HEADLINES

Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

AFC Links: Keisel, Dolphins, Ravens, Atkins

August 23rd, 2014 at 5:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Brett Keisel is excited to return to the Steelers, and the defensive end isn’t concerned about his role for this upcoming season. Instead, he’s focused on helping the team, particularly the rookies.

“To be back and to be able to hope to help lead some of these guys and help these guys turn into pros and accountable pros, I’m excited about it,” Keisel told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

“I’ve felt since about March, when I decided I still wanted to play football, that something would happen. I hoped it would be here, and for a long time … nothing happened, nothing happened. It was kind of weird like, ‘What am I going to do now?'”

So, after having started in each of his 110 games since 2006, will the veteran welcome a reduced role?

“We really didn’t get into that too much. They just said, ‘We want you back.'”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC…

  • As Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno continues to get healthy, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald believes the player will climb up the depth chart. That could leave some of his teammates, including Daniel Thomas, on the outside looking in. However, the prospect of being cut is far from the 26-year-old’s mind. “I don’t really worry about it,” Thomas said. “I’ll just let whatever happens, happens and just go with it. It’s all I can do.”
  • Considering the injuries in the Ravens secondary, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says that the team “probably can’t afford to cut any corners” until the starters return to practice.
  • Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins is expected to make his preseason debut on Sunday. After recovering from an ACL injury, some could be worried that the Pro-Bowler has lost some explosiveness. That does not include head coach Marvin Lewis, who told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com that “Geno looks like Geno.”

North Notes: Manziel, Spence, Bears, Holmes

August 22nd, 2014 at 10:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at the latest from the NFL’s two North divisions as Ndamukong Suh continues his reign of terror…

  • Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Browns head coach Mike Pettine didn’t dismiss the possibility of using Johnny Manziel in specified packages in relief of starting quarterback Brian Hoyer. “That is on the table,” said Pettine. “I don’t know if that’s anything that we want to commit to just now, ’cause I think Brian, because of the competition, is a little behind, with the chemistry and continuity in working with that first group. I think that is something that we can potentially look at down the road.” (Link via Jason Butt of the National Football Post).
  • 2012 third-round Steelers linebacker Sean Spence, who had been working his way back from a career-threatening knee injury suffered two years ago, re-injured his PCL in Thursday’s preseason game, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Nothing official has been announced yet, but the 24-year-old’s NFL tenure might be over.
  • Among the teams that didn’t qualify for the 2013 playoffs, the Bears trailed only the Cardinals in total DVOA. Field Yates of ESPN Insider (subscription required) explains why that level of base talent, combined with a revamped defensive line and developing second- and third-level defenders, could make Chicago a force this season.
  • Despite only being signed less than a week ago, Santonio Holmes has impressed the Bears’ coaching staff, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
  • The Bears’ free safety competition is “wide open,” tweets Matt Bowen of Bleacher Report. Rookie Brock Vereen and free agent signee M.D. Jennings are the primary contenders.

Isaac Redman To Retire Due To Injury

August 22nd, 2014 at 9:51am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran running back Isaac Redman announced today via Twitter that a spinal cord injury has ended his NFL career. According to the former Steeler, a handful of teams have called to inquire about his status, but orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins has advised him not to continue playing football.

“Last season I tried my best through a neck injury but I just wasn’t myself on the field,” Redman explained in his statement. “After being released I went [to] Cali to see Dr. Watkins. After two MRIs and a cat scan, he then told me I had suffered a career-ending injury to my spinal cord. … I would like to thank all my fans for the tremendous support throughout my career.”

Redman, 29, spent five seasons with the Steelers, enjoying his best year with the team in 2011. During that season, the Bowie State product ran for 479 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. For his career, Redman accumulated 1,148 rushing yards, 408 receiving yards, and seven total TDs.

Extra Points: Manziel, Sam, Gilbert, Crabtree

August 21st, 2014 at 9:51pm CST by Zachary Links

There are story lines abound in the NFL, but which division is the league’s most compelling? NFL.com asked a roundtable of analysts that very question and there’s a wide range of answers. Charley Casserly likes the sardine-packed NFC West. Bucky Brooks likes the electrifying offenses of the NFC East. Dave Dameshek, meanwhile, picks the AFC North simply for Browns quarterbacks Johnny Manziel. More from around the league..

  • if Michael Sam can show some versatility over the next two games and an ability to hang on special teams, he can make the Rams‘ final cut on August 30th, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports. “Michael Sam has shown enough rushing the passer – and that’s what he is, he’s a DPR, he’s a designated pass rusher – that he can get off and beat a tackle on the upfield shoulder. He can spin and come underneath,” former Rams vice president of player personnel Tony Softli said. “He’s got to prove he can do it on special teams, and I think that’s going to be his (way) to make this team.”
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap takes a closer look at the contract extension the Steelers gave to Marcus Gilbert. Despite what others have said, the average annual value of the five new years ($6MM) isn’t too high in Fitzgerald’s estimation.
  • In a piece for the Sporting News, Fitzgerald looks at ways the 49ers and Michael Crabtree can come to terms on a deal in the next two weeks.
  • CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will not return for a third term when his contract expires next year, according to The Associated Press. Cohon, whose contract ends in April, wants to give the board of governors time to find a successor. The 48-year-old commissioner says this is the “right time” to leave.
  • The NFL needs to have a developmental league like the NBA, writes Andrew Brandt of The MMQB. In the next two weeks, many players will lose their jobs, and it would make sense for them to have a place to go. NFL Europe didn’t pan out as planned, but a league with teams in Florida, Texas or, Southern California would have players ready to hit the ground running nearby.

AFC Notes: Bills, Allen, Gase, Mays, Texans

August 21st, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been a rough few weeks for Jon Bon Jovi‘s Toronto-based group that is bidding on the Bills. The group had to resubmit its initial bid, which was unacceptably low, and only advanced to the final stage of the sale process after providing additional assurances that the team wouldn’t be moved out of Western New York. Now, according to John Kryk of the Toronto Sun, the Toronto group is debating whether or not to even continue its pursuit of the Bills.

“They’re hanging on by the skin of their teeth,” one source told Kryk. “The bid’s on life support.”

As Tim Graham of the Buffalo News writes, finalists have been invited to tour the Bills’ facilities at Ralph Wilson Stadium, but a source tells Kryk that Bon Jovi and company canceled their Wednesday visit to the stadium, and don’t have plans to reschedule. According to Kryk, the Toronto group will take the next week or so to assess and discuss what they do at this stage to mount “a formidable, effective bid.”

Let’s check out a few more links from out of the AFC….

  • After locking up kicker Shaun Suisham and tackle Marcus Gilbert to contract extensions, the Steelers continue to work on new deals for their players. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter), the team is now focusing on an extension for cornerback Cortez Allen, and is hoping to get something done before the preseason ends.
  • While Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase focused on the Broncos’ playoff run last season rather than actively pursuing a head coaching job elsewhere, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com thinks the demand for Gase will be too high after this season for him not to be running his own team in 2015.
  • Linebacker Joe Mays, who signed with the Chiefs this offseason, will undergo wrist surgery, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). The timetable for Mays’ recovery isn’t yet known.
  • Texans general manager Rick Smith spoke at length to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle on the team’s disappointing 2013 season, and the retooling process that followed. “We’re trying to get our organization to a place where we are successful every year,” Smith said. “We were moving along that path and we had the setback.”
  • Monotony may be boring, but it’s welcome when it comes to the Raiders‘ offensive line, writes Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. Oakland had an NFL-high eight different combinations up front, and no starter made it through all 16 games last season. Now, center Stefen Wisniewski has had guard Khalif Barnes and tackle Donald Penn to his left and guard Austin Howard and tackle Menelik Watson to his right all offseason long.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Le’Veon Bell, LeGarrette Blount Arrested

August 21st, 2014 at 3:25pm CST by Zachary Links

3:25pm: Charges have officially been filed against both Bell (possession of marijuana, DUI) and Blount (possession of marijuana) by the Ross Township Police Department, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. However, as Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets, the Steelers will allow the NFL to deal with any potential discipline for the two running backs, which isn’t likely to happen this season.

THURSDAY, 9:06am: As first reported last night by Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Blount was not charged with anything and was allowed to leave the scene and travel with the team. Andrea Hangst of Bleacher Report tweets that neither player is likely to face discipline from the league this season, since it usually takes time for the case to be resolved and the NFL to determine the severity of a potential suspension.

WEDNESDAY, 6:47pm: Steelers running backs Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were arrested earlier today for marijuana possession, according to Colin Dunlap of CBS Pittsburgh (on Twitter). Things are a little more serious for Bell, who was also charged with driving under the influence.

According to Will Graves of The Associated Press (on Twitter), a traffic officer detected smoke coming from the car and police found about 20 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. According to NORML.org, a pro-legalization website, a possession charge for carrying 30 grams or less of marijuana can result in a misdemeanor and up to 30 days of incarceration. A DUI charge, of course, carries additional consequences. Both players could face punishment from the league office but that likely won’t be discussed until the case is resolved.

Bell, last year’s No. 48 overall pick, won the starting job as a rookie in 2013 and finished with 860 yards and eight touchdowns. Blount spent last year with the Pats and tallied 772 yards and seven touchdowns. While there won’t be an NFL suspension anytime soon, the Steelers could be on the lookout for reinforcements if punishment does come down from Commissioner Roger Goodell. There’s also the possibility that the Steelers will levy a suspension of their own.

Steelers Re-Sign Brett Keisel

August 21st, 2014 at 11:46am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 11:46am: According to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter), Keisel’s two-year deal has an overall value of $3MM. That includes a 2014 base salary of $1MM and a signing bonus of $500K.

WEDNESDAY, 10:05am: The Steelers have officially re-signed Keisel to a two-year contract, the team announced today in a press release. To make room on the roster, Pittsburgh has waived defensive tackle Al Lapuaho.

TUESDAY, 5:01pm: After drawing interest from the Cardinals in the wake of Darnell Dockett‘s season-ending ACL injury, veteran defensive lineman Brett Keisel will instead return to Pittsburgh. According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Steelers have reached an agreement to re-sign Keisel. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets that a deal should be done by the end of the week. Bouchette was also the first to report (via Twitter) that the two sides were closing in on a deal.

Keisel, 35, is entering his 13th season in the NFL, all of which have been spent in Pittsburgh. He started 12 games in 2013, missing the final four contests while dealing with plantar fasciitis, and racked up 20 tackles and four sacks. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) were bearish on Keisel’s work, ranking him as just the 36th-best 3-4 end out of 45 qualifiers. However, the Steelers likely place a high value on Keisel’s experience in defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s scheme, as Pittsburgh’s current rotation at end includes rookie Stephon Tuitt, third-year player Cameron Heyward, and free agent addition Cam Thomas.

After Keisel cited proximity to his family as the reason for declining to sign with Arizona, it seemed likely that the Steelers might be the only team the veteran was willing to join. In fact, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com wonders (via Twitter) if Keisel’s flirtation with the Cardinals was simply a leverage play in order to pique the Steelers’ interest. However, as of July 28, Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert was still open to a reunion with Keisel, so perhaps the team was waiting for his price to come down.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Steelers Extend Marcus Gilbert Through 2019

August 21st, 2014 at 10:19am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 10:19am: Gilbert received a $7.65MM signing bonus on his new extension, which is the only fully guaranteed part of the deal at this point, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).

TUESDAY, 3:52pm: The Steelers have locked up one of the key cogs on their offensive line through the 2019 season, announcing today in a press release that right tackle Marcus Gilbert has signed a five-year extension. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), the five new years on the contract are worth $30MM.Marcus Gilbert

“It means I am locked in hopefully as a Steeler for the rest of my career,” Gilbert said of his new deal. “It’s a blessing to work for a great organization, the Rooney family, Kevin Colbert and Coach [Mike] Tomlin. Just to be around in Pittsburgh, where they show you so much love, I couldn’t be happier and in a better place.”

We heard earlier this month that the Steelers and agent Drew Rosenhaus were negotiating a new deal for Gilbert, with the intention of either getting something done by September or waiting until after the season. The 26-year-old has been the Steelers’ regular starter at right tackle since entering the league in 2011. Because he was a second-round pick, Gilbert’s rookie contract didn’t feature a fifth-year option for 2015, meaning his free agency was looming and the club was likely a little more motivated to work something out.

As our Rory Parks pointed out when he examined Gilbert as an extension candidate in June, the young tackle hasn’t been exceptional during his stint with the Steelers, at least according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. Still, as I noted last week, non-elite tackles like Austin Howard, Breno Giacomini, and Michael Oher made out reasonably well on the open market back in March.

Based on the initial numbers reported, Gilbert’s extension looks awfully similar to the contract Howard signed with the Raiders. That deal was also worth $30MM over five years, though before we can determine exactly how they stack up, we’ll need to know the structure of Gilbert’s contract. Howard’s pact included $9.9MM in fully guaranteed money, including a $7MM up-front bonus.

Gilbert is the latest Steeler to sign an extension in what has been a busy summer for the team. Center Maurkice Pouncey inked a new deal of his own back in June, and the club also secured kicker Shaun Suisham to a long-term contract earlier this month. Jason Worilds is among the potential 2015 free agents who could still try to get something done with Pittsburgh before the season begins, but according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), despite some conversations, the two sides aren’t close to an agreement at this point.

With a handful of players who had been eligible for 2015 free agency now locked up, the Steelers will soon be able to shift their focus to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is expected to discuss an extension with the team after the season. Roethlisberger is currently under contract through the 2015 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

AFC North Notes: Burfict, Bengals, Keisel

August 20th, 2014 at 8:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton took to Twitter to congratulate teammate Vontaze Burfict on his new contract. “Congrats to @King55Tez on the extension! Well deserved! #whodey #letsroar.” The linebacker tacked another three years on his contract, keeping him in Cincy through 2017. Here’s more from the #AFCNorth..

  • Burfict is now in the “show me” phase of his career after agreeing to a four-year, $20MM extension earlier today with the Bengals, writes Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. Once this deal ends for Burfict at the ripe age of 28, he’ll have more leverage when negotiating his third contract. Combine that with the steady increase in salary-cap money teams will soon have, and Burfict could really cash in on his next pact.
  • In a piece for ESPN Insider (subscription required), Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders turned in his top ten impact rookies for 2014. While big names like Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney are on the list, day three offensive lineman Russell Bodine of the Bengals also made the cut. The former UNC center will be starting and must learn the intricate system of audible calls and line checks in Hue Jackson’s offense.
  • Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at what the signing of Brett Keisel really means for the Steelers.

Minor Moves: Monday

August 18th, 2014 at 8:29pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL below, with the latest moves added throughout the day to the top of the list:

  • The Bears announced (via Twitter) that they have also signed KR/WR Darius Reynaud and have released LS Chad Rempel and P Tress Way. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets, the release of Way means that sixth-round pick Pat O’Donnell has won the team’s punting competition.
  • Cornerback Peyton Thompson, who was cut by the Redskins earlier this month, has agreed to sign with the Bears, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson (via Twitter). Chicago will have to make a move to clear room on the roster for Thompson.

Earlier updates:

  • The Vikings have claimed former Lions linebacker Justin Jackson off waivers, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Minnesota waived-injured linebacker Dom DeCicco in a corresponding roster move.
  • In a series of three tweets, Wilson passes along a list of players who have been removed from their teams’ injured reserve lists: Korey Lindsey (Cowboys), David Snow (Steelers), and Steve Hull (Saints). Per Wilson (via Twitter), the Saints also terminated Richard Quinn‘s contract from their reserve-retired list. Lindsey and Snow both received settlements, while Hull and Quinn are ending their careers.
  • Having officially moved tackle Sam Baker to injured reserve, the Falcons have brought aboard another veteran lineman, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed Pat McQuistan, who has played for five NFL teams and has 11 career starts.
  • After recently being cut by the Redskins, defensive lineman Doug Worthington has signed with the Chargers, who announced today that defensive end Damik Scafe will be waived-injured to make room (Twitter link).
  • The Steelers completed a series of roster moves today, signing offensive tackle Graham Pocic and cornerback Dayonne Nunley. The team also cut wideout James Shaw and waived-injured guard Bryant Browning. The team’s PR man, Burt Lauten, has the details via Twitter.
  • Running back Cameron Marshall has been waived by the Dolphins to clear a roster spot for the team to sign defensive end Rakim Cox, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Load More Posts