Trending
By Bill Contz
For the Mirror
If you haven't noticed the Steelers' recent penchant for overpromoting the "family-first" concept regarding their roster, then you either don't follow pro football closely or have been completely mesmerized by the Pirates' best start in 31 years.
After last week's NFL draft, it's clear the organization is hell bent on inundating their squad with as many sets of siblings as possible.
Last week the Steelers used their fourth-round pick on Nick Herbig, a talented outside linebacker from Wisconsin and reunited him with older brother Nate, a free agent offensive lineman who inked a lucrative deal in March.
Pestered by nuisance media types on the topic minutes after the announcement, the younger Herbig responded with "We talked about this since we were little kids," via telephone from his native Hawaii where he watched the draft with his family.
What? Can you imagine that conversation? "Hey Nate, wouldn't it be cool if we got to play pro ball together in Pittsburgh? I'll bet the weather there is just as nice as it is here in suburban Honolulu!'
Yeah. right.
The Herbig boys join a team that featured two sets of siblings (Watt and Heyward) on their 2022 roster and become the latest set of brothers to don the same uniform in the same season.
Family values were also evident two rounds earlier with the selection of Penn State standout corner Joey Porter Jr., hereby now and forever known as "Peezy's kid" whether he likes it or not.
The JPJ selection enables the Porters to add their names to the growing list of other father-son duos (Mannings, Bosas, Dorsetts, Longs, Matthews to name a few), who have distinguished themselves in the league.
However, it's just the second instance ever where a father and son were drafted by the same NFL team. You have to go back over four decades to find a team that flawlessly executed a true legacy selection when the Chiefs drafted Brad Budde with the 11th pick of the 1980 draft. Brad's dad, Ed, was part of the mammoth Kansas City front wall that thoroughly neutralized the Vikings' vaunted Purple People Eaters during Super Bowl IV.
My question is: Why stop there? Why limit this aggressive Sibling Accumulation Strategy (SAS) to the active roster? I contend the Steelers should do this at other levels within the organization.
Permit me to suggest a few that may warrant consideration:
First, bring in the Wright Brothers as co-offensive coordinators. Call it a hunch, but they could very well offer up some innovative ways to help Matt Canada's stagnant pass offense take flight.
To comply with Mike Tomlin's recently enacted stricter dress code on road trips, sign Brooks Brothers up to present options for more "suitable" attire.
Next, ink a few of the Marx or Smothers Brothers just prior to training camp to provide some comic relief during the team's annual rookie show.
Head trainer John Norwig occasionally must treat players for nagging coughs or sore throats so employ the Smith Brothers (make sure you try their new flavor -- warm apple pie) for some much-needed relief there.
A musical difference of opinion brewing in the locker room after practice?
Solve that problem by piping in a playlist that includes the Jonas and Isley Brothers along with a few Doobie Brothers tunes for classic rock enthusiasts.
Contz was a starting offensive tackle on Penn State's first national championship team in 1982 and played six NFL seasons with New Orleans and Cleveland. He published a book in 2017, "When the Lions Roared: Joe Paterno and One of College Football's Greatest Teams." He resides in Pittsburgh.