If you bleed black and gold, the last few days have been a wild ride. It started with Steeler Nation headed into the yearly free agency drudgery of knowing that free safety Ryan Clark would likely be gone for good and all we would have to show for signings come April would be a Cedric Wilson/Shaun McDonald type player. You know, the same old stuff leading up to April's draft. March is usually an uneventful time for us Steelers fans, but this March is one that will be remembered for both good and bad. Midnight of free agency came and went Thursday with only the big name signings making waves. Ho hum, nothing strange there. Friday Steeler Nation was staring at another nightmare. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was being accused on Friday afternoon of sexual assault by a young woman in Georgia. The second such accusation in a calendar years time. The Roethlisberger news was trumping many free agent signings and had the Steelers back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Act 2 of the Roethlisberger saga will carry on for some time, but it was not the start to the new NFL season Steelers fans needed.

The weekend rolled around and we were treated to the news that 49ers free agent wide receiver Arnaz Battle would be visiting the South Side on Monday. Ah, our Cedric Wilson/Shaun McDonald type player would come early this year. Then the news that safety Will Allen may be in town on Monday as well. Ok, maybe some safety depth and special teams help there. By Sunday night, no one knew the flurry of things that would happen on Monday that can brighten a fan base. Not only were Battle and Allen signed to contracts. Reserve tackle Jonathan Scott was being brought in to fight for a depth spot on the offensive line and the name Larry Foote was surfacing again as being a long shot to come back to the Steelers. Monday was not looking bad at all as far as Steelers fans go.

In the evening on Monday is when the fireworks started. Free safety Ryan Clark had a change of heart while visiting the Dolphins and told his agent Joel Turner he wanted to go back home. Clark said get it done and Turner reached a 4 year deal with the Steelers that is cap friendly and averages $3.5 million a season. If this news wasn't good enough, the word came out at about the same time that receiver Antwaan Randle El would be coming back to the team that had drafted him as well. El will provide some veteran leadership and ensure that the Steelers have some receiver depth on the roster as well. The contract details are sketchy at this point, but early word is that it is just over the minimum and will not break the bank going forward. Even if Foote ends up not coming back, free agency has been successful thus far. The Steelers were staring at a gaping hole in the secondary and slew of young receivers behind veterans Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. Both holes have been quickly patched and the Steelers will now the luxury of drafting the best player available in the draft instead of feeling locked into one particular position.

The Roethlisberger thing will hopefully be worked out soon, with Big Ben being exonerated. Free agency has definitely help turn a few frowns upside down in Steeler Nation. I am 42 years young and I do not remember a day like Monday in several, several years as a Steeler fan. Without a doubt these few days will likely be forever etched in our brains going forward in Steelers lore. Let's hope it culminates in our 7th championship. Oh, I almost forgot. Hines Ward turned 34 on Monday and Steeler legends Franco Harris and Lynn Swann celebrated birthdays on Sunday. What a week.

The Steelers signed safety Will Allen and wide receiver Arnaz Battle to three-year contracts Monday and this morning Scott Brown has a Q&A with new Steelers on his blog.

The most surprising thing about the signing of former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, is the fact that he states he will be the #3 receiver and not 2nd year receiver Mike Wallace. I am not so sure that is set in stone, at least not yet.

Not only was former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El signed back to the roster on Monday, the Steelers are looking into bringing back inside linebacker Larry Foote as well after his one year stay with Detroit. Foote is scheduled to meet today or Wednesday with the Arizona Cardinals, so it is not a slam dunk that he is back in black and gold

Speaking of the Cardinals and former Steelers, Amberly Dressler reports that Steelers West will play host to unrestricted free agent defensive end Nick Eason on Tuesday.

Lost in all the signing fury of Steelers free agency was the latest Hearing from Coach Mike Tomlin segment on Steelers.com. Tomlin says the safety class is as deep as it’s been since he has been going to the combine. Coach speak? I don't think so.

The latest report in the Ben Roethlisberger, alleged sexual assault case is that the alleged victim has dropped out of school and gone back to Atlanta with her parents. Stay tuned as there will be plenty more on this debacle.

In a surprising twist, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Steelers have re-signed free agent S Ryan Clark. Clark visited the Dolphins on Monday. Clark's contract reportedly is a 4 year deal in the neighborhood of $17 million with at least $5 million of the contract to be paid during the first year.

An old familiar face is coming back to the Steelers. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El signed back with the Steelers on Monday evening after being released by the Washington Redskins. Randle El was drafted in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Steelers after playing his college football at Indiana where he was a quarterback. On March 12, 2006, Randle El signed a seven-year, $31 million deal to play for the Washington Redskins after the Super Bowl 40 win against the Seahawks.

The Steelers signed three unrestricted free agents, offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, wide receiver Arnaz Battle and safety Will Allen, to their roster today. Financial terms of all of the contracts were not disclosed, but both Battle and Allen received three year deals.

Scott was a fifth-round pick by Detroit in the 2006 draft out of Texas, Scott had six starts in 20 appearances over two seasons with the Lions and was signed to the Bills 53-man roster on December 18, 2008. Scott started eight games for the Bills last season.

Battle was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He spent seven seasons with the 49ers and played in 88 career games as a wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner. For his career, Battle has 178 receptions for 2,150 yards and 11 touchdowns as a receiver. In 2009, he was the 49ers primary punt returner with 21 returns for 61 yards and added three kickoff returns for 68 yards.

Allen has played all six NFL seasons with Tampa Bay after being drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Allen made two starts in 2009 before being placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured List following Week 9. In his six seasons with the Buccaneers, Allen had 63 special teams tackles and was named the team’s special teams captain in 2008. He started 26 games in six years and had 174 career tackles and four interceptions.

If you missed the Monday Police Press Conference held in Milledgeville, Ga concerning the sexual assault charges on Ben Roethlisberger, you can listen to the unevenful presser below.

Corrected

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TMZ reported this morning that the woman accusing Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault was "hysterical" when she spoke with authorities. This is according to a source at the Milledgeville Police Department.

We may not know for a while whether sexual assault charges will be filed against Ben Roethlisberger from his time in Milledgeville, but according to ProFootballTalk.com, Roethlisberger has hired Atlanta defense attorney Ed Garland. Some of Garland’s past clients include Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis and Pacman Jones. That is a list you want no Steelers player associated with.

Steelers linebacker James Farrior recently had elbow surgery to clean up some bone fragments according to his agent Ralph Cindrich. Cindrich told me the process was nothing special.

Steelers free agent safety Ryan Clark is visiting the Miami Dolphins today and might be a good fit for their defense. Joel Turner did not accompany Clark on the visit and several speculate a deal may already be in place and announced soon. We shall see, but it is safe to say he has played his last game in black and gold.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff will meet with free agent receiver wide receiver Arnaz Battle today after returning from their weekend retreat at one of the area mountain resorts. Safety Will Allen is also rumored to be in town this week for a visit as well. Mountain resorts? Did Mr. Rooney approve and pay for that?

Lots of free agent news is happening outside of Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Ravens traded for Anquan Boldin, the Browns signed right tackle Tony Pashos and outside linebacker Scott Fujita to multiyear contracts and the Bengals are showing interest in Brandon Marshall, Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens.

The website TMZ is reporting that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual assault by a young woman in Georgia. TMZ reports that the alleged incident occurred early this morning at Capital City Club in Milledgeville, Georgia. The alleged victim and witnesses are reportedly being interviewed. In addition to the Milledgeville Police Dept, TMZ is also reporting that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations is also investigating. No chargers have been filed yet against Roethlisberger and the Steelers are looking into the incident and have no further comment at this point and time.

Update: Bens agent, Ryan Tollner, confirmed this afternoon that an allegation had been made against Mr.Roethlisberger. "Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," Mr. Tollner said. "We have spoken to law enforcement." Mr. Tollner said he understood that the allegations "appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation," but Milledgeville police say they still are investigating.

Ryan Tollner, Roethlisberger's agent, released a statement:

"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," Tollner says. "We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."

Steelers Depot has confirmed that the Steelers exclusive rights free agent linebacker Patrick Bailey has been re-signed by the Steelers to a one year contract at the minimum 3rd year player salary of $470,000. Bailey's agent, Dr. D.S.Ping, confirmed this with us via email. Bailey is entering his 3rd season as an undrafted free agent out of Duke. He was active for all 16 games for the Steelers in 2009 and recorded 13 tackles on special teams.

Yesterday, Dan Gigler of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted some final thoughts and videos on free agents Ryan Clark, Willie Parker and DeShea Townsend. All three are now considered former Steelers and are free to sign elsewhere

Speaking of Willie, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already shown interest in Parker. It is still early in the game, but Tampa surely could be one of the few final destinations for FWP.

The Steelers are lining up a few free agent visitors of their own as 49ers free agent wide receiver Arnaz Battle is coming in for a visit this weekend to Pittsburgh.

Another player to be rumored to be on the Steelers radar is former New England Patriots free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden. The problem is that several teams are also interested in Bodden and the price tag will be too high for the Black and Gold.

Former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El was cut loose by the Redskins on Thursday. El signed a seven-year contract worth $31 million that included $11.5 million in bonuses following the Super Bowl 40 season.

The Fort Cherry alumni play the Pittsburgh Steelers basketball team tonight at 8 p.m. at Fort Cherry High School. Among the Steelers players scheduled to be there are James Harrison, Charlie Batch, Deshea Townsend and Rashard Mendenhall. It will be interesting if indeed Batch and Townsend are there as they both are free agents.