The Steelers have never been big players in the free agent market and it should come as no surprise that when they have ventured to be somewhat active in free agency with Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert in control, the cornerback position is one they choose not to address. Willie Williams, Keiwan Ratliff and Chidi Iwuoma are the only cornerbacks you could remotely call free agent cornerback acquisitions under Colbert and it is a stretch to even say that. Williams was drafted by the Steelers in 1993 and played 4 seasons in Pittsburgh before heading off to Seattle for 7 years. The Read more [...]

George Whitfield Jr., the personal quarterback coach for Ben Roethlisberger, joined 93.7 The Fan to discuss what exactly took place while Ben was away from the team during his four-game suspension. As TMZ points out, Terry Bradshaw is finally saying something nice about Ben Roethlisberger as they caught up with him in D.C. on Tuesday and Bradshaw says you should start him on your fantasy football team after the bye. All reports have the first practice of Ben Roethlisberger on Tuesday being a good one with crisp passes and great velocity. Receivers Antwaan Randle El and Hines Ward chimed in Read more [...]

Steelers right guard Trai Essex insists Flozell Adams will be starting the season at right tackle and noted that he has not lined up at right tackle one time in camp. Ed Bouchette notes in the article that the Steelers thus far in two preseason games, have run 76 times in 120 plays or 63.3 percent of the time. Speaking of the offensive line, former Steelers lineman and current sidelines reporter Craig Wolfley joined 105.9 THE X to discuss the offensive line and the win over the Giants this past Saturday. Scott Brown checks in on wide receiver Tyler Grisham who is facing the numbers game at Read more [...]

The Steelers beat the New York Giants 24-17 in the 2nd preseason game of the 2010 season. Below are my notes and nuggets I kept on the game along with my observations. I have much more coming on this game and am working through the night. These are initial reactions of mine as I am about to watch the game a second time and begin working up tape selections. Below are the notes I compiled throughout the game. The team overall looked a little sluggish getting started. Camp finally breaking and traveling did not help. Let us hope Ike Taylor got that out of his system. Any how I gave Taylor the Read more [...]

The 2009 season was a disappointment overall for Steelers fans, but it did offer up some very enjoyable and memorable plays. Below I have ranked what I believe to be the top 15 most memorable plays of the 2009 season. The countdown will start at #15 and go backwards to #1. #15 The Big Legursky - Backup center Doug Legursky got to play fullback on a short touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall against the Chargers. Legursky makes a nice block on the play, but it was the last time we saw him in that role in 2009. [flv:http://video.nfl.com/films/s2009/nflcom/w04/091004_phl_wk4_bp_mendenhall_1yd_td_700k.mp4 Read more [...]

The Steelers 2009 season showed many holes that the Steelers need to address during the 2010 NFL draft. Below I will list I what I feel the draft needs are going into the draft. These are in no particular order and I will have my mock draft up pretty soon in the coming days. Nose Tackle - Regardless if the Steelers decide to franchise Casey Hampton or not, the Steelers need a young 3-4 nose tackle in waiting. There are rumblings a future shift to a 4-3 defense may be coming in future years, but I do not see this happening while Dick LeBeau is still in charge of the defense. If one is drafted, Read more [...]

It's that time of year again. Here is a closer look at the 2010 Steelers free agents list as we head into the offseason. I listed the probability of their return with a brief summary of the player. The 3 most high profile free agents are Casey Hampton, Jeff Reed and Willie Colon. I also noted if they are restricted or unrestricted free agents. LB Patrick Bailey RFA – Bailey is a special teamer that registered 13 tackles on returns in 2009. He was also part of one of the worst Steelers special teams units in quite a while. Bailey is a coin flip at best to return in 2010. He could be re-signed Read more [...]

The Steelers will have two franchise tags (teams will have use of one franchise tag and one franchise transition tags) to use should the 2010 season be an uncapped year. Right now the Steelers have 11 unrestricted free agents listed below. Their are really only 2 players that realistically could be considered for the franchise tag, those being Casey Hampton and Jeff Reed. By placing the franchise tag on a player, the Steelers must offer a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which Read more [...]

Coming off of a five game losing streak, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin decided to do something about it himself, with a little help from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as well. After kicker Jeff Reed kicked a 43 yard field goal to put the Steelers up 30-28 with 3:58 left in the game, Tomlin did the unthinkable. Tomlin approved an onsides kick in attempt to keep the pourous defense off of the field, but Ike Taylor was flagged for an illegal touching of the ball when it did not travel 10 yards before being recovered. The Packers took over at the Steelers 39 yard line and Packers quarterback Aaron Read more [...]

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger plans to test that banged up knee next week at the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge at Bethpage Black. The announcement is official as NBC opted not to renew the contract of former Steelers Pro Bowl running back Jerome Bettis. Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison fill the spots of Bettis and Chris Collinsworth. Dale Lolley reports that Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Tyrone Carter, LaMarr Woodley James Harrison and Darnell Stapleton were all absent from the Wednesday OTA session. Also Hines Ward is still not participating in any team drills as he recovers from Read more [...]

The son of Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been released from hospital this morning and is doing well according to reports. Steelers backup safety Ryan Mundy has been getting plenty of work with the first-team defense at mini camp with the absence of starters Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark. Mundy has been working at both strong and free safety positions. Several Steelers did not attend Tuesday’s OTA workout. Among them were nose tackle Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel and wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Also missing were backup cornerback Deshea Townsend and backup safety Tyrone Read more [...]

Eight Steeler players were absent from the first of fourteen organized team activities on Monday. OTA sessions are not mandatory, but are encouraged by the coaching staff. Of the eight players listed below, most are expected to attend the post draft mini camp on May 1st.

Absent OTA Players

WR Santonio Holmes
S Troy Polamalu
S Ryan Clark
S Tyrone Carter
LB Larry Foote
LB Lawrence Timmons
RB Willie Parker
DE Nick Eason

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held his post game press conference following the 31-0 win against the Cleveland Browns. Tomlin said the test on starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were negative and the injury is being termed a concussion and at this point not serious. Tomlin said it is way too early to say if Roethlisberger will be able to be ready for the first round playoff game in two weeks. Tomlin said backup Byron Leftwich is a very capable backup, should the Steelers need him. Tomlin said he was happy with the running game and said the offense did shoot themselves in the foot several Read more [...]

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held is weekly press conference on Tuesday in preparation for the week 17 game versus the Cleveland Browns. Tomlin started with a summary of Sunday's loss versus the Tennessee Titans, by saying that the team did not do enough good things to win. Tomlin stated the team did do a good job of rebounding from the first half miscues and even took the lead in the second half. The minus 4 in the turnover column was the key. Tomlin stated that this is a big week with a division opponent coming in and the goal is to dominate the division and sweep the division. Tomlin said, Read more [...]

The Steelers wrapped up the short week of practice preparations for the Indianapolis Colts on Friday and released the official team injury report. RB Najeh Davenport (hamstring), CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), TE Heath Miller (ankle), RB Willie Parker (shoulder), T Marvel Smith (back) and LB LaMarr Woodley (calf) all sat out practice on Friday. McFadden, Miller and Smith have all been listed as out, while Parker is officially listed as doubtful, he too will not play this week. Davenport and Woodley are officially listed as questionable. S Tyrone Carter (ankle), DT Casey Hampton (toe), S Troy Polamalu Read more [...]