While the 2012 compensatory draft picks will not be announced until the league meetings in March, it is pretty easy to guess that the Steelers at worst will receive two 7th round compensatory draft picks for the loss of unrestricted free agents, tight end Matt Spaeth and defensive tackle Nick Eason, last offseason. Compensatory picks are awarded based on a formula that takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors of each lost free agent and the there must be a net loss of unrestricted free agents by the team to receive compensatory picks. The formula was developed by the NFL Read more [...]

I have gone back through the game to do my initial breakdown and start some charting. Here are my expanded observations not mentioned in the game recap of the Steelers week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. What can you say about Mike Wallace that has not already been said and seen on tape? It amazes me how teams continue to give him free releases and fail to bracket over the top with a safety at times. The long touchdown Sunday was classic miscommunication it seemed and blown assignments mixed with Richard Marshall biting on play action. The Cardinals should have taken a timeout there as it Read more [...]

The Steelers players have voted left tackle Max Starks the team winner of the 2011 Ed Block Courage Award according to Starks himself on Twitter. The award honors one player from each of the NFL teams who, in the eyes of his teammates, best exemplifies and displays courage. The award is named in memory of Ed Block, a former trainer of the Baltimore Colts and it is administered by the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation. That foundation promotes the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies who provide for the care and treatment of abused children. Starks Read more [...]

A third Steelers unrestricted free agent has now found himself a new team as Steelers Digest reported on Twitter that linebacker Keyaron Fox has signed with the Redskins. Fox was the Steelers special teams captain in 2010 and spent three season with the Steelers after he was signed in 2008 as a free agent. Fox was originally drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft after playing his college football at Georgia Tech. Fox only saw less than 60 regular season snaps on defense for the Steelers in 2010 as his main job was to play special teams. Fox had numerous penalties in Read more [...]

The Steelers 2011 training camp has begun in Latrobe and here is a quick recap of what happened today in case you missed anything. The day started with the official announcement that both tackle Max Starks and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El were being released. The surprising Starks news broke last night and the not surprising news on Randle El came this morning. Art Rooney II joined the DVE morning show to discuss the release of Starks and also said he did not see either James Harrison or Hines Ward missing any playing time due to their recent incidents both were involved in. Rooney also Read more [...]

Another former Steelers player is headed to Pittsburgh West as defensive end Nick Eason has agreed to a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals according to John Clayton. Eason will be re-united with Ray Horton, the Steelers former defensive backs coach, who is now the Cardinals defensive coordinator. Eason signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent back in April of 2007 and played sparingly on defense during his 4 years in Pittsburgh. He started 11 regular season games during that span and was credited with 3 sacks and 63 combined tackles. Eason was an unrestricted free agent 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 [...]

If the selection of Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward by the Steelers in the 1st round of the 2011 NFL Draft surprised you, it shouldn't have. As I mentioned in my post way back in mid-March, I pointed out the Kevin Colbert drafting style in relation to best player available and warned those that were locked into the Steelers drafting a cornerback or tackle to be prepared. As the draft unfolded Thursday night you could see that indeed there was a run on quarterbacks along with several trades and a reach. In addition, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers fell right down the board because Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted defensive end Cameron Heyward, from Ohio State with the 31st pick in the 1st round of the 2011 NFL draft. More info coming shortly with a complete profile. Heyward is a classic 5 technique defensive end that played in the Ohio State 3-4 defense and his father was former NFL running back NFL running back Craig Ironhead Heyward. Heyward started 46 of his final 47 games for the Buckeyes, appearing in 52 games since getting the starting job during the sixth game of his true freshman season. He was utilized at all four positions on the defensive front for Ohio State and his 15 Read more [...]

Doing mock drafts is like arguing with your wife, you are sure to never win. As more and more scouting reports come in and you watch hours and hours of whatever footage you can find on a player, your mind starts playing tricks on you. I read and watch everything I can get my hands on leading up to the draft and after every mock draft I do I am never happy with. The scenarios are endless. I guess I am lucky in that sense though that a bad day for me is having a bad mock draft. It beats arguing with the wife as well. In all of my mock drafts I take into account the Steelers needs, draft history, Read more [...]

During the Steelers pre draft press conference today Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert said, "We're going to pick based on our team as it currently stands," Colbert said. "I don't know how it currently stands because there's different possibilities that exist. But when the lockout began this is our team as we know it, and we're going to draft accordingly." What Colbert was of course eluding to are the several free agents the Steelers have that are up in the air. Most notably are the ones who's free agent status depends on the outcome of a new CBA like tackle Willie Colon, Read more [...]

It's Monday again and time for me to update my mock draft after watching more tape this past week and fine tuning mostly some of the early round picks. In my last Steelers mock draft I had Sam Acho as the second round selection and admitted that it might be a stretch. After further thought, I just do not see the Steelers going that direction no matter what his value might be at that point in the draft as other needs simply out weigh it. It is no secret the that Steelers need cornerback, offensive line and defensive line help heading into this draft and I like the prospects of them addressing all Read more [...]

Now that things have died down a bit before the draft, I figured it was a good time to look at the potential roster spots on the 53 man roster that one could consider as being unsettled at this point late in March. Several of these spots will close up quickly as soon as we know how the true status of the players that are unrestricted that might be deemed restricted. Also undetermined at this time is the future of free agent Ike Taylor and veteran Flozell Adams as well. Will there be 21 actually roster spot up for grabs? Highly unlikely. In fact when the dust settles I suspect it will be easy to Read more [...]

Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert says the Steelers would like to have tackle Flozell Adams back for a 14th NFL season. Colbert commented on several other things as well when Bob Labriola caught up with him recently. John Harris list some potential candidates for the vacant secondary coach position and reasons behind each. The candidates are: Chuck Cecil, Lionel Washington, Donnie Henderson, Corwin Brown and Joe Woods. Looks like Sunny Harris might make back for his 3rd training camp for the Steelers if he makes it to Latrobe. The Steelers will likely have a couple spots to fill Read more [...]

Defensive End Nick Eason - Steelers 2011 Free Agent Free Agent Classification: UFA (unrestricted free agent) 2010 Salary Estimation: $755,000 Base - $755,000 Cap Charge Analysis: We continue our breakdown player by player at each Steelers free agents as we head deeper into the offseason and free agency. Next up for analysis is defensive end Nick Eason. Eason will be 31 this offseason and comes of a season that saw him start 5 games when defensive ends Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith were down with injuries. When not start starting, Eason was used to spell both Keisel and second year end Ziggy Read more [...]