Allen Robinson: Being cut from the Steelers was ‘a little surprising’

The Steelers released receiver Allen Robinson back in March, back when Pittsburgh made a flurry of moves on offense. He concedes the cut caught him off guard.

“I know for them, they were doing a lot of changes over there, schematic changes, and different things like that,” Robinson told reporters this week. “So, it was a little surprising. But at the end of the day, it’s a part of the business. I’ve been in this thing now going on 11 years.”

Then earlier this month, after a workout in front of Giants coach Brian Daboll, Robinson found a new team. Coincidentally, like the Steelers, the Giants are hoping to improve an offense that ranked 29th out of 32 teams last season. (Pittsburgh was 25th).

Maybe there was some brief conversations in his head about retiring. But the former Steelers wideout thinks he has at least a couple more seasons in him. Daboll saw the same thing in the 30-year-old former Penn State star who arrived in the NFL in 2014 as a second-round pick of the Jaguars.

And he wasn’t prepared to end it. After impressing the Giants in what coach Brian Daboll said was a “good workout,” Robinson signed with the squad, his fifth team, on May 9.

“(He) has been a productive player for a while,” Daboll said. “We had good conversations. Ended up choosing to come here. Happy to have him.”

Robinson was part of Steelers’ anemic passing game

Robinson played only a season with the Steelers. Pittsburgh and the Rams swapped seventh-round picks, with Robinson ended up being part of the deal. The Steelers were hoping he’d be more like the receiver he showed in 2020 when he caught 102 passes with the Bears. Instead, he caught 34 passes for only 280 yards despite starting every game.

However, Pittsburgh also had offensive woes. Kenny Pickett struggled even before he was injured. Mitch Trubisky wasn’t the answer. Mason Rudolph helped right the ship and guide the Steelers into the playoffs. But they lost in the first round.

Pittsburgh hired Arthur Smith, the former Falcons head coach, as offensive coordinator. Then they cleared house at quarterback and traded receiver Diontae Johnson to the Titans. And they released Robinson. The running backs are the same. But with either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at quarterback, the passing game will look different.

Robinson is growing comfortable in the Meadowlands.

“It’s awesome, man,” Robinson said. “It’s awesome, because once you’ve played in the league for a little bit, you do know some guys. You’ve played with guys, you’ve played against guys. … You’re able to connect with guys quickly. Being able to have that perspective, it’s been an easy transition for me stepping into different locker rooms. I’m blessed to be able to be around these guys. It’s a very talented group. It’s been cool, it’s been fun.”

Robinson added: “I have so much gratitude and respect and love for the game. I mean, this game has changed my life and changed my family’s life. Every time I step foot on that field, the amount of pride that I come onto the field with each and every day, practice and games, I take it seriously. Like I said before, man, I even think back 11 years ago, just wanting to be able to have a successful career and do some things. To still be in it 11 years later, man, I’m blessed, I’m grateful and I don’t take anything for granted.”