Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL has officially postponed its biggest Thanksgiving Day football game -- Ravens vs. Steelers -- after multiple players tested positive for COVID.

"Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers game scheduled for Thursday, November 26 has been moved to Sunday afternoon, November 29," the NFL confirmed.

"This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts."

Earlier this week, Baltimore's top 2 running backs -- Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins -- were ruled out for Thursday night after testing positive for COVID.

But now, there seems to be a chance they could get back on the field for Sunday's game ... IF they weren't symptomatic.

Per the NFL's COVID policy, an asymptomatic player can return if 5 days have passed since the initial positive test AND the player receives 2 consecutive negative rapid tests at least 24 hours apart within that 5-day span.

We don't know if the RBs were symptomatic or not -- but we're making calls to try and find out.

In the meantime, there are still two other games going down on Turkey Day ... Houston vs. Detroit and Washington vs. Dallas.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron is representin' his sons in an iced out kinda way ... with 2 brand new diamond chains with their names on it!

The 27-year-old is a proud father of 2 boys -- 3-year-old Oliver and 1-year-old Aiden -- and decided to have some pieces made up in their honor.

So, Ebron hit up Ari the Jeweler in Manhattan to get two personalized Cuban links -- and Ari delivered!

We're told each chain features 40 carats worth of VVS diamonds and 300 grams of gold!

Unsure on how much E plunked down for the duo, but we're told they're valued around $65k each!

The NFL ain't messing around with its sock policy -- hitting 2 star Pittsburgh Steelers players with $5k fines for showing too much leg during a game!

Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner were both flagged by the league for breaking the dress code -- which requires players to wear their socks all the way up to their pants.

The league sent a letter to both JuJu and Conner claiming they broke the sock rule during the Oct. 25 game against the Tenessee Titans.

"Specifically, your stockings failed to cover your lower leg," the letter said. Juju later posted the note to social media.

Both players can appeal the fine ... but $5k won't set them back TOO much, even though they're both still on their rookie deals.

Socks.

Besides the dress code fines, the Steelers are on fire this season -- they're currently 7-0 (the NFL's only unbeaten team) and looking like world-beaters.

23-year-old Juju's hauled in 39 passes for 346 yards and 3 TDs so far this season.

Get the Kleenex ready, this will hit ya right in the feels ...

Pittsburgh Steelers rising star Chase Claypool sent an autographed jersey to a 76-year-old fan after learning of the man's recent dementia diagnosis ... and it's emotional.

Claypool -- a rookie WR who's BALLED OUT in recent weeks -- saw a TikTok video that explained the fan's battle ... and Chase was clearly moved by the whole thing.

In the clip, the fan's son explained his dad is "the biggest Steeler fan in the world" ... but is now having trouble remembering players' names on a weekly basis.

So, Claypool decided to send him some BIG love ... writing a personalized autograph on one of his #11 jerseys!!!

"Jimmy!" Chase wrote, "Thank you for being a lifelong Steelers fan!! From Chase."

In the clip, you can see Claypool drove the jersey to the post office himself to make sure the precious cargo arrived on time and safe.

"I hope this jersey can create a long-lasting memory for you and your father," Chase added in the video. "God bless you and your family and go Steelers!"

#Awesome

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says his team's not gonna turn into the Kardashians over their rematch with Myles Garrett and the Browns ... saying, they're not about "that reality TV storyline."

Sunday's matchup between Pittsburgh and Cleveland is HUGE for several reasons -- one being both teams are fighting for a spot at the top of the AFC North.

The other reason?? It's the first time Garrett will line up against the Steelers since his infamous helmet-swinging attack on backup QB Mason Rudolph in November 2019.

Tomlin was asked if he spoke to his players about avoiding any sort of distractions while meeting with reporters on Tuesday ... and he makes it clear they have bigger things to worry about.

"There really is no message," Tomlin says ... "There's a lot on the table in reference to this game in terms of stakes. They're a 4-1 team."

"We're trying to remain undefeated. We’re not looking for that low hanging fruit or that reality TV storyline and so forth. This is a big game in 2020."

As we previously reported ... Garrett has spoken out about moving on past the incident ... calling it a "small bump in the road."

So ... everyone's gonna get along on Sunday, right??

Call this a new kind of love-love for tennis star Genie Bouchard ... TMZ Sports has confirmed she's now dating Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph!!!

A source close to the couple tells us the two began a romantic fling recently ... and have gotten pretty serious.

In fact, 26-year-old Genie was just spotted at a fancy restaurant in Pittsburgh this week ... posting a pic of her at the place with the caption, "Pitt stop."

25-year-old Mason -- who was presumably on the other end of the camera -- dropped a "like" on the photo.

Of course, the new relationship means the end of a possible old one for Rudolph ... as we previously reported, the quarterback had been seen in L.A. in April getting cozy with "Bachelor" star Hannah Ann Sluss.

Unclear how serious the two were ... but Rudolph's clearly moved on either way.

As for Genie, she's been no stranger to famous dates in the past ... remember Super Bowl bet guy?!

But, seems she's finally found her special someone ... which is awesome for her, considering just a few months ago she tweeted that going through quarantine "would be a lot more fun with a boyfriend."

Congrats!!

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker Bud Dupree is giving a firsthand account into what it's like to play during the pandemic ... telling TMZ Sports his life really consists of 2 things right now -- "go to practice and go home."

The NFL was hit with its first COVID outbreak following Week 3 ... with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots reporting positive tests within their organizations.

Dupree -- who had an unexpected week off when the Steelers' matchup with the Titans was pushed to later in the season -- says his team is being EXTRA cautious to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to them.

"We try to stay away as much as possible just so we won't be on that end of the stick," the 27-year-old tells us. "We don't wanna be the ones who are holding the game up."

Dupree -- a 1st-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft -- points out the league's strict guidelines have essentially prevented him from doing anything other than reconnecting with family at home during his bye week ... or he'd face a fine.

As for switching gears from preparing for the Titans to getting ready for the Philadelphia Eagles this week ... Dupree says Coach Mike Tomlin makes it easy.

"With a coach like Tomlin, anytime adversity hit, he already got us coded to just keep going," he says.

"Live in the moment, be ready for whatever, just keep the punches going. He does a great job of preparing us for the moments even throughout training camp."

Pittsburgh Steelers star Bud Dupree just copped a ridiculously ICED OUT watch encrusted with 30 carats of diamonds ... and it's worth 80 grand!!

TMZ Sports has learned the Steelers linebacker treated himself with some new bling to celebrate the 2020 NFL season .. hitting up jeweler Moe Diamond in Pittsburgh.

Moe -- whose hooked up NFL beasts like Aaron Donald in the past -- delivered the Audemars Piguet watch ... loaded with approximately 30 carats of VS-VVS diamonds, to Dupree.

You can (literally) see the sparkle in BD's eyes.

The AP -- which we're told was appraised at $80,000 -- also has a custom gold bezel.

It's a crazy expensive watch -- unless you're making $16 million this season -- like Bud ... who's one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league this year.

And, he's definitely earning his money ... 'cause he's already racked up 2.5 sacks for the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be bracing for more players to opt out of the Antwon Rose helmet tribute ... and the team is okay with that.

After lineman Alejandro Villanueva decided to honor a deceased Black military hero instead of the 17-year-old ... other players began speaking out about the Rose tribute.

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey said he didn't know enough about Antwon Rose before the team decided on the helmet tribute -- claiming he was given "limited information" about the situation.

Also, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said the decision to honor Rose was made by "people upstairs" in the organization ... not the players.

The controversy ... the Steelers initially pushed the narrative that Rose was shot and killed by police during traffic stop for seemingly no reason.

What was missing from the story on the Steelers' team website was the fact Antwon was allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting before the police incident ... with the victim of the drive-by claiming Rose was the triggerman.

Obviously, that part of the story rubbed some Steelers players the wrong way -- since some of them only learned about that AFTER wearing the helmet decal on "Monday Night Football."

We reached out to the Steelers organization to find out if the team would continue its original plan to wear Rose's name on helmets and hats for the entire 2020 NFL season. Here's what they said back to us ...

"We acknowledge there could be changes this Sunday for players relating to helmet decals. That will be an individual decision."

In other words, it sounds like some of the players will no longer wear the decal starting this weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey is expressing remorse over wearing a helmet tribute to a 17-year-old who was shot and killed by police ... saying he didn't know the whole story.

"I want to personally clarify what transpired this past Monday night in regard to having Antwon Rose's name on the back of my helmet," Pouncey says.

"I was given limited information on the situation regarding Antwon, and I was unaware of the whole story surrounding his death and what transpired during the trial following the tragedy."

Remember, on Monday the Steelers announced the entire team and coaching staff would honor Rose on helmets and sideline hats for the entire 2020 season.

Here's the explanation from the Steelers official team website:

"On the night of June 19, 2018, the car Antwon Rose Jr., who is black, was a passenger in was pulled over by the East Pittsburgh Police. While the driver was being handcuffed on suspicion of being involved in an incident that happened earlier that evening, a frightened Rose fled from the car. The cell phone video a bystander captured showed Rose running, and then you could hear gunshots and see as he was fatally shot in the back three times by a white East Pittsburgh Police Officer."

The "incident" that occurred earlier that evening was a drive-by shooting -- and the victim who was shot told cops Antwon was the trigger man.

The officer who shot and killed Antwon was later found not guilty of all criminal charges that were filed against him -- including 1st-degree murder.

Pouncey is clearly uncomfortable honoring a person who may have been involved in a drive-by shooting ... and says, "I should have done more research to fully understand what occurred in its entirety."

Moving forward, Pouncey says, "I will make my own decision about what to wear on the back of my helmet."

"Make no mistake, I am against racism and I believe the best thing I can do is to continue helping repair relationships between the police and their communities. System racism issues have occurred in our country for too long, and that needs to stop."

Pouncey's teammate Alejandro Villanueva made headlines this week when he decided NOT to honor Antwon -- instead writing the name of an Army Sgt. who was killed while serving in Iraq.

Villanueva is an Army Ranger and felt it was more appropriate for him to pay tribute to Alwyn Cashe, who died while rescuing soldiers from a burning vehicle that was rocked by an explosive device.

Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Alejandro Villanueva honored a fallen military hero on his helmet Monday night ... despite a prior team announcement saying all players had agreed to honor someone else.

Alejandro is an Army Ranger who began his NFL career in 2014 after serving 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan.

And, when he took the field on Monday night to play the NY Giants, he had the name Alwyn Cashe written across the back of his helmet.

FYI, Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, according to the Military Times. He was only 35.

Sgt. Cashe -- who was married with a 12-year-old daughter at the time of his death -- was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat.

As for the Steelers, the team had previously announced that all players would honor someone else on their helmets this season ... Antwon Rose II, who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2018. He was only 17.

Here's what the Steelers had posted on the official team website before the game on Monday:

"On the night of June 19, 2018, the car Antwon Rose Jr., who is black, was a passenger in was pulled over by the East Pittsburgh Police. While the driver was being handcuffed on suspicion of being involved in an incident that happened earlier that evening, a frightened Rose fled from the car. The cell phone video a bystander captured showed Rose running, and then you could hear gunshots and see as he was fatally shot in the back three times by a white East Pittsburgh Police Officer."

The team has said players and coaches were "united as one" to wear Antwon's name on their helmets and hats for the entire 2020 season.

So far, no comment from Villanueva about his decision to break from the team to honor Cashe -- and unclear if he plans to do it again in Week 2.

The Steelers came up with a unique way to show solidarity and send a message during the national anthem ... with players holding a sign saying, "Steelers Against Racism" before Monday Night Football.

There have been many different approaches throughout the league during the opening weekend ... with some teams electing to stay in the locker rooms while other teams had players kneel, lock arms or show other ways to demonstrate before games.

The Steelers revealed their decision before facing off with the NY Giants on Monday ... holding the long banner, which listed each player's hometowns.

The Giants were also present for the anthem, with roughly one-third of the team electing to kneel.

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Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was spotted doing a random act of kindness for a man in need on Sunday ... buying the guy a meal without any fanfare.

The act was caught on video by a fan who recognized the NFL star, who described the situation this way.

"No cameras, no fanfare - just being kind to someone in need."

The person who shot the video added, "So proud to have @TeamJuJu wear the Black and Gold."

23-year-old Smith-Schuster has a reputation for doing nice things like this ... remember back in 2019, he went on a toy shopping spree for kids in need.

After that, he bought a house for his family!

He also went to a high school prom in 2019 with a fan who needed a date after his original date blew him off.

As for his on-the-field life, Juju and the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up to take on the NY Giants on Monday Night Football.

Juju is hoping to bounce back in a big way after a disappointing 2019 campaign.

Don't forget, Juju killed it in 2017 and 2018 -- but playing without Ben Roethlisberger in 2019 proved difficult for the WR.

But he's only 23 and super talented ... and he's clearly still a fan favorite!

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster Bill Hillgrove has been hit with a 2-game suspension over a wild DUI incident back in June.

The 80-year-old -- who's been calling Steelers games for 27 seasons -- allegedly crashed his Honda CR-V into a grocery store in Murrysville, PA around 5 PM on June 15.

Officials say Hillgrove smashed through 2 windows in the process -- but still went inside the store, got prescription medication and then returned to the vehicle, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Officials say Hillgrove left the scene and returned to his home -- where cops say he admitted to having "a couple of beers."

Officials say Hillgrove agreed to a breathalyzer and allegedly blew a whopping .16 -- twice the legal limit.

Hillgrove later told police the car "just got away from me."

He was charged with driving under the influence and he's due in court to be arraigned in October.

Pacman Jones tells TMZ Sports he spoke with Joe Haden and no longer believes the Steelers star orchestrated the jersey prank that resulted in a bonfire.

But, Pacman DOES suspect it was another Steelers legend who concocted the plan ... Joey Porter!

Pacman says he initially attacked Haden because his "instinct" led him to believe the DB was behind the prank.

But, the two men talked it out ... and he believes Haden is telling the truth -- that he had nothing to do with shipping the box of autographed Steelers jerseys to Pacman's crib.

"I don't think Joe sent them after I talked to Joe -- so, I don't have no problem with Joe," Pacman says.

"But, I do think somebody over there in that ballpark or whatever they doing over there, Sh*ttsburgh, that somebody from over there sent them. I wouldn't even be surprised if Joey Porter sent them."

Ya gotta watch the video -- Pacman says Haden's agent Drew Rosenhaus tried to play peacemaker, but Pacman hates Drew so it didn't work out.

"I'm not a big fan of Drew. I have no problem with Joe. For all I care, Drew can go f*ck himself for what it's worth to me."

We asked Pacman if he's still harboring a beef with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the intense rivalry from his days with the Cincinnati Bengals ... and his answer -- well, WATCH!

"I don't give two f*cks about nothing that's going on in Pittsburgh. I'm riding and dying about what I believe in and what I stand for and Pittsburgh have nothing that I believe in or stand for."

"I gives a f*ck about anything that's going on in Pittsburgh."

There's more ... Pacman recently launched a new CBD and THC company called PAC24 to help with pain relief -- and says the weed helped him get off potentially dangerous painkillers after years of football-related injuries.

Sorry, Terry Bradshaw, Big Ben and Jerome Bettis ... NONE of you are the greatest Steeler of all-time -- so says Rod Woodson, who tells TMZ Sports that honor goes to Mean Joe Greene!

"Man, I'm just thinking Mean Joe," the legendary Pittsburgh defensive back says. "He's so classic!"

It clearly pains Woodson to make the choice -- there are a LOT of candidates ... everyone from Lynn Swann to Franco Harris to Troy Polamalu to Jack Lambert all has a legit claim to the title.

But, Rod says it just has to be Greene ... telling us, "He had the iconic Coca-Cola commercial throwing it to the kid. He was a heck of a -- heck of a -- player. He was really a good coach too!"

Woodson added, "If you think about it, the Steelers have only retired one number, and it's Mean Joe Greene. That's saying a lot."

FYI, Greene truly is an NFL legend ... he was a 10-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro and 4-time Super Bowl champ who won Defensive Player of the Year honors TWICE!!