In case you missed it, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 Pittsburgh sports stories from 2015. The bottom five of the top five have already been covered, and now the countdown will conclude with the top five biggest stories of 2015.
No. 5 – James Conner diagnosed with cancer
On Dec. 5, University of Pittsburgh running back announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. The 20-year-old junior was a 2014 All-American and a candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2015, however he tore his MCL in Pitt’s season opener and was lost for the season. Questions about whether or not Conner would declare for the NFL Draft were quickly put on hold after he announced he had cancer.
Conner said he is undergoing a six-month treatment program, and doctors have said they are optimistic Conner can make a full recovery. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry was diagnosed with the same condition in December 2014, and was able to return to the field in 2015. Conner vowed to return to the field again for the Panthers, but his first priority is to get healthy again first.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins and Steelers have all shown their support for Conner, as well as from Penn State coach James Franklin.
No. 4 – Brown and Williams lead the Steelers offense
Oh what could have been.
Despite not having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the better part of four games, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown still had a record-setting 2015. Thru 15 games, Brown has 123 catches, 1,647 yards and nine touchdowns, and has found his way into the record books. Brown set team records for most catches in a game with 17 and most receiving yards in a game with 284 against the Oakland Raiders, and the most catches in a three-year span in NFL history with 362. It is fair to wonder if Brown could have broken 2,000 receiving yards and broke Marvin Harrison’s record for most receptions in a season at 143. His presence has also opened up Markus Wheaton to have his best year as a pro, as well as Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller. Brown, though, still remains a threat even with team’s game planning to stop him and was voted as the team’s 2015 MVP on Wednesday.
Brown, however, is not the only player having a big season on offense for the Steelers, and running back DeAngelo Williams is putting up a solid case for why he should be the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year. Signed to a two-year deal in the off-season after spending nine seasons in Carolina, Williams was signed to backup Le’Veon Bell after LeGarrette Blount didn’t even last a full year in that role in 2014.
Williams has started nine games for the Steelers – the first two games while Bell was suspended and the past seven due to Bell suffering a season-ending knee injury – and rushed for 899 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 32-year-old has provided stability to the running game that was lost in 2014 when Bell was injured, and has also been a high character player off the field.
Much to the chagrin of the NFL, Williams multiple times has attempted to wear pink beyond just in October, the NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since losing his mother to breast cancer, Williams uses his spotlight as a NFL player to raise awareness for breast cancer, and often visits women who have had the disease.
No. 3 – Steelers lose more than a rivalry game in Baltimore
Prior to Week 16, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a sleeper to make a Super Bowl run in the AFC. Sitting at 9-5, the Steelers had perhaps the NFL’s most explosive offense, an improving defense and one of the NFL’s best coaching staffs.
Then the Steelers traveled to Baltimore last Sunday. The 4-10 Ravens led the league in most players on injured reserve and were down to their fourth string quarterback in Ryan Mallet. The Ravens ended up pulling off a 20-17 upset win. Mallet threw for a career-high 274 yards, and the Ravens defense didn’t allow the Steelers offense to get into any rhythm.
The loss was more than just an embarrassing loss to a division rival for the Steelers. The Steelers no longer control their own playoff destiny, needing to both beat the Cleveland Browns and for the New York Jets to lose to the Buffalo Bills in Week 17. The Steelers were once considered the team no one wanted to face in the playoffs; now, other teams may not have to worry about that.
No. 2 – Penguins, Crosby fall from grace
When the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, they appeared to be the NHL’s next dynasty. Since then, they have yet to reach the Cup Finals and do not appear to return in the near future. Since Jim Rutherford took over as general manager in 2014, the Penguins have gone thru a major roster and coaching staff overhaul. The Penguins biggest move of 2015 was trading Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling, Scott Harrington and a first round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for sniper Phil Kessel. The Penguins have also traded Rob Scuderi to the Chicago Blackhawks for Trevor Daley, Simon Despres to the Anaheim Ducks for Ben Lovejoy, and signed Eric Fehr, Matt Cullen and Sergei Plotnikov, while losing Brandon Sutter, Blake Comeau, Steve Downie, Paul Martin, Christian Ehrhoff and Daniel Winnik.
However, the transactions have not yielded the results Rutherford has looked for. The Penguins are currently five points out a playoff spot, one of the NHL’s lowest scoring offenses and struggle with a lack of offensive and defensive depth.
But the epitome of the Penguins’ decline has been captain Sidney Crosby. The center is currently 116th in the NHL in goals with eight, 57th in points with 26 and has drawn criticism for what some call a lack of effort on the ice. Some fans are calling for him to be stripped of his captaincy, and for it instead to be given to Evgeni Malkin. Crosby may still be feeling the effects of the number of head injuries he has suffered, and it is possible he may never be the same player he was when he won the Stanley Cup.
No 1 – 98 wins and a one-and-done
After ending a North American sports-record of 20 consecutive seasons in 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates were one of only three teams in the majors to make the playoffs each of the last three seasons. The Pirates had perhaps their best season in that span in 2015, which is also why is may have been the most disappointing. The Pirates won 98 games, second only to the St. Louis Cardinals in the majors. However, they had to host their third straight National League Wild Card Game.
The team struck gold in the off-season when they acquired A.J. Burnett, Francisco Cervelli, Jung Ho Kang and Arquimedes Caminero, and again at the trade deadline with J.A. Happ. Gerrit Cole emerged as an ace, Mark Melancon led the league in saves, Burnett made his only All-Star Game appearance in his 17-year career and Gregory Polanco flashed star potential.
However, struggles against divisional rivals – particularly the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers – ended up being the Pirates’ undoing, and they had to face the 97-win Chicago Cubs and pitcher Jake Arrieta fresh off his historic second half of the season in the Wild Card Game. The Pirates got in an early hole when Kyle Schwarber scored Dexter Fowler, and then launched a mammoth home run out of PNC Park. The offense couldn’t solve Arrieta, and the biggest hit for the Pirates that night came by way of Sean Rodriguez when he beat up a Gatorade cooler. The Pirates were shut out in their second straight Wild Card Game 4-0.
Since the loss the Pirates have said good bye to Burnett, Happ, Aramis Ramirez, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez, among others, while adding Jon Niese, Juan Nicasio, Jason Rogers, Ryan Vogelson and John Jaso. The Pirates may take a step back in 2016, but with top prospects Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell and Nick Kingham projected to reach the Majors next season with Austin Meadows not far behind, the Pirates still have a bright future even if 2016 is a letdown.
