I have been asked quite a bit why the Steelers have not re-signed Flozell Adams back after right tackle Willie Colon was lost for the season this past Sunday and the simple answer is there just is not enough cap room to meet his likely salary demands. I finally cleared up my 2011 salary cap numbers following the final cutdowns and prior to the new contract signed by Troy Polamalu, the Steelers were roughly $2.23 million under the cap. The new official contract numbers have yet to surface, but it figures it would only slightly increase or decrease his original 2011 cap hit of $8.595 million. The Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 8 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I get a full preview in of the Steelers second preseason game against the Eagles tonight at Heinz Field. We get things started by going over the players that will not play tonight and how thin the Steelers are particularly at the cornerback position. We move on to recap the news of the Limas Sweed release. David was a little surprised it happened so soon, while I on the other hand was not shocked. We hit on the Steelers recent attempt of claiming Thaddeus Gibson off waivers this week as well. As we move along I cover the things 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 [...]

The Steelers broke camp this morning with a couple of roster moves as wide receiver Limas Sweed was waived injured and tight end Eugene Bright was waived off of the PUP list. To take their spots on the roster, the Steelers signed defensive backs Kevin Dockery and Macho Harris. Sweed has had a litany of problems since being drafted by the Steelers in the second-round of the 2008 NFL draft and he could not stay healthy again this year in camp. Bright had been on the active PUP list since the start of camp as he was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Dockery is a cornerback that broke Read more [...]

Tuesday marked the final practice at Latrobe as the Steelers will break camp on Wednesday in preparation for their second preseason game against the Eagles on Thursday. Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor underwent successful surgery today to repair his broken left thumb suffered last Friday against the Redskins and he anticipates returning before the Steelers play the Ravens in week 1. Mike Tomlin held his weekly news conference today and ruled out Taylor, Emmanuel Sanders, Chris Kemoeatu, Bryant McFadden, Cortez Allen, Mario Harvey and Crezdon Butler for the Thursday game. Eugene Bright remains Read more [...]

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held his pregame press conference this morning in preparation to play the Eagles Thursday night. Here is your presser audio and recap and main talking points from this morning. [audio:http://www.steelersdepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mike-tomlin-tuesday-press-conference-eagles.mp3] Tomlin ruled out Emmanuel Sanders, Cortez Allen, Crezdon Butler, Bryant McFadden, Chris Kemoeatu, Ike Taylor and Mario Harvey this week against the Eagles. He said Troy Polamalu and James Harrison will play this week. Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel and LaMarr Woodley are scheduled Read more [...]

David Todd and I recorded a new episode of The Terrible Podcast this morning and discussed the play against the Redskins last Friday and talk about a few roster battles that are left to be settled. Hines Ward says he is focused on just one thing right now and that is playing Baltimore in week 1. He says he even watched their first preseason game against the Eagles and focused on their new cornerback Jimmy Smith as well. Doug Legursky, Ramon Foster and Keenan Lewis all addresses the media after Monday morning's walk through and the interviews are all up on Steelers.com. Legursky and Foster Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 7 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I continue taking a hard look at how the Steelers roster is going to shake out and this time we finally have some game tape to analyze. In Part 1 we open by looking at the injury news and the signing Jericho Cothchery. As you might expect based on our recent discussions, we don't really agree on how necessary of a signing this was. You can let us know whose side you come down on. After discussing the injuries of Baron Batch, Ike Taylor and some of the young guys, we get into the good stuff. Roster battles. In today's episode Read more [...]

The Steelers got back to business on Sunday after their 16-7 loss Friday night to the Redskins as they held a morning and afternoon practice on Sunday. Here some notes leading up to practice today. I have both the offensive and defensive participation charts up from Friday night as well as the offensive line and blocking report from the game. I also totaled up the coverages from the game as well. Former Steelers special teams ace Anthony Madison has signed with the Lions. Chris Kemoeatu was activated from the active PUP today and that leaves only tight end Eugene Bright on the list. The Read more [...]

Adam Shefter is reporting via Twitter that the Steelers will sign free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery today to a a one-year contract. Cotchery was released by the Jets following the lockout and made a visit to Latrobe this past weekend. Cotchery left without a contract and visited with the Ravens just days ago. It was reported that the Ravens did not have serious interest in signing him however. Cotchery passed his physical during his visit with the Steelers after he reportedly had a microdiscetomy about five months ago. During that surgery Cotchery had part of a herniated disc in his Read more [...]

Day fourteen was the type of day at Steelers training camp that we all hate to hear about as rookie sensation 7th round draft pick Baron Batch has likely torn the ACL in his left knee late in practice today. Batch reportedly got his foot caught in a seam after finishing a run. The injury has not been confirmed yet by the Steelers, but judging by the reaction of Batch and several of his teammates, it will be shocking if it is anything but that. The Steelers were practicing on the field turf today likely because all of the recent rain in Latrobe. We wish Batch the best as he is a breath of fresh 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 [...]

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 [...]

Just heard from Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster and he let me know he suffered a very mild concussion today in practice and he should be able to return early next week. Foster was one of three players injured today as left tackle Jonathan Scott and wide receiver Limas Sweed were also dinged up. Scott suffered an ankle injury, while Sweed suffered a sprained shoulder. Neither injury is believed to be serious. With Foster and Scott sidelined most of practice, Chris Scott and Tony Hills received more snaps in their place. The offensive line was also without center Maurkice Pouncey, who Read more [...]