LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – It was a growing noise to which TJ Watt turned his head and said ‘what the (fudge)’. It was the most inventive way a Steeler player arrived at training camp in Latrobe.
The sound was of long-snapper Christian Kuntz going the last few feet of his journey to the player’s dorm rolling in a massage chair. Imagine a recliner from Sharper Image in the mall, that’s what he was in.
“Really,” Watt continued. “Christian, did you get that at Costo?”
At which point Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin peaked out his head from a dorm window behind us yelling ‘would someone please talk to Christian?’ To which Watt laughed saying it’s ‘out of control’. The funniest moment might have been when Kuntz and punter Pressley Harvin, who was helping him with the heavy chair, realized his room is on the third floor and there is no elevator.
Beyond that, no Rolls Royce, helicopter, dump truck, tractor and tiny Smart car used for arrivals. For first-round pick Broderick Jones, he didn’t even bring a car. Jones arrived in an Uber he took from Pittsburgh. His flight arrived into town late last night and all of the other rookies had already arrived early at St. Vincent College.
“I still haven’t settled into Pittsburgh all the way,” Jones said. “I’ve been Uber-ing and staying in hotels. I’m trying to get everything in order. I knew camp was coming so I wasn’t going to rush anything.”
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Jones was very surprised initially the Uber driver knew who he was.
“It was shocking to be because he was a little bit older,” Jones said. “People have always told me Pittsburgh is a huge sports town. Once he told me he knew who I was, it wasn’t a shock, but it kinda was.”
The driver didn’t offer any advice, which might be the most surprising part. He also didn’t ask for an autograph, but did take a picture with the Steelers first round pick.
Jones and the rookies aren’t the only newcomers to St. Vincent College. 33-year-old veteran Patrick Peterson is new to Latrobe, but had an inside source. His cousin, Bryant McFadden, played for the Steelers and he says he looks forward to the enthusiasm from the fans.
“He told me there is going to be around 20,000 every single day,” Peterson said. “He’s kinda wondered how the Pittsburgh fans have been able to get up here every single day to support the Steelers. It goes to show the fan base is very strong.”
He said he’s excited to see how that fan interaction makes it difficult on the opposing teams.
All reported to camp on Wednesday, all the rookies are signed after the team announced the agreement with 32nd overall pick, corner Joey Porter, Junior, on his initial four-year contract.
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First practice is Thursday afternoon at 1:55p.