it’s time to move forward without Big Ben

Contract talks that were expected to start between Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger earlier this month haven’t begun.

Ben Roethlisberger has said everything he needs to say — that he wants to return to the Steelers and that he’s willing to do it for less money.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers were expected to meet during the second week in February for contract negotiations. Two weeks have come and gone, and according to NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, the two sides have yet to meet.

“Nothing has changed since Kevin Colbert was so lukewarm a week ago,” said Kinkhabwala on NFL Network Monday. “This is essentially turning into a really big game of chicken in Pittsburgh where the Steelers are almost daring Ben Roethlisberger to say something back.”

“The Steelers are not in consensus on what to do; from what I’ve been told, there’s a very, very strong feeling in that building that it is time to move forward.”

Steelers president Art Rooney has made it clear that the club simply cannot bring him back at the league-high cap hit of $41 million.

Roethlisberger’s release carries a dead money hit of $22.25 million — $3.25 million more than what remains on his contract before negotiations.

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AFC North watch: Steelers GM gives a weak sign of confidence in Ben Roethlisberger

The Steelers have major cap issues and Roethlisberger is on thin ice

Could the Cleveland Browns have driven the final nail in the Pittsburgh career of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?

The speculation has been out there for a while, even predating the Browns’ wild-card domination of Roethlisberger and the Steelers in January’s playoff win for Cleveland. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert threw some gasoline onto the fire with comments about “Big Ben’s” fate this week.

“As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Colbert said with the enthusiasm of a 12-year-old being served a plate of broccoli. “He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play. We told him we have to look at this current situation.”

Roethlisberger, who turns 39 on March 2nd, is due $41 million in 2021 and the Steelers have no way of possibly affording that deal. The Steelers are in major salary cap trouble, and even a restructured deal for the longtime starter doesn’t do enough to alleviate their issues and also continue to field a playoff-caliber roster.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert had rooting interest in Tampa Bay Bucs, Antonio Brown

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, but about a dozen former players and front office personnel did.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, but about a dozen former players and front office personnel did.

The Arizona Cardinals, who, at one point, had 11 former Steelers players and coaches on staff, were once called Pittsburgh West.

Shall we call the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pittsburgh South?

TribLive’s Tim Benz wrote this morning that WDVE had Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert as a guest Monday morning. Among the topics were late Steelers scout Bill Nunn and former guard Alan Faneca being elected to the Hall of Fame.

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And, of course, it wouldn’t be a football segment without Super Bowl chatter.

“I was rooting for Tampa,” shared Colbert, as he went on to rattle off the names formerly associated with Pittsburgh.

Among the Steelers alumni who will soon be flashing that beautiful Super Bowl ring is head coach Bruce Arians, cornerback Ross Cockrell, defensive tackle Steve McLendon, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, offensive assistant Antwaan Randle El and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote.

Tom Moore, a consultant with the Bucs, was Steelers wide receivers coach from 1977 to 1982 and offensive coordinator from 1983 to 1989.

Colbert saved the best for last.

“… And, of course, A.B,” Colbert said. “I was happy for A.B. to win a Super Bowl trophy. That’s something that is unique. Once a player does it, there is nothing else that can compare. When you get that first one, it’s unique, and you remember it. Those [ex-Steelers], I know they enjoyed that. That was a special group. And we are happy for all of them.”

Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is, undoubtedly, the most well-known on that list. After nothing but drama after he was traded from Pittsburgh to the Oakland Raiders, Brown wanted to play for a team with postseason aspirations and wound up a Super Bowl champ. He caught one of Tom Brady’s three touchdown passes in the big game.

Since joining the Bucs in the fall on a one-year contract, Brown logged 483 yards and four touchdowns.

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Report: Lions have not requested permission to interview Steelers GM Kevin Colbert

If the Lions did contact Colbert without prior permission from Pittsburgh, that would be the very definition of tampering. 

The rumor mill has been churning about Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert leaving Pittsburgh for Detroit. A report from CBS’ Jason LaConfora on Sunday indicated the Detroit Lions were getting their “ducks in a row” to make Colbert a significant offer. On Wednesday, Detroit 97.1 The Ticket’s Mike Stone reported a trusted source said that it’s all but a done deal (which has since been retracted).

Fortunately for the Steelers, rumors are all it is. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Steelers have not received a request from the Lions for permission to speak with Colbert.

Colbert’s current contract runs through the end of the 2021 NFL draft. If the Lions did reach out to Colbert without prior permission from Pittsburgh, that would be the very definition of tampering.

Colbert’s status beyond May is just one of a million unanswered questions the Steelers will have to contend with this offseason.

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Sudden rash of COVID positives in Steelers camp cause for ‘caution’

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of many NFL teams who had positive COVID-19 tests returned from BioReference laboratory.

Several Steelers were held out of the “under the lights” practice at Heinz Field Saturday night due to a rash of COVID-19 positives returned from BioReference testing lab.

“We had a number of guys that we held out of work or missed work today because they are caught up in COVID procedures,” Tomlin told the media Saturday. “No one to mention at this time in terms of being on the COVID list, but they are in the procedure. We are going to exercise all caution.”

While other teams who had practice scheduled for Sunday opted instead for virtual meetings, the Steelers did not have a practice scheduled.

On Sunday, Kevin Colbert released the following statement:

“On Saturday, we had six players absent from practice due to our adherence to NFL COVID-19 protocol. None of those players were required to be placed on Reserve/COVID-19 and will be returning to meetings today and practice on Monday.”

It appears the Steelers took immediate measures to confirm and/or rule out the positive tests from Saturday.

All is safe on the Steelers front.

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