Former Steeler Rocky Bleier makes appearance at training camp

LATROBE — Rocky Bleier remembers the long training camps, but these days, it's not nearly as physically taxing on him to be in Latrobe.

"It always brings back great memories," he said. "Your stomach gets a little tight as you get closer to St. Vincent.  That's only because of years of having to live through that. But then you come and you're part of I feel where it is today."

Bleier was in Latrobe on Saturday as part of the NFL Network Training Camp Fan Zone.

Fans had the chance to meet Bleier, to get a picture with the Lombardi Trophy, and even catch a touchdown just like their favorite receivers in a Fan Zone Catch foam pit.

Bleier wasn't catching any passes at Latrobe, but he was remembering what things used to be like when he was in training camp back in the 1970s.

"Back in 1968 and the 70s it started to build and we started to win," he said. "I know coming through practice and the fans would come watch, and then years later you get those same fans coming back and say ‘I went to training camp when I was 9 or 10 and my grandkids now are 9 or 10.’"

Bleier's most intense memory was the full contact Oklahoma Drills, where Bleier would go head-to-head with the Steel Curtain.

"They would come just to see the Oklahoma drill," he said. "Going against Joe Greene or Lambert, they don't have that anymore.  They just don't have that experience anymore."

As for this year's team, Bleier recognizes that they are as high as when his team was winning four Super Bowls.

"The unknown obviously is injuries and we've been able to weather that, and players who have not been able to play in the first few weeks, and we've weathered that in the past so the experience with what we go into the season with and especially within those first four games will be important, he said. "But then it's really where do we grow from there, what happens there and the momentum you carry into the remainder of the season. That's when you need the strength and you need everybody back."

The event continues Sunday in Latrobe with special guest Mel Blount.

Cox Media Group