The Steelers spent the past two months on a team-building exercise in an effort to rid themselves of the stigma placed on them because Antonio Brown's actions.
So far, so good.
The team's offseason program ended Thursday with the completion of a three-day minicamp. Now, the next time the Steelers get together as a team, it will be within the friendly confines of Saint Vincent College.
And that is when the true test of this team's mettle will begin.
"You really can't judge chemistry or culture until you're faced with adversity," Mike Tomlin said Thursday after the Steelers wrapped up minicamp. "This time of year, all 32 teams are undefeated, unscored upon. There's some good teaching and learning. The journey itself is the indicator of that and some of the adversity the journey provides. A training camp setting, that is physically and mentally challenging, that will be the first real adversity this group sees."
It's just around the corner for this group. But to a man, the players have consistently talked about how hard they've worked to come together as a team following a tumultuous start to the offseason.
"Throughout these OTAs and everything, we've been working to build a chemistry, get a feel for each other and become more team oriented," Mike Hilton told me. "I feel like we've made some progress with that these last couple of weeks. We've got a month off to get ready and then the real deal is coming."
Indeed.
And, as Tomlin noted, this is the time of year when everyone is feeling good about themselves. Everyone is unbeaten. Nobody has allowed a touchdown.
But there's a vibe around this team. The players have worked hard to push the drama into their rearview mirror. It's been an offseason all about standing together as one.
If that doesn't turn into wins once the season starts, nobody will care. But chances are, this little push of the organizational reset button will work in that direction.
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