Terrelle Pryor is preparing to play his hometown team. The Oakland Raiders quarterback grew up in suburb of Pittsburgh, rooting for the Steelers throughout his young football career. After his time at Ohio State ended abruptly, Pryor entered the 2011 supplemental draft, hoping a team would take a chance on him. As the Steelers and Raiders prepare for a Week 8 matchup, Pryor is recalling the time he balked at the chance to play in Pittsburgh.
Eventually the Raiders were the team to sign Pryor. Late owner Al Davis decided to take a chance at the quarterback with the checkered past much due to an NCAA scandal overshadowing what was a strong college career. However, Davis was not the only one to make a play for Pryor. The quarterback recalls an offer head coach Mike Tomlin made him with the Steelers.
"Mike said, 'Hey, I'll draft you if you want to play here,' " Pryor said, via Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "But he gave me a story about when he was down in Tampa Bay about a quarterback [Shaun King] that was there, and he ended up being in the same hometown. It was just hard for him; he ended up cutting out because of all the distractions. . . . I had to say no because, at a young age, I didn't want to be near home and have distractions around me."
It appears Pryor made the right decision. The quarterback opted to play on the opposite side of the country where he did not know anyone. He developed his talents, improving to be a solid NFL quarterback. Now, Pryor is set to be the face of the Raiders franchise for what could be years to come.
Pryor certainly has ties to the Steelers. His high school teammate and Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward still keep in contract. Both played at Ohio State before taking separate paths in the NFL. Pryor notes that he was very grateful for the chance Tomlin was willing to take on him back in 2011.
"I don't know what the guys up top were thinking, but Coach Tomlin gave me an opportunity if I wanted to. I ended up saying no because, at a young age, I didn't want to be near home and having distractions around me," Pryor said. "He did say, and I remember this, 'You know when the time comes and we play, I'm coming after you. I'm blitzing you.' I'll giggle with him when I see him on the field. I'll be waiting for it."
The Steelers will have to do plenty of blitzing to get to Pryor. The mobile quarterback continues to prove just how dynamic he can be all while completing 64.5 percent of his passes so far this season. Head coach Dennis Allen is loving the improvement by Pryor and thinks anything is possible with him under center.
