Gone are the long, hot days at Saint Vincent College, the five preseasons games filled with players battling for roster spots and veterans fine tuning their craft.
It's all for real now. Games count in the win-loss column as it's officially 'Back to Football.'
"We have to get on this horse and get ready for this ride," said defensive end Cam Heyward.
Here is the 53 man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers as announced on Saturday, September 5, 2015.
- Will start the season on the Reserved/Suspended List.
- Will start the season on the Reserved/Suspended List.
It's a ride the players have been waiting for since last January. And they are pumped and ready to go. "It's fun," said receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. "We had a long camp, a lot of guys battling for jobs. But it's great to have a game that finally means something. I am glad the season is here."
The Steelers open the season on the biggest stage, the NFL's Kickoff Game against the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. The time for learning is over. It's time to perform.
"You just know everything is for real," said cornerback Will Gay. "What you put on tape will walk with you this entire 2015 season. There is urgency. The guys know it's time, that it counts. You have to be held accountable."
What they put on tape is yet to be determined, but they have their sights set high for this year and are ready to come together as one on Thursday night with a unified goal.
"We are all in this thing together," said Gay. "You see it from Ben (Roethlisberger) down to the 53rd guy on the team that we are coming together as a family. You can't beat that.
"It's good to get in the regular season as that unit, get your goals started. This is the first step toward our ultimate goal of winning a championship. What a great way to start it off with going against the defending champs."
