The Steelers brought back a familiar face on Saturday as the acquired former starting cornerback Bryant McFadden from the Arizona Cardinals for a fifth-round pick (No. 155). The Steelers also received a sixth-round pick (No. 195) in the deal. The Steelers didn't take a cornerback in the top half of the draft and now we know why. McFadden left Pittsburgh after signing a free-agent deal with the Cardinals following the 2008 Super Bowl season. Although it's early, there is a real good chance McFadden will go back to his role as the starting cornerback ahead of William Gay. Gay played well in the nickel and could be more comfortable in that spot. The 28-year-old Florida State product appeared in 51 games for the Steelers, starting 18, and notched seven interceptions with two sacks from 2005-08. He was part of Pittsburgh's last two Super Bowl championship teams.
Another familiar face is coming back to Pittsburgh as the Steelers traded one of their two 7th round draft picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for quarterback Byron Leftwich. The 7th round pick was18th pick of round 7 and the 255th pick of the draft. The trade now leaves the Steelers with 10 draft picks and another trade could indeed happen by or on Thursday. The trade now shores up the quarterback position a bit more with the looming suspension of Ben Roethlisberger. Leftwich will look to compete with Dennis Dixon for the number 2 role, while veteran Charlie Batch will likely be behind both Dixon and Leftwich on the depth chart. Story developing.
ESPN John Clayton reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers traded troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft, sources confirmed Sunday night.
ESPN 1050 in New York first reported the story Sunday night.
Holmes had recently been accused of throwing a glass at a woman in a lounge. No charges have been filed against him, and Holmes' lawyer, Adam Swickle, told The Associated Press a male witness has taken responsibility for tossing the glass.
Holmes was entering his fifth season with the Steelers and has 235 catches for 3,835 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Holmes was cited for marijuana possession, a misdemeanor, in Pennsylvania in 2008. The Steelers made Holmes inactive for the game following the incident and he subsequently apologized.
He was arrested on a domestic violence charge in 2006 in Ohio, but that charge was later dropped.
As a player, though, Holmes has the talent to be a No. 1 receiver. He was Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XLIII.
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The Steelers traded out of round two during the 2009 NFL draft, the Steelers traded the 64th pick overall to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos used the pick to draft North Carolina tight end Richard Quinn. The Steelers received the Broncos two 3rd round picks, which is the 15th and 20th pick of round 3 and the 79th and 84th overall in the draft. The Steelers also gave the Broncos their 4th round pick, the number 132nd overall.
