The Steelers signed free agent wide receiver Jayson Foster on Friday. Foster was on both the Steelers and Denver Broncos practice squads during the 2008 season. Foster originally signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2008 as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern. Foster joins a very deep receiver unit of the Steelers and will likely be a candidate once again for the practice squad with a great training camp. Foster is 5-7, 185lbs.

The Steelers signed free agent wide receiver Shaun McDonald and punter Dirk Johnson on Thursday and released long snapper Jared Retkofsky. McDonald is was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. McDonald spent four years with the Rams before signing with the Detroit Lions during the 2007 off season. He led the Lions with 79 catches, 943 yards and six touchdowns that season. Johnson is going into his eigth season as a punter and will provide another punting leg for training camp. Retkofsky was signed last season when veteran Read more [...]

Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes is scheduled to appear today for his arraignment on a misdemeanor marijuana charge stemming from an October 2008 traffic stop. Police say they found three marijuana-filled cigars in Holmes’ car when he was pulled over Oct. 23 in Pittsburgh. Police say Holmes did cooperate and informed the officers about the drugs. Holmes’ attorney has characterized the charge as a low-grade misdemeanor. At most, Holmes will face 30 days probation and a $500 fine if convicted. Holmes’ is expected to plead not guilty today in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

The Steelers met with unrestricted free agent Ashley Lelie on Monday. Lelie is a former first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos, but has struggled to contribute and stay healthy over the past few seasons. Lelie may be signed later in the week to compete for the number three receiver spot vacated by Nate Washington. Lelie is a lanky 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and would battle second year receiver Limas Sweed and newly drafted Mike Wallace for a roster spot.

The Steelers will release veteran starting inside linebacker, Larry Foote over the next few days. Foote had been a starter for the last 5 seasons, but wants an opportunity to start for another team. Foote has one year left on his contract that was scheduled to pay him a salary of $2,885,000. He did not attend the team's first two voluntary workouts last week, opting instead to workout at in Detroit. Foote says he wants to play for his hometown Lions. “Ain’t no doubt about that,” Foote said from his home in Michigan today, after he learned that the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers plan Read more [...]

A little over a week after being signed by the Cincinnati Bengals off of waivers, former Steelers running back Gary Russell was released by the team on Monday.

According to reports the Steelers have signed free agent kicker Piotr Czech. Czech was with the Baltimore Ravens last year for training camp and graduated from Wagner College. He is expected to be a camp kicker for the Steelers and not a threat to Jeff Reed.

Now that the 2009 NFL draft is complete the Steelers will begin signing some undrafted players. we will update this post throughout the evening as the list of undrafted signings and commitments come across the wire. Check back soon. STEELERS LS Mark Estermyer (Pitt) LB Tom Korte (Hillsdale College) T Ramon Foster (Tennessee) QB Mike Reilly (Central Washington) WR Tyler Grisham (Clemson) S Derrick Richardson (New Mexico State) QB Kevin McCabe (Virginia) LB Andy Schantz (Portland State) WR Steven Black (Memphis) DT Jeff Bradley (Carolina) WR Cedrick Goodman (Georgia) DT Steve McLendon Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted tight end David Johnson, from Arkansas State with their second of two 7th round picks of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 241st overall and the 32nd pick of the seventh round. Johnson is a 6'2", 260 lb tight end. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 4.73 seconds Bench Press : 21.0 reps Vertical Jump : 32.5 inches Broad Jump : 113.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 7.28 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.43 seconds Johnson is a long armed H-back type tight end. Has adequate hands and is an above average blocker. Will be competing to earn a roster spot as a special team contributor Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted center A.Q. Shipley, from Penn State with their 7th round pick of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 226th overall and the 17th pick of the seventh round. Shipley is a 6'1", 304lb center. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 5.26 seconds Bench Press : 33.0 reps Vertical Jump : 31.0 inches Broad Jump : 100.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 7.46 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.4 seconds Shipley is an undersized zone center with short arms who understands technique and leverage. Local Penn State product who slowly slid all the way down the draft board after getting hyped early. Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris, from Oregon with their 6th round pick of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 205th overall and the 32nd pick of the sixth round. Harris is a 6'4", 298lb defensive tackle. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 5.05 seconds Bench Press : 28.0 reps Vertical Jump : 25.5 inches Broad Jump : 106.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 8.18 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.87 seconds Harris is a raw project at nose tackle who needs to improve as a pass rusher. Will need to learn the 2 gap if he is to play in the Steelers 3-4. Will be tried over the nose, but Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted fullback Frank Summers, from UNLV with their second of two 5th round picks of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 169th overall and the 33rd pick of the fifth round. Summers is a 5'10", 230lb fullback. Pro Day Results: 40 Yard Dash : 4.63 seconds Bench Press : 30.0 reps Vertical Jump : 34.5 inches Broad Jump : 112.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 7.23 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.35 seconds Summers is a bowling bowl with legs that can run in between the tackles. The Steelers worked out Summers extensively at the UNLV Pro Day. Short yardage specialist that can move quick Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted cornerback Joe Burnett, from Central Florida with their first of two 5th round picks of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 168th overall and the 32nd pick of the fifth round. Burnett is a 5'9", 192lb cornerback. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 4.57 seconds Bench Press : 22.0 reps Vertical Jump : 35.5 inches Broad Jump : 118.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 6.68 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.26 seconds 60 Yard Shuttle : 11.27 seconds Burnett is a zone type, Tampa cover 2 type cornerback. Has returned kicks at Central Florida. Has good vision of the entire field and great Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted cornerback Keenan Lewis, from Oregon State with their third of three 3rd round picks of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 96th overall and the 32nd pick of the third round. Lewis is a 6'0", 208 lb cornerback. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 4.49 seconds Bench Press : 19.0 reps Vertical Jump : 38.5 inches Broad Jump : 130.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 6.89 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.42 seconds Lewis is a big cornerback and a project that may be better suited as a safety. Does not mind tackling and is a physical type player. Smart student and a strong grounded character Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted wide receiver Mike Wallace, from Mississippi with their second of three 3rd round picks of the 2009 NFL draft. The pick was the 84th overall and the 20th pick of the third round acquired on day one from the Broncos. Wallace is a 6'0", 199lb wide receiver. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 4.33 seconds Bench Press : 14.0 reps Vertical Jump : 40.0 inches Broad Jump : 129.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 6.9 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.27 seconds Wallace is not a polished route-runner, but can stretch defenses deep as an outside receiver. Has long arms and big hands. He is Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted tackle Kraig Urbik, from Wisconsin with their first of three 3rd round picks of the 2009 NFL draft.  The pick was the 78th overall and the 15th pick of the third round acquired on day one from the Broncos. Urbik is a 6'5", 328 lb offensive lineman. Combine Results: 40 Yard Dash : 5.3 seconds Bench Press : 29.0 reps Vertical Jump : 24.0 inches Broad Jump : 94.0 inches 3 Cone Drill : 7.87 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.89 seconds A prototypical Wisconsin offensive lineman. Urbik can play all three interior line positions and has a good initial first punch. He excels Read more [...]

Kevin Colbert: Thank you guys for sticking around. The action in the second round got fast and furious. Quite honestly, we were entertaining trying to go up. Really, we didn’t want to vacate the premises. We are extremely excited and happy to get a young man like Evander “Ziggy” Hood. I think that is the last time that you will hear him referred to as Evander. He goes by Ziggy; I think that is the name of his grandmother. He is a special guy – he really is. That was evident the first time that we met this kid. We liked him from a football standpoint when we saw him play in the fall. It Read more [...]

The Steelers traded out of round two during the 2009 NFL draft, the Steelers traded the 64th pick overall to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos used the pick to draft North Carolina tight end Richard Quinn. The Steelers received the Broncos two 3rd round picks, which is the 15th and 20th pick of round 3 and the 79th and 84th overall in the draft. The Steelers also gave the Broncos their 4th round pick, the number 132nd overall.

The Steelers and Hines Ward have come to a contract agreement that his agent said today will be either for four or five years. The new contract reduces his salary this season and provides Ward with a signing bonus that will be pro-rated over the five years of the contract, saving the team the much-needed room under the cap.
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In a surprising pre draft free agent move, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Colts free agent cornerback Keiwan Ratliff to a one-year contract on Friday. Ratliff reportedly visited the Steelers this past week and was interested in signing, but the Steelers were strapped salary cap wise. The signing of Ratliff takes some pressure off the Steelers to draft a cornerback in the first couple of rounds of this weekends NFL draft. Ratliff was a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2004 and started eight games in his first two seasons.