Five years ago, it was Metcalf memorably tracking down Arizona\u2019s Budda Baker<\/a> 90 yards from the line of scrimmage to prevent a touchdown, a play that would be in the NFL GIF Hall of Fame, if such a thing existed (give it time, it might).<\/p>\n On Tuesday, in Metcalf\u2019s first official practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being acquired in a trade with the Seahawks in March, he nearly caught new teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick as Fitzpatrick dashed toward the end zone with a turnover.<\/p>\n This time, the whistle blew before Metcalf\u2019s white No. 4 jersey reached Fitzpatrick\u2019s No. 39. Nobody was robbed of a score. Nobody was mic\u2019ed up. And no video evidence of the sequence will ever reach the internet.<\/p>\n Still, the max effort from a two-time Pro Bowler during a time of year coach Mike Tomlin describes as \u201cfootball lite\u201d was noticeable.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, that\u2019s just football,\u201d Metcalf said with a shrug on Wednesday. \u201cIf you see a turnover, I\u2019m not just going to walk and let him return the ball. Like I\u2019m going to go get his (butt).\u201d<\/p>\n Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp enjoying settling in with new team<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the way Metcalf is wired, one of the many reasons the Steelers made the aggressive move to swing a deal for the 27-year-old, then immediately sign him to a massive extension.<\/p>\n While Pittsburgh has a knack for finding talented wide receivers in the draft \u2014 from Antonio Brown to Martavis Bryant to JuJu Smith-Schuster to Diontae Johnson to George Pickens \u2014 the one thing it has struggled with is finding a pass catcher who can be a difference-maker on the field without being a headline-maker off it.<\/p>\n Metcalf will have the chance to check that box and perhaps rewrite the narrative that surrounds his career in the process. He spent six seasons with the Seahawks as an imposing (6-foot-4) and dynamic downfield threat who also happens to be a willing blocker.<\/p>\n The fire that runs through him, however, would sometimes singe teammates and coaches in Seattle<\/a>, while also occasionally drawing attention from officials<\/a>. Metcalf\u2019s challenge in Pittsburgh will be channeling things properly on a team that is in flux at quarterback.<\/p>\n Yes, Aaron Rodgers \u2014 who famously met up with Metcalf in California during the offseason for a throwing session not long after Metcalf was acquired by Pittsburgh \u2014 will have the ball this season. What happens after that, however, is uncertain.<\/p>\n Metcalf is committed to the long haul, and that includes providing leadership to a room that is largely lacking outside of 12-year veteran Robert Woods, signed in May. While Metcalf is still in the \u201cgetting to know you\u201d stage in Pittsburgh, he understands the standing that his resume and his contract command.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more of a lead by example-type guy,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not a big rah-rah guy or walk up to you and say something to you on the spot (guy).\u201d<\/p>\n He would rather pull someone off to the side for a quick chat rather than \u201cblast\u201d them in front of the whole team. That might be a step in the right direction for a group that\u2019s spent the past few years trying to weather Pickens\u2019 petulant behavior.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh opted to move on, shipping the talented but mercurial 24-year-old to Dallas last month. While it might feel like addition by subtraction in a locker room that was over his antics, on the field, it also could create a void.<\/p>\n Metcalf, however, cautioned against the idea that the unit can\u2019t be productive. He pledged to be an \u201copen book\u201d to Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson, both of whom Metcalf called \u201cspecial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to be asking them questions as well and how they see the game,\u201d he said. \u201cSo just piggybacking off of what they do and just bouncing ideas off each other.\u201d<\/p>\n He also plans to continue to bounce things off Rodgers, whose quick release combined with Metcalf\u2019s innate ability to beat defenders off the line of scrimmage could create the kind of opportunities that didn\u2019t come enough last season, when Metcalf only turned 35 of his 66 receptions into first downs, a career low.<\/p>\n Rodgers and Metcalf have quickly hit it off and even spent some of their downtime together challenging each other by playing a trivia game. Metcalf called Rodgers \u201ca fun person\u201d and believes there\u2019s an opportunity for both of them to turn the chemistry they\u2019re building into something special come late fall.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully,\u201d he said, \u201cwe can put a product on the field that you know can last a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n What Macdonald said about Seahawks\u2019 O-line position battles<\/a><\/p>\n
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