Mike Tomlin reported on Sirius NFL radio that running back Willie Parker will be out versus the Baltimore Ravens with a sprained left knee. Rashard Mendenhall will make his first NFL start on Monday night.

Also nose tackle Casey Hampton will miss the Ravens game with a groin strain.

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Steeler HC Mike Tomlin Eagles Post Game Press Conference

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 15-6 on Sunday afternoon. To say the Steelers offense was flat on Sunday against the Eagles would be an understatement. The Steelers defense managed to contain the Eagles high flying offense, but the offense couldn't hold up their end. Ben Roethlisberger was under preasure all day and the running game could not get on track. Roethlisberger was sacked 8 times and later in the game seemed to be gun shy from phantom pressure. The offensive line was like a sieve all day. Roethlisberger left late in the game after apparently injuring his throwing Read more [...]

Steelers inactives
QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB)
WR Limas Sweed
CB Deshea Townsend
LB Bruce Davis
T Tony Hills
T Trai Essex
DE Brett Keisel
LB Donovan Woods

Eagles inactives
QB A.J. Feeley (3rd)
LB Joe Mays
DE Bryan Smith
G William Andrews
G Mike McGlynn
WR Kevin Curtis
TE Matt Schobel
DE Victor Abiamiri

In a non surprising move the Steelers promoted LB Patrick Bailey from the practice squad and released RB Gary Russell from the active roster. With special teamer LB Donvovan Woods being ruled out again this week, the Steelers need another special teams body on the kickoff coverage and Bailey will be asked to help in that role along with the defense being a man down with the Brett Keisel injury. If Russell clears waivers, I suspect he will be re-signed to the practice squad.

No surprises on the Steelers Friday injury and practice report as DE Brett Keisel (Calf), LB Donovan Woods (Hamstring) and CB Deshea Townsend (Heel) are all listed as out as none of them were able to practice this week. LB James Farrior (Back), G Chris Kemoeatu (Ankle), DT Casey Hampton (Groin) and QB Ben Roethlisberger (Shoulder) all practiced fully on Friday and all are listed as probable on the injury report.

Steelers WR Hines Ward practiced fully on Thursday after resting on Wednesday. Also practicing fully on Thursday after sitting on Wednesday were DT Casey Hampton (Groin), LB James Farrior (Back) and G Chris Kemoeatu (Ankle). QB Ben Roethlisberger (Shoulder) was added to the injury report on Thursday but did practice fully.    CB Deshea Townsend (Heel) and LB Donovan Woods (Hamstring) both sat out of practice again on Thursday. DE Brett Keisel (Calf) as expected remains sidelined with a calf injury and has been ruled out this week.

There’s been a big ruckus the last few days over two things: 1) the NFL owners opted out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement early, and 2) rookie Matt Ryan is now guaranteed more money per season than Tom Brady. And finally – finally! — the Players’ Association is realizing how bad this is hurting their cause. Well, everyone except the guy running the show, one Gene Upshaw. (more…) Link to the story Read more [...]

Mike Florio of the Sporting News may raise the ire of a number of Steeler fans. Not because he says the Steelers will fail to make the playoffs — everyone is entitled to their opinions, and playoff fortunes ebb and flow as the years pass anyway — but because he claims the “Steelers of the free-agency era have developed a trend of exceeding low expectations and failing to meet high ones.” Yes, I railed recently about the fact that I’m disappointed each year when we fail to win the Super Bowl. But that comes from a long history of success, even in the free-agency Read more [...]

There is generally no love lost between Pete Prisco and the city of Pittsburgh.  Not after he ranked Ben Roethlisberger as the 17th-best QB in the league prior to the 2007 season and included just two Steelers in his list of the top 100 players in the league.  And he was one of the first to jump on the Cleveland bandwagon last year, too. So it floored me today to see him giving the Steelers some props in his mid-offseason power rankings, placing the Steelers seventh overall in the league, first in the AFC North and fifth among all AFC teams.  He points out the uncertainty about the O-line, a Read more [...]

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to have an affinity for his former players. This year’s hot choice was Anthony “Booger” McFarland, who eventually was not signed because of a failed physical (however, he is still under consideration if he can prove he’s healthy later this month at a private workout). Last year, it was the player who turned out to be the team’s biggest bust of the year, center Sean Mahan. (more…) Link to the story Read more [...]

There’s been a ton of talk about a Penguins and Steelers rivalry over the past week in the major Pittsburgh media. In some of that media, there’s been the suggestion that the Penguins have overtaken the Steelers as Pittsburgh’s favorite sons. I’m not here to talk about how utterly ridiculous that is. The fact that it’s even being discussed shows you the major disconnect between some writers and the fans that they write for. You can’t just listen to radio heads, and you all know who I’m talking about, and take it for fact. If I remember correctly, the Read more [...]

Here’s a look at some of the e-mail I’ve received about the Steelers since the 2008 NFL draft. One focuses on Ben Roethlisberger, and how this particular fan can’t believe that Steelers’ fans believe all the hype. Another focuses on why there isn’t as much hype on Willie Parker, and how the Steelers were idiots for drafting Rashard Mendenhall. A third focuses on the Steelers’ difficult schedule, and the last focuses on a piece that was written here a few days ago. I hope you enjoy them twice as much as I did. Read More from wail, MAIL! Link to the story Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed in the second round of last month’s 2008 NFL draft. The Sweed selection is believe to be based on Ben Roethlisberger’s request that the Steelers add a tall receiver that can be effective in the red zone, as well as go up and grab passes above opposing corners. Inevitably, the talk has turned towards the two current Steelers’ starting receivers, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. (more…) Link to the story Read more [...]

Link to the story

A special thanks to the 1,400 Steel Tradition readers that voted in our last poll, ‘Who is the Steelers’ biggest rival?’ I don’t think it was any surprise that the Ravens and Browns finished in the top two, although I did figure that the Browns would be in first. Of course, the “Real Browns” did, with the Ravens, scoring 31% of the vote. The ‘New Coke’ version of the Brownies showed up in second (go figure) with 28%. Once again, close only counts if you are dealing with hand grenades, or are a Browns’ fan. Today, we are going to focus on Read more [...]

In a strange move on Wednesday morning, Roger Goodell has allegedly allowed the Steelers to take care of Spygate in a very unique way. In an alleged press release from the NFL offices, Commissioner Goodell reportedly stated that the Steelers would be allowed to stone Belichick outside of the Steelers’ South Side facility. The Steelers would be allowed to use any or all of the quarterbacks that have played for the Steelers since Terry Bradshaw retired to take part in the stoning. The rules were simple. Each former quarterback would be allowed to throw one stone at a time until they missed. Read more [...]

On June 4th, Anthony “Booger” McFarland will hold a private workout for NFL scouts. You can count on the Pittsburgh Steelers being more than just a presence. The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to have two large needs coming into the 2008 NFL draft: the offensive and the defensive lines. The problem with drafting for the offensive line, is that the Steelers have a lot of money wrapped up in a lot of lineman. Marvel Smith, Trai Essex, Chris Kemoeatu, Justin Hartwig, Sean Mahan, Darnell Stapleton, Kendall Simmons, Matt Lentz, Willie Colon, Max Starks and Jason Capizzi are all signed to Read more [...]

Free Agency has come to a close.  The draft is behind us, and team practices have started up once again.  In this series — because Mike loves to write in series — we’ll take a look at players who, in spite of playing important roles in 2007, will be looking over their shoulders as competition for their spots in the lineup heats up. In two of the last three drafts, the Steelers have selected arguably the best wide receiver prospect: Santonio Holmes in 2006, and Limas Sweed just last month.  Coupled with Hines Ward, Holmes has become one of the top downfield threats in the league, leading Read more [...]

Free Agency has come to a close.  The draft is behind us, and team practices have started up once again.  In this series — because Mike loves to write in series — we’ll take a look at players who, in spite of playing important roles in 2007, will be looking over their shoulders as competition for their spots in the lineup heats up. When Najeh Davenport was signed prior to the 2006 season, the intention was to make him change-of-pace back — a guy who could fill the role vacated by the departure of Jerome Bettis, providing the “oompf” to Willie Parker’s Read more [...]