NFL

NFL Live on the road in Latrobe for Steelers training camp

ESPN kicked off three weeks of NFL training camp coverage this weekend. In all, SportsCenter and ESPN’s NFL shows are scheduled to visit nearly every team through mid-August. Today is one of the big stops along the way as NFL Live (3:30 p.m. ET) will do a one-hour live show from Pittsburgh Steelers camp.

Host Trey Wingo – who just signed a new contract extension – will be at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., with a trio of former Steelers turned ESPN analysts – Ryan Clark, Merril Hoge and Jerome Bettis, who will be honored Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Reporter Josina Anderson will also be at Steelers camp for updates on SportsCenter.

“We’re thrilled to be starting our training camp coverage and our 13th season of NFL Live with Pittsburgh, one of the traditionally strongest teams in NFL history,” said Wingo. “Great to be there with the likes of Jerome, Ryan and Merril.”

He added: “We look forward to speaking with [Steelers] Coach [Mike] Tomlin about the prospects for the team as they try to defend their AFC North title and rework that defense which has been the strength of that team for so long, but now it’s the offense that seems to be carrying the load.”

ESPN’s three former Steelers spoke with Front Row about their Pittsburgh ties and what it means to go back to training camp:

Jerome Bettis, Steelers running back (1996-2005): “I am looking forward to going back to Latrobe where it all started for me in Pittsburgh. As much as I hated training camp, I loved what it meant – a new season, a chance to play for one of the best teams in sports, and a chance to win a championship.”

Ryan Clark, Steelers safety (2006-13): “When I think of Latrobe, I think of rainy days. Coach T [Tomlin] would hold out until the last minute to cancel practice but all the fans would stay. So, I’d stay with them. Sign autographs, take pics. We were all Steelers. We were soaking wet, dressed in black and gold, and 100 percent positive we were about to win another Super Bowl.”

Merril Hoge, Steelers running back (1987-93): “I was one of the transition players, in between the Steelers championship teams of the 70s and later all the great players that came through in the 90s and today. The first time I stepped in the huddle, Mike Webster is on my left and John Stallworth is on my right. Then, we call our first play and Donnie Shell is lining up on the other side of the line of scrimmage. I had watched those guys for a decade – four Super Bowl teams, all the Monday Night games, and now I’m in the huddle with them. It was pretty incredible.”

Allie Stoneberg contributed to this post 

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