The 2011 season is almost here and the Steelers did a great job of turning the salary cap situation around since the lockout ended to get under the cap and lock up a few key players like Ike Taylor, Willie Colon, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons in the process. The problem with retaining such a veteran team for the past few years looks to possibly catch up with them in 2012 from a salary cap standpoint. I have just started working on the 2012 status of the Steelers salary cap wise and it looks pretty grim right now. After projecting the upcoming final cuts and accounting for the little dead Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 11 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I spend most of out time reviewing the Steelers 34-16 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons. This will be the formula we will use during the season and these are the podcasts we like doing the most--analyzing the play on the field. But first, we start with the news that Kevin Colbert has a new title. Call him whatever you like, Colbert has few peers in the business and this is more formality that anything. We also review the early cuts (no surprises) and the injury report. How will the Steelers deal with broken left arm Read more [...]

The Steelers have a general manager now for the first time in team history as Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert has a new title. The new title for Colbert showed up in the new Steelers 2011 media guide up on the Steelers website. The Steelers have not explained the title change for Colbert, who has been the team's director of football operations since 2000, but it is believed to be a promotion. Since taking the job, the Steelers have won their division six times and have made it to the AFC Championship Game five times. The Steelers have 3 Super Bowl appearances during that span Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 10 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I discuss what has been a very quiet camp for the Steelers thus far. Fortunately there has only been one significant injury (to 7th round pick RB Baron Batch) and very little of the off-field drama that we have seen in seasons past. With such a veteran roster there really is only one starting position up for grabs, right guard, and probably only 3-5 roster spots on the 53-man roster open to competition. While it certainly makes for less news and intrigue, I'm sure the Steelers would be prefer it be like this every year. Since Read more [...]

With the release today of Limas Sweed, the debate has popped up about who is or who isn't a bust or perhaps biggest bust for the Steelers over the years. I wanted to limit this poll to just the Kevin Colbert era dating back to the 2000 draft. I also feel that players drafted in the 3rd round or later should not really be considered in this poll so I have included the 4 names that are being tossed around in the debate on Twitter and Trib Live Radio this morning and those players are Sweed, Ricardo Colclough, Alonzo Jackson and Kendrell Bell. Please vote only once and feel free to comment below. Read more [...]

Per the usual, the Steelers were not very active in signing outside free agents this year. They normally concentrate on their own free agents and add an inexpensive player here or there for depth. Today they agreed to terms with former Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and it could end up being a steal if he is fully recovered from his offseason back surgery. Cotchery fits the mold of a player much like Hines Ward is, as he can line up both outside and inside and is very good at finding soft spots in the secondary and move the chains. Over the last 3 regular seasons Cotchery has caught 169 Read more [...]

The biggest and perhaps saddest news from training camp thus far happened yesterday as fan favorite and rookie sensation Baron Batch will be out for the year with a torn ACL in his left knee. Please pray for a speedy and thorough recovery for him. Kevin Colbert joined KDKA Radio to address the upcoming game against the Redskins and talked briefly about the ACL injury to Batch and what it means to his future. He also updates progress of Cameron Heyward and the plan for Washington. Scott Brown has a piece on Jason Worilds and how linebackers coach Keith Butler is trying to show the second year Read more [...]

The Steelers formula for success for many years has been simple. Draft well, re-sign quality free agents and add a low profile free agent or two during free agency for extra depth. That very formula has resulted in 3 Super Bowl appearances over the last 6 seasons with 2 of those appearances ending with the Steelers 5th and 6th championships. The Steelers usually like to bring their draft picks along slow, especially on the defensive side of the ball, because of the complexities of the Dick LeBeau defense. On the offensive side, it is a little bit easier for draft picks to contribute a little Read more [...]

Day 13 of Steelers training camp is in the books and here is your daily recap of the days news and practice report. It was reported last night that free agent tight end Reggie Kelly was visiting Latrobe today, but Kelly has left without a contact according to Gerry Dulac on Twitter. Dulac also reported this morning that Emmanuel Sanders could be back at practice as early as Monday. Sanders reportedly will have X-rays on Wednesday to see how the healing in his foot is coming along after getting the bone marrow and calcium injection done just after training camp got underway. The worst thing Read more [...]

Tim Benz of 105 The X had Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert on for an interview this morning to discuss several current Steelers topics. Mid way through the interview Benz asked Colbert about the recent interest in free agent wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Jerricho Cotchery and if the interest in those two players was because the organization had concerns with the foot injury of Emmanuel Sanders. Benz followed up with a question on the depth of the cornerback position and if there are enough numbers to get the job done at that position as well. Below is the transcript Read more [...]

Day 12 of Steelers training camp started with a transaction as it was announced that defensive end Ty Boyle had been released and defensive end Jarrett Crittenton was claimed off waivers from Seattle to take his spot on the roster. Boyle is the nephew of Penguins CEO and President David Morehouse and the Steelers might have done him a favor by inviting Boyle to camp. Another move was made on Monday as receiver Hines Ward was activated from the active PUP this morning so he could participate in his first full practice today. Ward was still recovering from offseason thumb ligament surgery when Read more [...]

Steelers Director of Football Operation Kevin Colbert joined Ken Laird and John Steigerwald for an afternoon interview on Trib Live Radio to discuss several things, including the possibility of the Steelers bringing back recently released veterans Max Starks, Flozell Adams and Antwaan Randle El. Colbert admitted that they were tough cuts to make, but again did not rule out the possibility of them being back after they get a good look at the young players on the training camp roster. Below is a brief portion of the question and answer concerning those players from the great interview. Laird: Read more [...]

Day 9 of Steelers training camp got off to a great start when it was announced that LaMarr Woodely had signed a 6-year, $61 million dollar extension. Woodley was currently carrying the franchise tag that was set to pay him $10 million plus in 2011. The extension now means he is under contract through the 2016 season and he know will count around $6.35 million against the Steelers 2011 salary cap. Woodley talked about his new contract this morning and you can read about it on Steelers.com. Now that Woodley is locked up, I posted my thoughts on who the Steelers may turn their attention to. Read more [...]

Thursday at Steelers camp was the day every football fan was waiting for and the Steelers even pushed back practice in hopes that the new labor agreement would be ratified. The CBA was finally ratified later this afternoon and now hopefully we will have 10 years of labor peace. It should be noted that the Steelers as a team voted against the ratification to make a statement. It was not a majority no vote according to Mark Kaboly, but it goes in books as a team no vote. David Todd and I recorded a new episode of The Terrible Podcast today and it includes our interview Wednesday with undrafted Read more [...]

Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert was on ESPN 970 this morning and host Stan Savarn asked Colbert point blank if the Steelers were in cap compliance right now and what would happen if the union would ratify today. It is just as I explained in my previous post that they have not submitted the restructures yet and have yet to make a few of the re-signings official. As I also mentioned, you will see a flurry of moves either today or Friday and they should not include a veteran being released in a cap cutting move. What you will see, is a handful of the undrafted players released Read more [...]