Raiders QB Pryor turned down Pittsburgh Steelers offer

Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Terrelle Pryor grew up in Jeanette, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh.

According to a report from the San Jose Mercury News, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pryor turned down an opportunity to be selected by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin in the 2011 NFL supplemental draft.

“(Tomlin) said, ‘Hey, I’ll draft you if you want to play here,’” Pryor said. “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 sounds like it was an amicable decision, brought forth by some good advice by coach Tomlin.  Pittsburgh has long-time starter Ben Roethlisberger as well, so it may have been difficult for Pryor to break into the lineup anytime soon.

Pryor starred in high school in his home state, but ended up leaving to Ohio State.  He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2011 draft.

Pittsburgh travels to Oakland to take on Pryor and the Raiders this Sunday.