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Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Latest On Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill

January 4th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Dolphins coach Adam Gase says Ryan Tannehill won’t practice today (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com). If he gets one day of practice, that will be enough for Miami to play him on Sunday. However, Gase admits the Dolphins “may run out of time this week” (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). Ryan Tannehill (vertical)

[RELATED: Dolphins To Release DL Mario Williams]

Miami’s original plan was to bring Tannehill back for Week 17 against the Patriots, but they decided to play it safe since they already had a 92% chance of making the postseason. With the ultra-tough Steelers on the docket, however, the Fins are eager to get their No. 1 QB back.

Tannehill was able to shed the cast on his injured leg some time ago, so he is at least moving in the right direction. Initially feared to be an ACL tear, Tannehill is dealing with an ACL/MCL sprain. That’s no walk in the park, but not as grim as it could be.

In his 13 games this season, Tannehill has completed a career-high 67.1% of his passes with 19 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. If Tannehill is unable to go, quarterback Matt Moore will start in his place.

2017 NFL Draft Order

January 2nd, 2017 at 8:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns almost blew it yesterday. In the regular season finale, the Browns took the Steelers to overtime before ultimately losing 27-24. Had they won, the Browns would have been picking at No. 2 instead of the top position. Meanwhile, the Jaguars nearly slipped to No. 5, but they held their ground in the draft order when they lost 24-20 to the Colts. Phew.

The playoffs will help determine the bottom 12 picks, but the draft order has now been set for most of the NFL. Here is the list, with ties being broken by strength of schedule:

1. Browns (1-15)

2. 49ers (2-14)

3. Bears (3-13)

4. Jaguars (3-13)

5. Titans (via the 4-12 Rams)

6. Jets (5-11)

7. Chargers (5-11)

8. Panthers (6-10)

9. Bengals (6-9-1)

10. Bills (7-9)

11. Saints (7-9)

12. Browns (via the 7-9 Eagles)

13. Cardinals (7-8-1)

T-14. Eagles (via the 8-8 Minnesota Vikings)

T-14. Colts (8-8) (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)

16. Ravens (8-8)

17. Redskins (8-7-1)

18. Titans (9-7)

19. Buccaneers (9-7)

20. Broncos (9-7)

Le’Veon Bell Wants To Stay With Steelers

December 28th, 2016 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Le’Veon Bell addressed his impending free agency today, deviating a bit from his previous remarks. Or at least providing some clarity. The top-tier running back expressed a desire to remain in Pittsburgh after his rookie contract expires.

“I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Bell said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “We’re going to try to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

This comes more than a week after Bell said he has not been paying attention to his contract but focusing on the Steelers’ playoff push. The Steelers are expected to apply the franchise tag to their top UFA, provided they cannot work out a deal before free agency. It might be a complex negotiation given Bell’s history, his ability when healthy, and the contract he’ll likely be seeking.

Having successfully returned from the torn MCL that spoiled his 2015 season, Bell has two substance-abuse suspensions on his record and but also two standout campaigns. This one has been his finest on a per-game basis. The superstar back averaged a career-best 157.0 yards from scrimmage in 12 games this season and will finish with 1,884 and nine touchdowns. He totaled 2,215 and 11 TDs in 2014, but those numbers came in 16 games. The 24-year-old runner will not play in the Steelers’ finale against the Browns.

The franchise tag will cost the Steelers $12.37MM. The team is expected to possess approximately $36.9MM in cap space this offseason. Bell will undoubtedly be eyeing the eight-figure-per-year threshold — a standard only Adrian Peterson ($14MM-plus per year) surpasses on a deal the Vikings will almost certainly either renegotiate or free themselves from in 2017. LeSean McCoy‘s $8MM-AAV deal leads all other ball-carriers, but Bell’s numbers have eclipsed Shady’s on a per-year basis during the former’s four years in the NFL.

Steelers Make Several Pre-Week 16 Moves

December 24th, 2016 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The Steelers made several moves in advance of their Week 16 clash with the Ravens, signing defensive lineman Johnny Maxey and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, Pittsburgh cut running back Daryl Richardson and moved cornerback Shamarko Thomas to IR.

Terry Bradshaw Not Impressed By Mike Tomlin

December 24th, 2016 at 11:16am CST by Ben Levine

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has compiled a 101-57 record during his 10 years in Pittsburgh, and he’s also led his squad to a pair of Super Bowl appearances, winning one. Despite the apparent success, Terry Bradshaw isn’t impressed.

The Hall of Fame Steelers quarterback said on FOX Sports 1 that Tomlin isn’t among the best active coaches in the NFL.

[SOURCE LINK]

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16

December 20th, 2016 at 5:26pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Ladarius Green In Concussion Protocol

December 20th, 2016 at 11:23am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers tight end Ladarius Green is in the league’s concussion protocol, the team announced. He has not been formally ruled out for Week 16, but this isn’t a good sign for Green considering his history with head injuries. Ladarius Green (vertical)

[RELATED: Steelers Expected To Franchise Le’Veon Bell]

Green suffered two apparent concussions in two weeks in 2015, but he later claimed that his headaches around that time stemmed from sinus issues. He also had a concussion in 2014. There were reports this year that he was considering retirement because of the concussions, but he denied those claims.

Green, 26, has appeared in only six games for the Steelers after inking a four-year, $20MM deal in free agency. He has tremendous potential, but one has to wonder what this latest concussion means for him in the long term.

On the season, Green has caught 18 of 34 targets for 304 yards and one touchdown.

Le'Veon Bell "Not Worried" About Contract

December 16th, 2016 at 4:43pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

While it appears the Steelers will retain impending free agent running back Le’Veon Bell beyond this season, whether via the franchise tag or a long-term deal, the 24-year-old said Friday that his contract isn’t a concern at the moment. “I haven’t even been paying attention to that. I’m just playing football,” Bell stated regarding his future (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). Led by Bell’s 298 total yards (262 rushing, 36 receiving) and three touchdowns, the Steelers knocked off Buffalo, 27-20, last Sunday to improve to an AFC North-leading 8-5.

Steelers Expected To Franchise Le’Veon Bell

December 16th, 2016 at 10:34am CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but sources “around the league” expect the Steelers to use the $12.377MM franchise tag on running back Le’Veon Bell, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. From there, the Steelers will try and hammer out a long-term extension with him. Le'Veon Bell (vertical)

[RELATED: Adam Schefter On Bills GM Doug Whaley’s Job Security]

Despite Bell’s off-the-field missteps, he is one of the very best running backs in the NFL and the Steelers do not want to let him get away. Despite playing in only ten games so far this year, Bell is fourth in total rushing yards with 1,053 and that’s not factoring in the damage he has done as a receiver. He has averaged 105.3 yards per game this year, making him a close second behind Ezekiel Elliott. No other running back is averaging more than 88 yards per contest this year.

Schefter says a long-term deal is “likely” and that pact should put him among the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Currently, Adrian Peterson has the most lucrative deal of any RB with a six-year, $85.28MM deal signed in 2011. Bell may not top Peterson’s $14MM/year average, but I would wager that he’d net five figures per year on a multi-year contract. LeSean McCoy of the Bills is currently second in AAV with $8MM+/year and Bell should easily surpass that.

Steelers Audition Davis Tull

December 13th, 2016 at 8:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson
  • Before signing Shaquille Riddick to their practice squad earlier today, the Steelers also worked out fellow linebacker Davis Tull, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Tull was waived from Atlanta’s practice squad in early November.
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