Pittsburgh just wrapped up their training camp, and man, did head coach Mike McCarthy leave everyone with something to chew on! Their final practice on Monday got rained out, which is a bummer, but the real talk is all about where these guys are gonna be sweating it out next summer.
The Great Dorm Debate: Players Are NOT Happy
For weeks, we’ve heard current and former Steelers absolutely rip into the idea of training camp at St. Vincent College. It’s not just some casual grumbling, either. Former head coach Mike Tomlin laid it out, saying he definitely doesn’t miss those dorms. “I don’t miss that dorm room in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where I spent a calendar year of my life,” Tomlin told NBC during the Hall of Fame Game coverage. That’s a *calendar year* of his life, folks! You know he means it.
And it gets deeper! Former edge rusher Bud Dupree and current defensive captain Cam Heyward piled on the dorm hate on Heyward’s podcast, *Not Just Football*. Dupree went all-in, saying, “The best training camp we had was the COVID year. We stayed at our own house. I hated the dorms. I hated it.” Heyward was right there with him, even revealing their desperate attempt to escape Latrobe. He shared, “The COVID year, we were trying so hard to win a Super Bowl so then we could tell Mr. Rooney and be like, Mr. Rooney, we won a Super Bowl, we don’t need to go back to Latrobe.” What a play! But, as Heyward noted with clear frustration, “It did not work out in that way. We were back in Latrobe the next year.” Talk about a letdown! With all that player discontent, everyone was asking: Is the St. Vincent College tradition finally done?
McCarthy’s Unshakeable Stance for 2027
Well, if you thought there was any doubt, head coach Mike McCarthy just slammed the door shut on that speculation. When asked point-blank if he’d even considered ditching Latrobe for 2027, his answer was pure McCarthy: “Not at all.” And then he dropped the real shocker: “Hell, we’ll see if we can stay longer next year.” Longer?! After all the complaints? That’s a bold move, and it tells you everything you need to know about his vision for this team’s summer grind. So, for any Steelers fans who loved making the trip to St. Vincent, you can breathe easy. The tradition is locked in, and maybe even getting an extension!
We also saw some sparks fly earlier in camp with punches thrown during Sunday’s practice, where a clear leader for the RB3 role started to emerge. Nick Herbig got emotional celebrating Keeanu Benton’s extension, showing that team bond is real. Plus, McCarthy apparently saw Drew Allar as a first-round talent, which is interesting. The Steelers also kicked off their preseason with a solid 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers. Looks like there’s plenty to talk about heading into the season, but the biggest early statement might just be about where they’ll be in 2027.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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