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Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Extra Points: Brown, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos

July 16th, 2014 at 9:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The NBA has seen tremendous growth in their developmental league and Ross Jones of FOX Sports argues that the NFL could benefit greatly from having one of their own. One of the questions the NFL would have to figure out, however, is exactly who would play in an NFL D-League. “You have 400 legitimate players entering the league each year, which means there are 400 legitimate players that have to leave the league each year,” agent Greg Linton said. “If a player is good, they get selected in the first through fourth rounds, so the only players that you’d be developing is seventh rounders and free agents. Is the NFL really concerned with developing that guy?” More from around the NFL..

  • The lack of guaranteed contracts has had a painful ripple effect for players, writes Jack Bechta of the National Football Post. The longtime agent says that the NFLPA has to make guaranteed contracts a top priority in the next CBA since they will take pressure off players to put their bodies at extreme risk. Guaranteed deals would also give teams incentive to give their players the best medical care possible.
  • Agent Drew Rosenhaus has officially re-signed Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown for representation, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Brown recently fired his reps at Roc Nation Sports.
  • In the first part of a two part series, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com looks at the top questions facing the Cardinals heading into training camp. Among the questions is whether free agent pickup Jared Veldheer will be the club’s answer at left tackle. The Cardinals gave Veldheer a five-year, $35MM contract, so the front office is obviously confident. Now it’s a matter of seeing what Veldheer can do for their blindside protection.
  • Bengals‘ seventh-round pick James Wright is one to watch, writes Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. It’s been nearly two years since the former LSU athlete caught a pass in a game, but the Bengals are hoping his special teams skills will translate into success as a wideout. “That day I talked to him and said, ‘Look, I know what you can do on special teams, now you’ve got to play wide receiver,‘” Bengals receivers coach James Urban said. “He’s embraced it, he’s worked his tail off and he’s given us [a lot]. I mean, he’s a very intense young man. He wants to prove this organization and [team president] Mr. [Mike] Brown right in selecting him.”
  • In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Mike Klis of The Denver Post if he gets the sense that GM John Elway & Co. could still have potentially one more high-profile signing up their sleeve. Klis could see the Broncos going for a veteran running back, but then again, he thought they would have added one by now.
  • After his conviction on charges of assault on a female and communicating threats, it’s unclear what Greg Hardy‘s long-term future will be with the Panthers, writes Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Hardy, who is set to hit the open market after this season, is being monitored by the NFL.

Monday Roundup: Finley, Young, Big Ben

July 14th, 2014 at 10:58pm CST by Rory Parks

Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley, who has been medically cleared to play by his own doctor, said he will undergo another series of medical tests on Wednesday and will send the results of those tests to all 32 clubs in an effort to convince them that he is fully healthy, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Finley has stated that he would like to return to the Packers, and that he certainly wants to continue playing rather than collect the $10MM insurance policy he would receive if he retired from the game.

However, he has also demonstrated that he will be patient as he waits for the right deal. The Steelers‘ team neurosurgeon, Dr. Joseph Maroon, performed Finley’s vertebrae fusion in November and declared him fit to play a few months later. Pittsburgh subsequently made several contract offers, according to Finley, but none of those offers were financially appealing enough for him. Pelissero believes that Finley ultimately will re-sign with Green Bay (Twitter link).

Now for some links from around the league to wind up this Monday evening:

  • In an increasingly sad and troubling narrative, former Lions receiver Titus Young was arrested in Los Angeles on July 9 for battery with serious bodily injury–a felony–and associated charges, writes David Leon Moore of The Detroit Free Press. The arrest took place one day before Young was to appear for a pre-trial conference in Newport Beach, California, where he faces 11 charges, four of which are felonies.
  • Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News writes that, on the heels of his strong finish to the 2013 campaign, Cowboys linebacker Kyle Wilber should find himself in a starting role and could be on the verge of a breakout season.
  • In a video clip, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News looks at a few under-the-radar players on the Cowboys roster to keep an eye on, including undrafted finds Ben Malena and L’Damian Washington.
  • Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times writes that the Seahawks‘ backup quarterback competition is wide open, and Terrelle Pryor and Tarvaris Jackson will each get an extended opportunity to prove themselves in the preseason. However, both players could end up making the club, as Seattle carried three quarterbacks on its roster for a few weeks last season.
  • Time is running out for the Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to reach an agreement on a contract extension, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Roethlisberger has two years left on his current deal, but Florio believes he is underpaid by current standards. However, no progress has been reported on a possible extension–though that does not mean that progress has not been made–and the Steelers do not negotiate new contracts once the regular season begins.
  • Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has limited leverage in trying to force a trade, as Adam Schefter, Louis Riddick, and Mark Brunell of ESPN explain (video link).
  • Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com. Scherff, a 280-pound quarterback in high school, has blossomed into a strong 6’4″, 320-pound force with Ndamukong Suh-type strength.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

North Notes: Ravens, Brown, Bears, Packers

July 14th, 2014 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

At least a dozen players who weren’t on last year’s 53-man roster should make the Ravens‘ regular season squad this year, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. The team will likely expect major contributions from free agent addition Steve Smith, trade acquisition Jeremy Zuttah, and top draft picks C.J. Mosley and Timmy Jernigan, but there are several other new faces who could chip in, as Brown details.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two North divisions:

  • The significance of Antonio Brown leaving Roc Nation Sports shouldn’t be understated, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, who speculates that the Steelers wideout must have had questions about the agency’s true value to leave so soon. Roc Nation, which also represents Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, doesn’t have an extensive NFL client list, so losing a player of Brown’s nature after just two months is troubling, says Gatlin (all Twitter links).
  • John Mullin of CSNChicago.com takes a look at the Bears‘ offensive line, which was one of the team’s strengths last season. Chicago was one of three clubs to start the same five linemen in all 16 games in 2013, so if the club isn’t quite so lucky with its health this year, the depth additions made this offseason could become crucial.
  • Aaron Rodgers will work with his fourth center in as many years in 2014, prompting Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to explore whether likely start J.C. Tretter is capable of finally stopping the Packers‘ revolving door at the position.

Extra Points: Saints, Steelers, Archer, Irvin

July 13th, 2014 at 6:16pm CST by Peter Sowards

After a tumultuous 2012 season, the Saints got back to their winning ways in 2013 and made the postseason for the fifth time in the Drew Brees–Sean Payton era. A loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks sent Brees and Payton packing, and the attention turned to GM Micky Loomis.

Loomis made a key addition in former Bills free safety Jairus Byrd, writes National Football Post’s Greg Gabriel, though Byrd will probably miss some time during the preseason after undergoing “minor” back surgery near the end of OTAs.

In his team preview, Gabriel says to keep an eye on Khiry Robinson, a second-year running back from West Texas A&M used sparingly in his rookie season. Robinson has more size than Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram, Gabriel writes, and could see a larger role in 2014.

Aside from Byrd, the Saints‘ biggest offseason acquisition was wide receiver Brandin Cooks, whom the team traded up for to grab in the first round. Gabriel notes that Cooks will play the majority of his snaps out of the slot and help to fill the void left by Darren Sproles‘ departure.

More notes around the NFL on this Sunday evening…

  • When the Steelers drafted Dri Archer with the 97th overall pick, they drafted a player with speed for days. For that reason, they’ll be using Archer at both running back and receiver, coach Mike Tomlin said on NFL Network, according to National Football Post’s Jason Butt.
  • Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin underwent hip surgery in early June, but he says his hip feels 100 times better, per NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, who cites the Seahawks‘ depth at linebacker as an indication that Irvin won’t be forced back into action too soon.
  • Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union lists four matchups — at Tennessee, vs. Miami, vs. New York (Giants) and vs. Houston — as the most favorable for the Jaguars.
  • Though EJ Manuel enjoyed a moderate amount of success as a rookie quarterback for the Bills last season, former Bills GM and current ESPN analyst cautions fans to be patient with the former Florida State Seminole, writes The Buffalo News’ Jerry Sullivan.

Pouncey Brothers Accused Of Assault

July 13th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Rory Parks

Miami Beach police are investigating a South Florida man’s claim that he was assaulted by Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey, writes Omar Kelly of The Sun Sentinel. The assault allegedly occurred a little after 4am on Saturday morning at the Cameo nightclub, where the twin brothers were celebrating their annual birthday party. The alleged victim, Ricky Vazquez, took to Twitter to report the assault. Vasquez claims he was jumped by the Pouncey twins and by four of the club’s bouncers.

Although the police are of course obligated to investigate Vasquez’s allegations, the circumstances surrounding the incident are murky at best and it is far too soon to condemn either brother at this point. However, while publicity of this ilk is unwelcome for any NFL player, it is especially troublesome for the Pouncey brothers. During their birthday party at the Cameo nightclub last year, the Pouncey’s were spotted wearing “Free Hernandez” hats in support of former college teammate Aaron Hernandez, who has since been charged with the murders of three different men. Mike Pouncey was later called to give testimony concerning his relationship with Hernandez before a grand jury.

That is not to mention Mike Pouncey’s involvement in the highly-publicized bullying scandal that consumed the Dolphins’ locker room last season. He was one of three Miami players said to have been involved in the harassment of former Dolphin Jonathan Martin, who left the team last October.

Perhaps the investigation into the latest incident involving the Pounceys will absolve them of any wrongdoing, but the Dolphins and Steelers will surely hold their breath when the brothers celebrate their birthday next July.

North Links: Smith, Lions, Steelers, Bengals

July 13th, 2014 at 8:49am CST by Dallas Robinson

Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith was arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct on Saturday night following an incident at a bar in Towson, Marlyand, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The episode doesn’t sound all that serious, and I doubt anything grave will come of it, but it’s yet another negative off-the-field occurrence for the Ravens, who have had five players arrested this offseason. Baltimore is interested in a long-term extension with Smith, but the 26-year-old had character concerns when he entered the league, so it’s fair to wonder if this event will affect contract talks. More from the the NFL’s two North divisons:

AFC Notes: Manuel, Luck, Bryant, Haden

July 12th, 2014 at 4:35pm CST by Rob DiRe

Bills passer E.J. Manuel was the top quarterback selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, but failed to live up to his selection because he was unable to stay on the field last season. Manuel was forced out of the game three times due to knee injuries. He is focused on staying healthy in 2014, writes Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.

“That was one thing I had to learn: to be smart when I take off with the football,” Manuel said. “Instead of trying to get an extra three yards, either step out of bounds or slide. Those are all the nuances I had to learn.”

Here are some other notes from around the AFC:

  • The Colts have a number of burning questions heading into 2014, but quarterback is not one of the more pressing issues. Even still, Kevin Bowen of Colts.com examines a few nuances of the position heading into Andrew Luck‘s third year. One noteworthy improvement Bowen will be looking for is increased efficiency on third down and in the red zone from the star quarterback.
  • While the Steelers have lost receivers Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders the past few offseasons, they still employ pass catchers they feel they can rely upon, writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Antonio Brown is coming off a career year, and Markus Wheaton is poised for a big season himself. Rookie fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant could provide the height and physicality needed for a red zone threat.
  • With the addition of LeBron James to the Cavaliers, Browns cornerback Joe Haden believes there will be a race to see which team will bring a championship to Cleveland first, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “LeBron makes things happen pretty quickly, so we’re going to have to get to it. I say it’s going to be a tight fight,” says Haden. “I know me and Manziel will be pushing to make that happen before. That’s why LeBron is coming here to bring a championship to the city and I’m trying to do the same thing.” The Browns will have the first shot at it this February in Phoenix, Arizona.

North Notes: Williams, Lyerla, Worilds

July 12th, 2014 at 12:26pm CST by Matt Feminis

Packers cornerback Tramon Williams was a Pro Bowler in 2010, but a shoulder injury in the 2011 season opener limited his effectiveness for two seasons (despite starting 31 games). The 31-year-old seemed to regain his form last season, however, writes ESPN Wisconsin’s Jason Wilde, who quoted cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt: “Really, the last nine games – [Williams] played as good as everybody talked about 2010. From the New York game on, if you’re looking for much better play than that, you’re not going to get it from anybody in the league. Now, can we get it for 16 games and onto the playoffs and next year? I’m a firm believer if he’s healthy, we’re going to get it.”

Here’s a handful more NFC and AFC North links:

  • An NFL.com story touching on Packers tight ends recycled a May story by the Journal Sentinel’s Tyler Dunne in which Eagles rookie receiver Josh Huff said former Oregon teammate and current Packers hopeful Colt Lyerla can be better than the best tight ends in the game. That said, the position is crowded. In a recent podcast, Dunne and Fox 11-TV’s Justin Felder speculated about Lyerla’s chances, saying roster decisions might come down to special-teams utility. They also wondered aloud if trying to stash Lyerla on the practice squad — in a scenario where he is productive and trustworthy through training camp — would be too risky.
  • The Steelers were next up in OverTheCap.com’s “Best and Worst Contracts” series, and Jason Fitzgerald is very skeptical of the team’s decision to use the transition tag on outside linebacker Jason Worilds: “In my estimation, with just half of a pretty good season under his belt in four years, Worilds was looking at no more than $6.5 million per year on a long-term deal. Now with the leverage of the [$9.8MM] tender, he has limited incentive to take a reasonable deal, so they’ll likely have to overpay significantly if they want to retain him long-term. And if they don’t retain him long-term, they’ll have overpaid significantly for a single season from a player who has been mediocre at best to this point.”
  • The Steelers’ nose tackle position, most notably returning starter Steve McLendon, was previewed by ESPN’s Scott Brown. McLendon was just “OK” as Casey Hampton’s replacement last season, and “McLendon still has to prove that he is the long-term answer at nose tackle,” says Brown, “but he appears to be in a much better position to play well this season, both from a physical and mental standpoint.” McLendon, who played about a third of the Steelers’ defensive snaps in 2013, has bulked up 20 pounds in an effort to anchor better against the run.
  • The departure of Arthur Jones via free agency creates an opportunity for Ravens defensive lineman DeAngelo Tyson, writes BaltimoreRavens.com staff writer Garrett Downing, who points out Tyson’s career arc is similar to Jones’.

North Notes: Steelers, Ravens, Packers, Bears

July 11th, 2014 at 9:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t losing any sleep determining how to use all of his running backs. Le’Veon Bell had a terrific rookie season, and the team added free agent LeGarrette Blount and rookie Dri Archer this past offseason. Figuring out how to best utilize those backs is a tough task, so the coach is going to leave it up to the players. Tomlin told NFL Network’s Total Access hosts Lindsay Rhodes and Brian Baldinger that he’ll let the preseason determine his running back depth chart for next season.

Via NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus…

“I’m excited about letting these guys sort themselves out from a division of labor standpoint. I know that they’re all committed to being a significant component to what we do.”

Tomlin also gushed about his three options…

“Le’Veon Bell has had a great offseason. He’s really shown that he is excited about taking the next step in terms of work that he’s done thus far, particularly from a conditioning standpoint.

“LeGarrette Blount has a definite football playing personality, one that not only is evident on the field but in the locker room. Think he’s going to be positive to our efforts.”

Tomlin added that Archer was a “speed guy” who would play both running back and wide receiver.

Let’s check out some more notes form the NFL’s North divisions…

  • Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has left Roc Nation and is planning on returning to Rosenhaus Sports for representation, reports Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo and Ross Jones (via Garafolo’s Twitter).
  • The Ravens defense has changed drastically since the team won the championship in 2013, writes Hanzus. The team dedicated their top-three picks to defenders in 2013 and 2014, with Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata remaining as the lone starters from their Super Bowl victory.
  • Following the departure of Evan Dietrich-Smith, the Packers will likely go with former fourth-round pick J.C. Tretter as their starting center, writes ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. The 23-year-old missed his entire rookie season with a broken ankle.
  • Bears rookie Brock Vereen has “virtually established himself as the player to beat” for the starting safety position, writes CSNChicago.com’s John Mullin. The writer labels the fourth-round pick as a “draft gem.”

AFC North Notes: Steelers, Browns, Gordon

July 9th, 2014 at 1:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Steelers have been a perennial playoff contender in the AFC for the better part of the last 15 years, finishing below .500 just once during the 2000s, and winning two Super Bowls during that period. However, they’re one of a few AFC clubs, along with the Patriots and Broncos, whose title windows could conceivably close within the next three years or so, writes Field Yates of ESPN.com. In his Insider-only piece, Yates digs deeper on the three AFC teams, specifically focusing on Ben Roethlisberger‘s role in determining whether or not Pittsburgh remains in the Super Bowl hunt going forward.

Here’s more from around the AFC North:

  • The Browns would like to extend the contracts of quarterback Brian Hoyer and tight end Jordan Cameron, but given the complicated nature of the negotiations, there’s a good chance talks will continue into training camp and beyond, writes Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
  • Sources tell Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that Josh Gordon may ultimate receive a singular punishment from the NFL for his alleged failed drug tests and DUI, though it’s not clear yet whether that suspension will be for a full season. In any case, while some of Gordon’s Browns teammates feel betrayed after the wideout promised last year that he wouldn’t be in trouble again, every league official that spoke to Freeman believes Gordon will play in the NFL again, either in Cleveland or elsewhere.
  • ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley examines some former Ravens who are still counting against the team’s cap in 2014, including Titans safety Bernard Pollard and Giants linebacker Jameel McClain.
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