The Steelers take the field tonight with a heavy heart, the first game since the passing of wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, and many in his position group are warming up in shirts emblazoned with his phrase for this season: Shut Out the Noise.
The team has done an overall good job of doing just that since the offseason has really gotten underway, focusing instead on themselves and those around them rather than worrying about the outside. That sort of focus is what they hope will drive them to a better season than a year ago.
In the second preseason game, Mason Rudolph will get the start, and we should see a number of players who missed the first game, whether due injury or coaches choice, out on the field.