heels, sox & steelers
Bradshaw said he used them only when prescribed, at a time when they were not illegal generally nor banned in the NFL.
The Patriots knowingly broke NFL rules, so the "everybody does it" defense works a lot less well in their case than it might when (again) there were no rules being broken.
Bradshaw doing steroids is no surprise: it was before the negative effects were well known and documented, they were not illegal in the US or for players in the NFL back then, and they were prescribed for him by team doctors. Completely different set of circumstances, regardless of if he only used them for recovery.
QOTD: Does Mahan getting all first team work at OTAs and Hartwig's signing create a make-or-break situation for Stapleton (who coaches seem high on but no one has seen play) or can we keep him for another year of development?
QOTD: It's so hard to gauge people like Stapleton. Does anyone, today, have any idea how good Okobi was? I mean, he did get to play some and showed some run blocking ability but to me,,he's still an enigma. We just have to trust the coaches and I am not really sure our O-line coach is worth trusting.
They missed on the Rutgers guy they drafted last year and maybe they grabbed the unsigned Stapleton to make up for it. I am convinced teams do stuff at times just to make it look better than it is, not because the guy is any world beater.
Long way of saying that I think Stapleton is mere camp fodder. Unless he isn't..hee hee
Bradshaw is now claiming that he was referring only to the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids (linked), which are still legal today-- i.e. cortisone shots. That claim seems to have some validity as he was originally referring to injections given by team doctors, but who knows what the whole truth is...
Here's the full link to that story (Haloscan appears to be truncating the hidden link).
https://www.nydailynews.com/
sport..._clarifies.html
According to Wex and Dale, Dallas Baker was the star of the recent round of OTAs. Also, Rothlisberger had complimented Baker earlier this spring for his hard work and vastly improved catching skills. Yes, Baker was cut last year but so what? James Harrison had been cut by the Steelers too.
Maybe to avoid looking as if he's playing favorites, Ben threw Reid a bone. Who knows.
Still, leave it to a bunch of crazy Steeler fans to get in a lather about the No. 5 receiver.
Najeh and Gary Russell have both shown more than either Willie Reid and Dallas Baker. If we're going to overload at one of those two positions, I'd prefer it be RB. Especially with Moore (and Najeh) showing more ability on kick returns than Willie Reid...
Looks like Najeh is on the block, Easy. This according to Adam Schefter.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id...eo&
confirm=true
Since I've never been a big Najeh guy, I don't mind seeing him go.
Now PFT says he's been "dumped" http://www.profootballtalk.com/2...dump-davenport/
Sorry..No pun was intended
Why cut Najeh now? Why not wait to make sure all their bodies are healthy in camp and pre-season? Did they not have the cap space to sign their rookies? Are they hoping to sign someone else? How many questions can I ask in one post?
Maybe the Steeler front office is being kind. Maybe cutting Davenport now gives him a better chance of latching on to another team. At least, that's the lame sort of story I tell myself when I have to let someone go.
Just read this on another site: Counting the UDFAs, the Steelers now have 85 players on their roster. The have to get that number down to 80 by the time camp opens, so five more have to go.
That is a better reason than being kind. If he really didn't have a chance to stick (and he costs much more than undrafted free agents competing for special teams and practice team slots), then letting him go now makes sense.
I didn't think Davenport had much stuff, and letting him go is fine by me.
I would not put it past the Steelers to have a boat load of WR going into the season. Saw it with Cowher, and it didn't work then, and I don't expect it to work now. It would not surprise me, though.
QOTD: They all seem like bums. Sll the guys on the o-line seem like they could start for other teams, but all those guys would also be the worst player on those teams' o-line. Either they coach them, and the team gets by, or, they don't and Ben runs for his life next year, and FWP gets two yards a carry. I wonder if those chaps on the o-line can pass block, or run block, because they did not impress me in either category last season.
Well, I will stop typing before my pessimism shows through.
With Parker, Mendenhall, and Moore, Davenport really isn't of much use to the Steelers.
I had heard a month ago or so on Sirius NFL Radio that Najeh would be traded or released...
Now if the rest of the league passed on the opportunity to trade for him, what does that tell you?
And don't forget about Carey Davis and Gary Russell....
SteelerBill,
It says that veteran running backs are a dime a dozen. Why would a team trade for Davenport when a bunch of running backs are already freely available?
A bunch of WRs will not work, cause it didn't work under Cowher? That must be true. Heck, I remember when they brought that Bobby Layne fella in -- that didn't make 'em winners. As far as I'm concerned, the Steelers should just dump the quarterbacks off the team and run Jock Sutherland's single wing.
In other news, accompanying Davenport off the roster are Lorello at S, Legursky at C, and Retofsky at LS.
This is awesome, and explains what an OTAs report at Scout.com meant several weeks back when it said that practice ended with a 14-year-old scoring a touchdown.
It's Roethlisberger and the Steelers in a note-perfect performance for a Make-a-Wish Foundation wish fulfillment.
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadb...ht&
lid=tab3pos1
George Carlin fans will appreciate this:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/
d...d=589837#589837
Also, this from a Tunch Ilkin interview at BehindtheSteelCurtain about the O-line next season:
"Chuck [Noll] used to talk about cumulative effect and that may well happen this year with the Steelers line. They brought in Justin Hartwig to start, Marvel is healthier and Max Starks look terrific. He is svelt, has been working his tail off and he really looks good. Last year he was taken by surprise by losing his job, but he maintained his poise and looked better and better as the season went on. This year he looks leaner and stronger. You can already see different pieces getting a little better, so the cumulative effect might be alot better."
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Marvel and Max starting at tackle with Colon rotating with Chris Kemo at left guard, but then again, I'm not a coach so that's just one man's thought."
All in all, for a website this proved to be a surprisingly solid interview complete with good questions and honest answers.
Read the whole deal here:
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/
I'm not dumbfounded that Najeh would be cut but the timing still perplexes me, especially as the FO went to Kevin Jones's workout afterward.
JJ Cooper reports Dan Kreider will be signed by St. Louis. Since the Steelers originally signed him as a free agent out of college I assume no compensation in the form of a 2009 draft pick would be received. Does anyone know if that is correct?
Randy
BehindtheSteelCurtain is fast becoming my 2nd favorite Steelers website.
Cols,
It's a nice site, but nothing beats the little community we have here.
Easy,
From SCI, Dale Lolley's take on your question.
"Ron Hughes, the scout that attended the Jones workout lives in Detroit and likely just went to cover his bases. I don't see a real interest there."
Was Najeh due any sort of roster bonus if he was with the team as of July 1 or at the start of camp? Those things usually kick in on March 1 or June 1, I think, but that could be in play.
I just think the bottom line is that they had to get down from 86 to 80 for training camp on 7/27. If they knew Najeh was not in their plans, they saw no reason to keep him rather than another guy who may be in their plans. They could have waited until 7/26 to do this for insurance purposes -- prior to camp, but not after it opens, as they need to trim to 80. That wouldn't have been very fair to a guy attempting to catch on with another team, however, so they let him go now and focus on the group they want to keep.
Matt
I think they were just trying to give him so time to latch onto another team.
We won't miss him. I think the Steelers have one of the deepest backfields in the league now.
I hate this part of the offseason. Nothing to talk about except to obsess over roster spots/trivial crap.
JJ Cooper reports Dan Kreider will be signed by St. Louis. Since the Steelers originally signed him as a free agent out of college I assume no compensation in the form of a 2009 draft pick would be received. Does anyone know if that is correct?
The comp pick formula is an arcane one involving salary and playing time (and Pro Bowl appearances... so vote for those ex-Steelers!). It has nothing to do with round selected, which only affects restricted free agents who receive qualifying tenders.
Did we get anything for Faneca? 'Cause he's the only ex-Steeler I can think of that could even sniff the Pro Bowl.
Hey, heathens: free readin'. Although, I coulda just used Cols' "I hate this part of the offseason. Nothing to talk about except to obsess over roster spots/trivial crap..." and saved you the trouble of reading 1,000 words.
On the upside, training camp is less than four weeks away.
Did we get anything for Faneca? 'Cause he's the only ex-Steeler I can think of that could even sniff the Pro Bowl.
Sepulverizer
The Faneca comp won't come until next year's draft, since some of the comp criteria (playing time, postseason honors) aren't determined until then.
Yo Ryan
That free readin' ain't so free
Cols, yeah, um, just kidding. It looked free this morning. Well, let me tell you, it was awesome.
Since there's nothing else to talk about: I believe the Steelers lost four UFA (Faneca, Haggans, St. Pierre and Kreifer) and signed two(Moore and Fox). Hartwig does not count in this calculation since he was cut by Carolina and is classified as a FA. Assuming the four UFA's make their respective rosters, what kind of compensatory picks will the Steelers receive in 2009
In the free analysis department, JJ Cooper writes that the Steelers are more effective out of the 2 TE set than the 1 TE and fullback set.
Which means Arians is doing something right.
Another reason why the Browns are awesome, from John Clayton at ESPN:
"I think Brady and Derek have taken big jumps from a year ago," Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "Compared statistically with their completion percentages from last year's OTAs, all three quarterbacks [Ken Dorsey included] are doing better. Both Brady and Derek are up in that high range of completions. They have a great grasp of the offense. They know what to expect. They know how they fit in."
On the success of 2 TE sets, could that have anything to do with the possibility that Willie Parker is (in my untutored opinion, at least) not the most instinctive runner when it comes to reading blocks? Meaning that he might benefit less from having an FB in front of him in the I than he does from open space, and also that he is better with his blockers both deeper downfield and farther out toward the edges.
Just one more thought -- it might also be that when the Steelers ran so much more than they threw, on balance (under Whisenhunt, and in Ben's earlier years esp., since JJ's numbers go back to 2005), seeing a FB in the backfield was essentially telling the opposing defense "this is a running play, and we don't care if you know that."
For the love. The Browns may be good, but I think all of the love being heaped upon Derrick Anderson and Brady Quinn is ridiculous. Let's see how Anderson does this year.
I think he's just another Scott Mitchell or hell even a another Tommy Maddox.
Randy, thanks for the info on the Detroit scout... That makes sense...
Cols, I was thinking the same thing about Anerson (i.e, Maddox II).
Sherm, we won't know about comp pick values until next year, after playing time and other variables have been established.
Hines Ward was named by NFL coaches as the smartest offensive player (QBs were excluded).
Make of this what you will. Eph the offseason.
Since I have so many friends who are Browns fans, I'll tell you what I hope happens this year.
The Browns are generating lots of good press and their fans are pretty hyped up. I would be too, if I was a fan of that terrible franchise.
So I hope that Derek Anderson looks crappy in the preseason, leading to fans to start looking at Brady Quinn. Then they lose to Dallas in the opener because Derek Anderson sucks. Then they get blown away in game 2 by the Steelers, in Cleveland, and their season is effectively over after 2 games.
I can only hope this happens.
BTW, I'm going to the game in Cleveland.
I fear Brady Quinn only because I already know that the Steelers can beat DA, but only suspect strongly that they can beat BQ.
I understand that feeling, but I don't really see how the Browns are better than the Steelers. The only area they are better in is the OL. That's it. Well I guess Josh Cribbs too.
But every other part of that team is not as good as the Steelers.
Grammar sucks.
I agree. I don't think they are better than the Steelers with either guy at QB.
It's just that this is the first year in a while that the Browns' fans are not absolutely delusional for thinking they can compete with us. I don't think Rogers and Williams are that great, but they do improve the D-Line up there, and their LBs and Safeties are okay too. Their passing game should be good. Etc.
So I don't fear the BQ as in I'm afraid that Cleveland is better than us. It's just that despite the flashes DA has shown against us we always seem to come out ahead, whereas there's no evidence yet of that for Quinn -- even though I suspect we'll get some evidence of that soon enough.
I listen to Sirius NFL Radio religiously...and almost to a man they agree that the Steelers are a better team....they question both DA and the Browns Defense. This, from true experts that don't say things in order to seek the spotlight...
>> Hines Ward was named by NFL coaches as the smartest offensive player (QBs were excluded).
Cols,
I think the Steelers should seriously consider making Hines a coach as his career winds down (and before someone else hires him).
Randy
I agree and I think they will do just that.
I'm guessing Hines will be angling for a teevee gig after football is over. Better pay, better hours.
Worst case: he and Mark Madden could star in a sitcom.
Any other Pens fans out there suddenly feeling a sharp pain in their backs? You know, like a knife with Marian Hossa's fingerprints all over it? He just signed a few hours ago with the Red Wings. If you can't beat 'em...
My official name change for this year is decided. I'm going with Huck Fossa.
Hey Huck a name change is fine but shouldn't you tell us who you were?
Sorry. Sepulverizer. That was my 07 season name, and it seems the magic had run it's course. 05-06 was vabstanggt... I decided after that season to change my name annually. Helps keep the karma thing working. Or something.
BTW, with all this hype about the Browns QB's, how much is Ben gonna have to do to actually get some credit for, I dunno, anything? I mean, the guy went 13-0 in his first season, won the SB the next year, got hit by a Chyrsler and actually survived the next year, and went through last year with a 104 rating while breaking TB's season TD record! Shameful that the Brownies QB's, who have done jack, get all this hype while Ben gets the "Product of the System" line. Whatever.
True Story I had to pass along:
I was in Indy this week on business - upon arriving at my hotel (Marriott)the Valet guy (kid really) noticed my Steeler License plate cover "Steeler fan huh?...I'll never forget that game a couple of years ago...and the one 10 years before that, we had you guy's"
I smiled....
Upon checking into my hotel I found out that the hotel was 'oversold' (as it turns out the Secret Service took over the hotel since Senator McCain was speaking)...
As I was leaving for the Hyatt the same Valet guy/kid stated:
"you know they would have found you a room if you weren't a Steeler fan.."
Hysterical....
I'm more afraid of the Burger King than I am of Brady Quinn.
Even if you woke up one morning and found Brady Quinn laying next to you with a breakfast sandwich?
I too was stunned by the Hossa betrayal. I think he may have surpassed Bonds as the most despised figure in Pittsburgh sports. Everyone would have been disappointed, yet understood, if he would have taken a huge contract elsewhere. But, to the Red Wings, citing the reason that they have the best chance to win the cup? Even if true, that is a direct insult to his former teammates, and somehwat of a copout on his part, in my opinion. It's like he wants to be carried to a cup, instead of fighting for one. Anyway, sorry to rant with Pens news, but I was just floored by this today. I can't even write coherently.
Oh yeah, Go Steelers!
Yeah, me too. I know that I should be talking about the Red Sox or something... HSSP, anyone?
It's hard for me to get too worked up about Hossa or any other pro athlete signing somewhere else. I remember, when I was younger, feeling betrayed when Yancy Thigpen signed with the Titans. However, than the Pittsbugh Curse kicked in and he was injured the rest of his career. Just like it kicked in with tons of other athletes that left the 'burgh.
Let karma take its course.
Hossa was a three-month hired gun. He served his purpose but you get what you pay for...
Am I the only one who didn't know vabstanggt = Sepulverizer = Huck Fossa? All this time I just figured vabstanggt had had enough of HSS.
I need to start writing this stuff down.
Not only did I not know vabstanggt = Sepulverizer, I still don't know what a vabstanggt is.
Wow, that double negative was pretty.
Everything is free over at SCI for the next 2 days. Happy fourth.
Now go read your favorite Ryan Wilson columns.
A bunch of WRs will not work, cause it didn't work under Cowher?
...
Matt | 06.29.08 - 11:59 am
I did state I was a pessimist.
Also, I doubt it will work.
Just checking in to see if the old stomping grounds is still standing. Is it Steelers season yet?
22 Days Adam...22 Days....
The silver lining of Hossa not signing is that it gives the Pens much more flexibility in coming years. Being able to sign some guys at a discount because they want to inflate their numbers (and have fun and have a legit shot at a cup) next to Crosby and the gang ain't so bad...
Drove through Latrobe this week, going to Idlewild with the kids... a few weeks early... A very good park for the kiddies if you come to camp with them...
Great article on what some of the Steelers have spent their off-season doing:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/...s/
s_576164.html
And in case you wanted more information about Tom Shaw:
http://www.coachtomshaw.com/
or the workouts they are doing:
http://www.nike.com/nikesparq/?
l...rt=football_men
Well my Indians traded away Sabathia today. He was the best pitcher for the Indians in my lifetime so far.
It makes me appreciate the NFL where if you want to keep a player, you basically do, regardless of market. Yeah, I know, sometimes players leave, but they aren't usually the best player on their team.
From SteelerBill's Trib link, here's part of Tom Shaw's comment on Ike Taylor: "we're trying to get him to catch the ball better. We're working on his hands."
FoxSports has posted it's 32 burning questions for the fall (20 days until camp by the way) - here is the one for the Steelers:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Q: Is Pittsburgh's schedule really as brutal as everyone says it is?
A: In a seven-week span starting in late October, Pittsburgh takes on the Super Bowl champion Giants, the NFC wild-card qualifying Redskins, the AFC South champion Colts, the AFC West champion Chargers, the rival Bengals, the AFC champion Patriots and the NFC East champion Cowboys. All in a row. So yeah, it won't exactly be an easy title defense in '08.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/sto...r-each-NFL-
team
Aaron Schatz of FO writes about Brett Favre's un-retirement and gives us this nugget of information, which is probably going to be elaborated in PFP 2008 soon:
'...and both Cleveland and Pittsburgh are likely to decline this season.'
Ryan, you are an author of this book, you could have warned us! 
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/0...el/
06hours.html
Wonder what you native Pittsburgh people think of this article.Havent' been to P since the late70`s but would love to plan a trip this year or next..
From PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY:
The way we hear it, massive Steelers OT Jason Capizzi showed improvement in offseason workouts. The 6-9, 315-pound Capizzi, cut by the Steelers last summer, spent time on the practice squads of the Jets, Buccaneers and Chiefs before re-signing with Pittsburgh in January.
More from PFW..this time the "Audibles" section:
“What’s going to be interesting this year is seeing what kind of effects a defensive headset is going to have on the game. All the offensive coaches have been stealing signals for the past 10 years, especially in the West Coast offense. Offenses gained a big advantage with the ‘no-chuck’ rule. I think you’ll see a shift of power back in favor of defenses this year. It will level the playing field.”
Oh baby..bring it on..I love to watch D`s search and destroy.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/
0...id=steelers.xml
Steelers training camp. baby! feel the heat..
Do I sound desparate?
And that was 4 posts in a row. Do I get the secret decoder ring now Ryan? huh?
What the eff?
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB...p_us_whats_news
I love the last paragraph, though:
However its fate is decided, the Steelers franchise is a rich prize. The team has won five Super Bowl titles and been among the most dominant in the league for 30 years. They play in a new riverfront stadium that routinely sells out its 65,000 seats. And their fan base is famously loyal, reaching far beyond western Pennsylvania.
From David's article...
The statement said that Dan Rooney and his son, Steelers President Art Rooney II, are arranging a financing plan to buy Dan's brothers' shares in the team in order to continue substantial ownership of the franchise by the Rooneys.
And more from the PPG:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...9/895371-
66.stm
I probably shouldn't be..but this story is making me nervous.
Anytime family has to agree on something? There be dragons.
Don't worry Rob - I'm sure Ryan can pony up the money to buy the team with all the cash he's raking in blogging.
Thats right Eric..and our share? I havent even received my secret decoder ring! darn it all to heck..
I knew him WHEN!!
From what I've read it's a bit of a non-story. The NFL doesn't allow for a team to have gambling interests and own a team - thus the Steelers are separating the racetracks from the race horses, if you will....
ESPN.com has a pretty matter of fact read on it from the AP:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/ne...tory?
id=3477065
Not only did I not know vabstanggt = Sepulverizer, I still don't know what a vabstanggt is.
Wow, that double negative was pretty.
Eric | 07.03.08 - 4:00 pm | #
vabstanggt - my screen name on aol since the dawn of the internets (Thank you, Algore)
vab = Virginia Beach
stang gt = Mustang GT
Now that everyone knows where I live and what I drive...
I e-mailed the author of yesterday's Wall Street Journal article, John Wilke, suggesting the facts in the story to not support the headlines. Here is his response:
"Thanks for the feedback. If you get a chance, please take a look at the tomorrow’s Journal for a more complete story."
He suggests a more complete story in today's Journal
The updated article is available online now:
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB...p_us_whats_news
Thank you Sherm..of course he doesn't admit that it was inaccurate...just a 'oh I'll get it right tomorrow'...
And from the PPG (which cites the WSJ):
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...0/895506-
66.stm
I much prefer the slow off-season
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