Cardinals WR Breaston Gets Support, Harassment From Family, Friends

During media day on Tuesday at Raymond James stadium in Tampa, Fla., WPXI’s Gordon Loesch spoke with Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston, who told him he gets a lot of support from his family and friends back at home.

Breaston was born and raised in Pittsburgh. His parents and brothers still live in Pittsburgh. He was a star wide receiver at Woodland Hills High School and one of the best players to ever play in the WPIAL.

However, with all the support, there is a good deal of harassment, as well. As a Cardinal, Breaston is playing against the team he grew up worshipping in the biggest game imaginable -- the Super Bowl.

“It’s crazy. You get a lot of text messages,” Breaston said. “Everybody’s always talking.”

He told Loesch his friends who are Steelers fans said, “‘You can do what you do, but we’re gonna get the six rings.’”

WPXI's John Fedko visited with Breaston's family earlier in the week. Any other Super Bowl, against any other team, the Breastons would be rooting for the Steelers.

"People come past my office and they say, 'Go Steelers!' A maintenance man had some balloons. They were black and gold, and I said, 'Oh no, not in my office,'" said Breaston's mom, Charlene, who cried when the Cardinals won the NFC Championship last week.

"I'm very excited," said Breaston's brother, Michael. "They're playing against the Steelers. I'm a big Steelers fan."

Michael will be cheering for Arizona to win the Super Bowl, though.

Steve's other brother David joked, "They don't have half-Steelers, half-Cardinals shirts, do they?"

After high school, Breaston went on to play for the Michigan Wolverines and became the best return man in school history. With 156 career receptions, he had the fifth most in Michigan history.

Breaston was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Breaston had a breakout year this year. After perennial Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin suffered a serious injury, Breaston was put into the Cardinals' starting line-up.

Related Story: January 22, 2009: Super Showdown Matchups: Steelers Vs. Cardinals