With just 10 days left until players report to Latrobe, the Steelers still do not have their top two draft picks under contract as of yet as Maurkice Pouncey and Jason Worilds remain unsigned. Should that be of a concern? Absolutely not as Vladimir Ducasse of the Jets remains the only player signed of any of the draft picks selected in the first two rounds of the 2010 draft. The biggest factor right now with the 1st and 2nd rounders is the uncertainty with the NFL and the CBA. Players and agents are wanting big deals and owners are wanting not to over pay. When the dominoes start falling, they should fall quickly once agents and contract negotiators have a ceiling and a floor of a couple picks ahead and behind where their player was selected.
The Steelers currently have a pretty good string going with having first rounders signed and in camp on time. 2009 marked the fifth consecutive summer, the Steelers opened up training camp with their first-round draft choice under contract. Last year Ziggy Hood came to terms 6 days prior to reporting day, but it seems it will be cut much closer this year. Pouncey is currently under investigation by NCAA officials for a potential rules violation that allegedly occurred this past December in which a representative of an agent allegedly paid him $100,000 between the Gators' loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game and their season-ending Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati. While not affecting his NFL status, it could either speed up or slow down contract negotiations with the Steelers, whichever way you choose to look at it. Last years No. 18 selection in the 2009 draft, Robert Ayers, signed a five-year, $18.34 million contract with the Broncos that included $9.7 million in guaranteed monies. The contract for Pouncey will indeed be slightly more than that, but will likely include more options and escalators. Steelers chief contract negotiator, Omar Khan, has a way of doing business and I expect this year to be no different. Talks between Khan and Pouncey's agent Joel Segal really haven't even begun yet according to sources, but that should all change by this weekend.
The Worilds deal should come together fairly quick as well once talks get heated up with agent Scott Smith. The Steelers just need a starting point just ahead of Worilds to sign and a four year deal should come together quickly and will likely total out at around 3.75 million or so. If it takes a little longer with Worilds, it is not as big of deal as he is not competing for a starting spot like Pouncey is. With the injury to tackle Willie Colon and the need to perhaps shift Trai Essex to a tackle position, the Steelers have a gaping hole at right guard. A hole expected to be filled by Pouncey and any camp time lost is golden. Segal could very well use this to his advantage in negotiations with the Steelers, but I have a good feeling Pouncey is in on time. It might come down to the 11th hour with both, but the clock seems to tick in the Steelers favor where draft picks are concerned as of late. Let's hope it continues again just one more Summer.
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Jason La Canfora speculates that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could have a sit down type interview with Oprah Winfrey or Larry King to get all of the laundry aired out before training camp. I think the Winfrey or King angle is a bit over the top myself, but perhaps a Jim Gray or Jeremy Schaap taped interview would be more in line. Roethlisberger only took two of the many questions the media had on Thursday.
Ed Bouchette says that quarterback Dennis Dixon has not practiced with the first team much of any and it has become obvious that Byron Leftwich will open the season as the starting quarterback. The Steelers have three spring practices left on the schedule, but one day is a bowling outing and another is the Tomlin-era tradition of "hat day".
Kicker Jeff Reed disclosed on Thursday that like Roethlisberger, he too underwent an NFL-mandated psychological evaluation after police charged him with four misdemeanors last October. Reed did not reveal details of the process or his evaluation. Kicking wise, Reed says he is limiting his reps and will now take a week off and then get back into a routine and be ready for training camp.
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Former Steelers running back Merrill Hoge is helping players at all levels get ahead of curve on head injuries. Hoge has become quite educated on brain injuries and spoke this past week at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington at an all-day symposium on head injuries. Hoge continues to also work with USA Football to inform players at all levels about the severity of these types of injuries. Good to see Hoge get on with his "lifes work" as Chuck Noll use to call it.
Yesterday on NFL Total Access, Warren Sapp analyzed Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and his technique in this edition of Sapp Hunters. During the introduction of the segment, Jason La Canfora stated he believes a new deal gets done with Woodley to keep him in Pittsburgh after this season. Woodley is in his final year of his contract and facing the 30% rule as the biggest obstacle in getting a deal done before training camp. Rest assured the Steelers and Omar Khan will get this worked out.
Inside linebacker Larry Foote joined 93.7 the Fans Vinnie and Cook for an interview on Thursday and stated how happy he is to be back in Pittsburgh and also gave his reaction to Ben’s comments after practice on Thursday.
Teresa Varley has a story up on Steelers.com about rookie running back Jonathan Dwyer and his wait to be drafted on draft day. Fans can also submit Dwyer a question through the Ask The Steelers section.
The agent for kicker Jeff Reed met with Steelers executives Kevin Colbert and Omar Khan in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to negotiate a multiyear contract before July 15. Reed is currently the the franchise player and he must sign a new contract by July 15 or his one-year tender of $2.814 million will take effect.
Steelers all-time great center Dermontti Dawson is a coaching intern with the Bengals for the next three months. He started during the recent Bengals rookie minicamp and will be with the team through training camp. Dawson has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame the last two years.
Ed Bouchette takes a brief look at the history of #80 and a few Steelers bad fortunes that have worn that number. The latest being receiver Limas Sweed who tore his Achilles in mini-camp. Mark Stock is a blast from the past. I remember that drop clear as day.
Deadspin has a letter from Art Rooney II to a fan regarding the Ben Roethlisberger situation. While it is likely a form letter sent out to all fans that wrote in, I personally feel it could of been worded better.
Tonight is game 6 of the Penguins - Canadians series. You can watch the game live on Versus. The Pens can end the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight. Lets Go Pens!
Steelers GM and Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert sat down with Bob Labriola from Steelers.com for part one of a candid interview.
It looks as if the Steelers will be able to keep executive and salary cap guru, Omar Khan, as Green Bay Packers director of football operations John Schneider has been chosen as the new general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, league and team sources said.
Even though the Steelers will keep Khan, defensive back coach Ray Horton could be the next defensive coordinator of the University of Houston after interviewing with the school last Friday.
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Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, gives several reason why the Steelers need to re-sign kicker Jeff Reed. Reed can become an unrestricted free agent March 1 and the Steelers can use either a franchise or transition tag on him or get him signed to a new contract.
The Toledo Blade has a great story on Carlee Roethlisberger, the younger sister of Big Ben. Carlee has been a key contributor for the 13th-ranked Lady Oklahoma Sooners.
Steelers free agent Ryan Clark talks about the factors that led to the Steelers missing the playoffs on the Scott Van Pelt radio show on ESPN. Clark also was on First Take with Skip Bayless as well and they debated if the Vikings ran up score on Cowboys.
Omar Khan, one of the Steelers top executives, will interview for the general manager's job with the Seattle Seahawks tomorrow. Khan spent the past nine seasons as the Steelers chief negotiator and is their lead salary cap monitor.
Mike Tomlin interviewed Bobby April yesterday for the open special teams job on the Steelers roster. April had the same job with the Steelers in 1994 and 1995. He is a top canidate to replace Bob Ligashesky.
Panthers quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer has been offered the offensive coordinator job at the University of Virginia. If he does not accept that job, he could become the Steelers next quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in waiting. Scherer is a close friend of Mike Tomlin and is the cousin of Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert.
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Former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 for the second consecutive year. Let us hope the voters wise up and get him in this year.
Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on January 3, the NFL announced this past Wednesday. Wallace had two receptions for 64 yards, including one 54-yard touchdown, in the Steelers' 30-24 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert could be named Browns GM as early as today, a league source said Sunday. It is not yet known if Heckert or new president Mike Holmgren would have final say in Cleveland.
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.
