The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault allegations and says one more witness remains to be interviewed along with Big Ben. We should know in a few days or so whether or nor Ben will be charged with any crime.
The Steelers coaching staff and scouts are down in Florida for the well anticipated Pro Day of the Florida Gators. Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, Carlos Dunlap, Maurkice Pouncey, Brandon Spikes and Major Wright are the big names getting the pre draft attention today.
Kevin Colbert admits that the free agency fireworks are likely over for the Steelers now, but is not ruling out talks with their own unrestricted free agents, most notably, Charlie Batch and Willie Parker.
Our old friend Joey Porter will be visiting Redskins Park on Thursday, according to a league source to see if he fits the 3-4 needs of the Redskins. Remember that the Redskins new linebackers coach, Lou Spanos, was a longtime Pittsburgh assistant coach.
Kelly Davies, from Access Athletes, has an excellent interview with Steelers second year running back Frank Summers. The Tank hopes to be recovered from a herniated disc and is training hard getting ready for training camp.
Steelers.com has part 2 of the fantastic sit down interview with new Hall of Famer, Dick LeBeau. Make sure you watch all of these as Bob Labriola does a great job on these.
Carl Prine of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has some what of a time line going on the night Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault. What does all this mean? Absolutely nothing other than Ben likes sushi.
As we reported last night, free agent linebacker Larry Foote is in town today and likely will be signed back to the Black & Gold by the end of the day if things go as expected.
I am not too sure what the Browns are doing, but I like it. They have signed quarterback Jake Delhomme and sent a conditional 2011 draft choice to the Seahawks for quarterback Seneca Wallace. They also traded quarterback Brady Quinn to the Broncos for some donuts or some type of food. Keep up the great offseason work, Cleveland.
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Now that LaDainian Tomlinson has signed with the Jets on Sunday, you should finally see our free agent running back Willie Parker get some more looks. It will not be the money he thought he was going to get at the start of free agency and you have to think returning to Pittsburgh is now in the back of his head.
Free agent center Kevin Mawae was unanimously re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association during the union's board of player representatives meeting Saturday. Now if Mawae could only find a team. He would look great backing up Justin Hartwig, but we all know that will not happen.
Steelers.com own Bob Labriola sat down for an exclusive interview with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau recently to discuss his playing days as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions. Part 1 of 3 is below.
Steelers.com has a piece up on new Hall of Famer and Steelers defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau.
Thanks to our blog readers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers, Steelers Depot has made it to the Elite 8 round of the 2010 Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament. One more win would put us in the Final Four out of the MOE MANTHA DIVISION. We are humbled and thankful. Please keep this Cinderella run alive, vote here!
The Ratbirds have signed wide receiver Donte' Stallworth. The Ravens have five receivers on their roster who will become free agents in some capacity. I can't help but snicker at this signing.
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Pittsburgh's newest sports radio station, 93.7 The Fan is creating a bit of a buzz. Ron Cook and Joe Starkey are doing a great job thus far. Give it a listen.
John Harris thinks that free agent safety Ryan Clark will cash in elsewhere when free agency starts. If Jeff Reed and Casey Hampton are both tagged, he could be right. I just do not see the Steelers keeping Clark unless he is given the transition tag.
Jerry Micco's newest sports chat transcript is up on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jerry is all over the place in this one.
The sports writers got it right on the eve of the Super Bowl as Steelers defensive coordinator and former Detroit Lions cornerback Dick LeBeau was elected as a member of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. LeBeau joins Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and John Randle as 2010 class members. Former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson made the cut of 15 modern day to 10, but did not survive the final cut to 5. Both LeBeau and Little go in as senior nominees.
DICK LEBEAU
Cornerback … 6-1, 185 … Ohio State … 1959-1972 Detroit Lions … 14 playing seasons, 185 games … Selected by Cleveland Browns in 5th round (58th overall) in 1959 draft … Cut by Browns during rookie training camp … Signed with Lions, earned place in starting lineup final six games of rookie year … Didn’t miss another game until late in 1971 season … Started 171 consecutive games, an NFL record for his position … In 1960, began to make mark by intercepting four passes, starting string of 12 straight seasons with three or more interceptions … In 1963, intercepted five passes which he returned for career-high 158 yards, including 70-yard TD return against Rams … It was one of three interceptions he returned for touchdowns in career … The following year, intercepted five passes and was voted to first of three consecutive Pro Bowls … Also earned All-NFL second-team accolades, an honor earned again in 1965, 1966, 1970 … Finest season came in 1970 when he recorded NFC-leading nine interceptions for 96 yards … In all, recorded 62 picks for 762 yards … Ranked second among pure cornerbacks at retirement with 62 interceptions, third overall … Currently ranks third all-time among pure cornerbacks … Born on September 9, 1937 in London, Ohio.
In a shocking move the Steelers have agreed to terms with Sean Kugler to become the new offensive line coach. Kugler was part of a Buffalo Bills staff that has been allowed to interview for other jobs while they search for a new head coach. The Steelers fired offensive line coach Larry Zierlein after the season. Kugler was promoted to offensive line coach for Buffalo in January 2008 and coached left tackle Jason Peters to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Kugler previously served as the Bills assistant offensive line coach, working primarily with the tackles.
In other coaching news, The Steelers have lost another assistant from their coaching staff as Lou Spanos, a defensive assistant, has agreed to become the linebackers coach for the Washington Redskins under new head coach Mike Shanahan. Also the Steelers have given linebackers coach, Keith Butler, permission to interview with the Miami Dolphins for the vacant defensive coordinator position. Butler has been speculated as the successor to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau when he retires.
The Steelers 2009 season showed many holes that the Steelers need to address during the 2010 NFL draft. Below I will list I what I feel the draft needs are going into the draft. These are in no particular order and I will have my mock draft up pretty soon in the coming days.
Nose Tackle - Regardless if the Steelers decide to franchise Casey Hampton or not, the Steelers need a young 3-4 nose tackle in waiting. There are rumblings a future shift to a 4-3 defense may be coming in future years, but I do not see this happening while Dick LeBeau is still in charge of the defense. If one is drafted, you could see one that is a bit lighter and mobile that could transition into a 4-3 interior defensive tackle.
Inside Linebacker - James Farrior has definetly lost a step. A 3 down inside linebacker that has leadership qualities is needed badly. One that can play the pass as well as the run. A future captain for the defense could very well be drafted this year and play both inside and outside while delivering on special teams in his rookie year.
Cornerback - The Steelers drafred Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis in 2009. Burnett is still learning and Lewis barely saw the field. Neither showed qualities of being a shut down corner. William Gay and old man Deshea Townsend are both free agents and both are only fringe nickel corners at best if either are brought back.
Safety - Other than Troy Polamalu, the Steelers are weak at the both strong and free safety. Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter are both free agents and even if Clark is brought back, father time has caught up with him. You could see both a strong and free safety addressed in the draft. Hopefully both are hitters who can make an instant impact on special teams.
Offensive Line - You can never have enough good offensive linemen. The Steelers have 4 of the 5 starters under contract and Ramon Foster proved he can be a swing guy. A left tackle that can play both sides early on would be a welcome sight. A center needs to be groomed for the future as well.
Running Back - Rashard Mendenhall showed he can fit the role of a 3 down running back, but with Willie Parker likely gone and Mewelde Moore being a 3rd down back only, it leaves the Steelers with a bulky Frank Summers and practice squaders Isaac Redman and Justin Vincent as the only true backups to Mendenhall. If Summers is groomed as a pure fullback, then the Steelers are even thinner at the position.
Right Defensive End - Brett Keisel will be 32 in mid September and Nick Eason is a free agent. A young right defensive end is needed to get groomed fast. Rookie Ziggy Hood is better suited on the left side, but regardless, the defensive line needs younger bodies.
Tight End - Matt Spaeth is a free agent and not a blocking tight end. Heath Miller will be the man for a while, but the other tight ends on the roster are mostly H-Backs. A true duel threat tight end that can both block and catch should be addressed. If nothing else for depth in case Miller were to go down or need a breather.
Safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison were selected by fans to represent the Steelers in the Pro Bowl. There was a record 89.87 million votes cast on NFL.com and on wireless phones. Fans cast 84.87 million votes on NFL.com and five million votes on their wireless phones. The final selections are based on the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group's vote counts one-third towards determining the 43-man rosters that represent the AFC and NFC in the Pro Bowl. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on Dec. 22-23.
The Steelers Ravens game release is available for download and reading on Steelers.com. Lots of interesting info in their to read.
Joe Starkey recently had a great article on an in-depth look at the Steelers decade. This brings back a ton of good and bad memories.
In case you missed it, the Ravens signed cornerback Corey Ivy on Tuesday. The Steelers signed Ivy prior to the last meeting with Baltimore because of special teams needs, but released him when Anthony Madison was available again.
Today is the 37th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris. This play is forever etched in Steeler Nation history and we celebrate it every year. To bad Limas Sweed could not of had his own Immaculate Reception a few weeks ago versus the Raiders.
Nothing says Christmas like Dick LeBeau reading, "The Night Before Christmas"! Steelers players have been vocal how much they enjoy this every year and hopefully it fires them up to knock of the Ravens on Sunday.
Steelers running back coach, Kirby Wilson, told the B.C. Lions player personnel director Roy Shivers they can forget about getting running back, Stefan Logan back. "Kirby told me to forget about him," Shivers said at the Lions training camp Friday. "They like him and they've moved him to slotback. The idea is that they can get him the ball in space and everything. He's opening some eyes. The veterans have gravitated toward him because he's shown stuff in mini-camps. And they plan to use him as a kick returner, too. Kirby told me, 'You're probably not going to get him back.' "
Dale Lolley gives props to Steelers contract negotiator, Omar Khan, and his ability to get 8 of 9 contracts done before training camp starts.
Steelers.com has posted the fan Q & A of rookie Frank "The Tank" Summers. Summers says he considers himself a defensive player playing offense. Got to love his attitude. He fits in well as a Steeler.
Another week, another story on cornerback William Gay. Gay has been focusing on his conditioning and working out with teammates Ike Taylor, James Farrior and Santonio Holmes down in Florida.
Steeler great, Rod Woodson held an online chat on NFL.com and praised defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and linebacker Lawrence Timmons.
It seems the state of Oregon is the first state to adopt the Rooney Rule. The state requires that every public university interview a minority candidate for every open head coaching job.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a great story on soon to be Hall of Famer, Rod Woodson.
More than 400 people, including Bills head coach Dick Jauron and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, honored Steeler defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau Saturday night at London High School in Ohio. The event was part of a fundraising effort that is expected to produce a new building for the high school that has already been christened the LeBeau Field House.
Steelers cornerback, Ike Taylor, held his "Face Me Ike" youth camp on Friday at Arden Cahill Academy in Gretna, Louisiana. Taylor is a graduate of Louisiana-Lafayette.
In an online chat with ESPN, wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, said he looks to get around 65 or 70 catches this season.
The Upper Deck trading card company has a great video interview of rookie wide receiver, Mike Wallace.
Steelers.com has posted part three of the fan Q & A with rookie offensive lineman, A.Q. Shipley.
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The contract signed by offensive tackle Max Starks on Tuesday, will reportedly create about $2 million in salary-cap room for this year.
Speaking of the Steelers salary cap, I have updated my salary cap numbers to reflect the current cap situation. These numbers are not exact, but should be close. Currently I have the team at around 9 million under the cap.
Mike Bires thinks the Steelers will likely try to finalize a new deal soon with tight end Heath Miller, who’s in the last year of his contract. Hopefully this can be wrapped up by training camp.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is looking for a little rest, relaxation and golf before training camp starts, but did take time to fire back at former head coach Bill Cowher and his prediction that the Bengals would make the playoffs.
Defensive tackle Chris Hoke explains why he re-signed with Pittsburgh, rather than pursue a starting job elsewhere.
After two full seasons cornerback William Gay says he has a full grasp of the Steelers complex defense designed by defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
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