The Steelers have started to agree to terms with a few undrafted free agents and you can view the signings here. So far the list includes Anthony Gray, Weslye Saunders, Miguel Chavis, Terrence McCrae, Adam Mims and Colin Miller. As I caution in the post though, none of these should be considered official until the Steelers release the names later this week. The official NFL calendar has been released and team facilities will open today so players can report for physicals and voluntary strength and conditioning. Teams may negotiate with and sign their own draft picks and undrafted rookie free Read more [...]

Steelers team president Art Rooney II met the media a short time ago to discuss the lockout ending and how the Steelers will now move forward to get ready for the start of free agency as well as getting under the salary cap. Below are the main talking points of his press confrerence. Rooney was asked about the chore the Steelers have to now get under the salary cap and said that being prepared to get under the cap is something they have been through before, but this time the challenge is to do it in a short period of time. Rooney said the guys are hard at work right now figuring out how they Read more [...]

Scott Brown recently posted some comments that Art Rooney II made today in regards to the Steelers plan once the free agency period opens. Rooney told Brown, "We may have to restructure some contracts and hopefully extend some contracts, so there’s going to have to be some work done from a salary cap point of view.” Rooney also added, "Obviously we have a lot of players to sign and a lot of work to do but certainly Ike Taylor would be a priority.” This certainly is good news as this means an extension for linebacker LaMarr Woodley is on the way and possibly even one for safety Troy Polamalu Read more [...]

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league lead negotiator Jeff Pash met the media yesterday after the owners voted 31-0 to ratify the new labor agreement deal and were asked if players who made comments during the offseason would be dealt with by the NFL under the personal conduct policy. Goodell said he in regards to the enforcement of the personal conduct policy as a whole, he had not given that any thought to it and deferred to Pash who basically said it is his expectation that the personal conduct policy still remains in effect and added that it is a position they have taken consistently, Read more [...]

Maybe it was already planned and maybe it wasn't, but Steelers beat writer Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting via Twitter that the Steelers held an organization-wide meeting on training camp today at the practice facility. Brown notes this as a positive sign and perhaps Art Rooney II has let them know that a new labor deal could be within reach soon. One can only hope though and the Rooney speculation is on my part. Prior to the lockout, the Steelers were scheduled to open up training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe in late July and college officials told WTAE earlier Read more [...]

Steelers linebacker James Harrison of course was talked about quite a bit on Wednesday as Jamie Dukes says he is out to hurt and maim everyone while Joe Starkey says he should stop complaining and move on. Harrison created a new blog Wednesday night to further explain his thoughts on the rule changes last night and will be the talk of Pittsburgh sports radio today. Ed Bouchette has the reaction of Art Rooney II to the comments that Harrison made. Rooney says he probably would have preferred Harrison use a little different description to his disagreement than the initial one on Twitter and he Read more [...]

There seems to be several misunderstandings out there of the timeline of events that eventually led to the Steelers not re-signing guard Alan Faneca and letting him walk following the 2007 season. I wrote a few days ago that it was a good decision based on the money wanted by Faneca and the attitude he had. I have assembled a timeline of the offseason prior to the start of the 2007 season below so everyone has a firm grasp of how those events transpired. It should be noted and no surprise that the Steelers like to extend their potential free agents the offseason before they are to enter the Read more [...]

Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart was booked into jail of Alpharetta, Georgia on Wednesday after being charged with driving with a suspended license when stopped for speeding. Stewart was out on a $3,000 bond about four hours later. What is it about Georgia and Steelers quarterbacks? I wonder what sweater he wore for the mug shot. Ed Bouchette discussed the Pro Football Hall of Fame process yesterday morning on 93.7 the Fan as it relates to Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis and recently retired Alan Faneca. Bouchette explains how their may be voter bias against the Steelers now with Read more [...]

Let me start off by saying this post is mere speculation and not an attempt to take a jab at Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall and his Twitter comments regarding Osama bin Laden and the events of 911. This post moves past those remarks and deals with how Art Rooney II and the Steelers organization might deal with Mendenhall and his remarks regardless of how you or I feel about them. The Steelers organization hates to be viewed in a negative light and they try their best not to be cast in a negative spot light. In short, they want to be known as a class organization. While Mendenhall certainly Read more [...]

Steelers running back Rahard Mendenhall and his view points he posted on Twitter concerning Osama bin Laden has created quite the fire storm as I imagined it would. Art Rooney II released a short statement this morning in response to the Tweets. Steelers receiver Hines Ward continues to shine on Dancing with the Stars last night as he and partner Kym Johnson, scored their first 10 of the season for their tango Monday night, finishing with a score of 66 out of 80. John Harris states the obvious in his latest story on Steelers free agent cornerback Ike Taylor saying the Steelers have to re-sign Read more [...]

The Steelers 2011 first round draft pick, Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward, held his introductory press conference on Friday afternoon at the Steelers South Side facilities and took several questions from the media. Before being introduced by Art Rooney II, Heyward was presented his #1 Steelers jersey and had his picture taken with Rooney and head coach Mike Tomlin. Heyward is very well spoken and talked about how he was hoping to get drafted by the Steelers and talked about his family. Heyward says he has learned from the mistakes his father, the late Craig Ironhead Heyward, made and talked Read more [...]

The latest Hearing from Coach Tomlin segment is up on Steelers.com and Mike Tomlin talks about pre draft visits, the draft process and other draft topics. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians would pass even more if it were up to them. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Judge Susan Richard Nelson told the NFL and NFL players that she will impose forced mediation on them early this week. Scott Brown reports that Steelers president Art Rooney II remains "optimistic" the 2011 season will not be interrupted by the league's first work stoppage Read more [...]

ESPN North blogger James Walker has a look at the recent mock draft done by Todd McShay as it relates to the AFC North. Orlando Franklin round 1? Not too sure about that, but Franklin is climbing. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Eric Heyl takes running back Rashard Mendenhall to task on his latest comments about slavery. Steelers President Art Rooney II revealed today that they have agreed to a five-year contract extension with 102.5 WDVE as the club’s flagship station. The NFL says they will be more aggressive in suspending players next season for illegal hits, and they could also Read more [...]

There was football Friday night in Pittsburgh as the new Pittsburgh Power Arena Football team nearly came from behind in the final seconds to beat the Philadelphia Soul. The game was broadcast on the NFL Network and was fun to watch. If you were not aware, former Steelers receiver Lynn Swann is a part owner of the team. Now that the lockout has begun, Steelers President Art Rooney II talked about the NFL labor situation in a Q&A format on Steelers.com. Pro Days are going on nearly everyday now and Steelers legend and current scout Joe Greene was present at the TCU Pro Day on Friday perhaps Read more [...]

Steelers President Art Rooney II has issued a statement on the recent labor talk breakdowns and decertification Friday by the NFLPA. Below is the statement released today: I am very disappointed that we were not successful in reaching an agreement with the Players Association in the round of mediation that the Players Association walked away from on Friday. The NFL Owners put a very fair offer on the table that we felt provided the framework for completing an agreement. The NFL is willing to negotiate an agreement that is fair to the players, our teams and our fans. We do not believe the Read more [...]