One of the most universally popular features of offseason sports coverage is the sky-is-falling variety of how this or that team is coming apart because of a prominent player leaving. That player’s absence will inevitably lead to the entire unit sliding back into something not quite adequate.
While sometimes that is true, depending on the significance of the player, it also depends on his replacement. And when the Pittsburgh Steelers were being covered in this way in relation to the free agency departure of edge rusher Bud Dupree, second-year Alex Highsmith admits he couldn’t help but notice.
“I did see some reports that really just gave me more motivation to just be the best that I can be and just continue to work harder”, he told reporters earlier today following OTA practice.