Neal Brown ‘0 Surprised’ by Beanie Bishop’s Training Camp Success with Steelers

Some might be surprised by the early success of Beanie Bishop at Steelers training camp, but don’t count Neal Brown among that group.

Even though most of the focus of Brown’s first fall camp press conference centered around his current team at WVU, he still found time to discuss one of his former players. Brown said “he’s 0 surprised” by Bishop earning first-team reps with the Steelers.

“I’m 0 surprised with Beanie. He’s a football player. He may not check off all the boxes but he’s a football player,” said Brown when asked about Bishop. Brown also said he wasn’t able to visit Steelers camp this year like he normally does, but he reached out to offer advice to both Bishop and Zach Frazier, telling them to never give anyone in the NFL a reason to say no.

WVU HC Neal Brown on Beanie Bishop’s early success at Steelers camp: “I’m 0 surprised with Beanie. He’s a football player. He may not check off all the boxes but he’s a football player.”

Brown also said he wasn’t able to visit Steelers camp this year like he normally does but…

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) July 31, 2024

“I have to come back tomorrow and prove myself again and do the same thing the next day,” Bishop said to Aaron Becker of Yardbarker. “I’m trying to take advantage of all the reps that I get. Every day I’m coming to compete for a spot just like everyone else.”

Beanie Bishop Earning First-Team Reps with Steelers During Training Camp

Bishop has continually reiterated his desire to prove his doubters, even NFL teams who passed on him, wrong ever since he showed up in Pittsburgh as a free agent signee of the Steelers.

“It’s one of those things that helps me every day whenever I think about getting comfortable,” expressed Bishop, who earned consensus All-American honors for the 2023 season at WVU, to WV Sports Now in May. Bishop has actually carried a chip on his shoulder going back to when he was an undersized kid. That chip then intensified when he had to start his college career at a Group of 5 program in Western Kentucky.

Much has been made about the possibility about Bishop filling Pittsburgh’s need at slot corner. And while Bishop’s size is why some believe he’s not the right fit, the Steelers have found success with smaller corners in that role in the past, namely Mike Hilton.

Bishop told WVSN that he does try to look at what Hilton accomplished with the Steelers and now Bengals, granted he wants to put his own “spin” on things and never copy anyone exactly.

While appearing as a guest on the “Mike Drop with Mike Asti” podcast, Steelers great Bryant McFadden offered some advice for Bishop in his pursuit of acquiring playing time with the Steelers.

“You have to provide an element of trust as a young guy. If they don’t trust that you know what you’re supposed to do, you’re not going to be out there to try to do it. With that being said, he has to learn the playbook,” said McFadden.

McFadden added that a slot cornerback has to be be quick and decisive in their decision making. Knowing the minutiae of the playbook will give Bishop the upper hand.

“If you know what to do, you feel more comfortable. You’re not second-guessing yourself,” he said.

At the end of the day, Bishop clearly enjoys the journey and is excited about what’s to come, especially going up against other fiery and physical players, whether that’s teammates at practice or opponents during games.

For a related story, Bishop described his conversations with the Steelers leading up to the NFL Draft and why he believes he can help the Pittsburgh defense.