Steelers sign offensive line help
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The Pittsburgh Steelers needed help on the offensive line and on Wednesday, they got some. With OT Willie Colon being placed on the injured reserve list, the Steelers signed 6’4″ 320 pound OG Adrian Jones.
Jones was a 4th round draft selection of the New York Jets in 2004 and played over 40 games for the Jets before being released in 2007. Jones has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.
The Steelers had spoken to veteran OT Flozell Adams a few weeks ago, but it is believed that Adams asking price is too high. The Steelers also were reported to have attended a workout in Arizona by OG Chester Pitts formally of the Houston Texans as he tries to recover from season ending knee surgery.
Steelers’ Batch-Lockout in 2011 100% certain
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Pittsburgh Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch appeared on WQYK radio in Tampa this morning and discussed several things, mainly the fact he feels the impending lockout in 2011 has about a 100% chance in his eyes.You can hear the entire interview right here, courtesy of Sportsradiointerviews.com.
Batch addressed the quarterback situation for the 4-6 game suspension of Ben Roethlisberger. He said he’s unsure as to who the starting quarterback will be during the suspension and said that all three quarterbacks are practicing. Batch does mention something I’ve not seen anywhere else regarding Dennis Dixon. Batch said, “Dennis Dixon is a great talent and I think he showed that in the game that he played last year against Baltimore on Sunday. So I think at some point they’re going to try to get him ready as much as possible because he is the future”. Hmm. What about Roethlisberger? Dixon is only 3 years younger than Big Ben. Dixon is the future?
Batch, who is the NFL Players Association Union Player Representative, he towed the union line and was unrelenting on the owners position of asking the players to take a reduction in pay.
“Well one thing for sure, you can’t say a holdout on the players’ side because we’re not striking over labor negotiations; we’re okay with everything, so labor is not an issue with us as far as where we stand from there. But from the owners’ standpoint, you have to put it at 100 percent. I said it over a year ago heading into training camp. People called me crazy for making those statements but it was the truth. And I think here we are sitting here less than a year from a possible lockout from the owners’ side, the fans have to understand that this isn’t the players doing this. This can be a trickle down effect from the owners meaning no games, no stadium revenues, meaning people who are employed at the stadium – you’re talking about over 100,000 stadium workers that will get laid off because there will be no season played. And then ultimately bar and restaurant owners, vendors, hot dog vendors who may possibly lose out because there are no games on Sunday. I can only imagine. I know what it’s like here in Pittsburgh on Sundays, so now I can only imagine over the course of 31 other NFL cities, there’s going to be a trickle down effect for business owners as losing money. And I think it’s a reality that these people need to start thinking about what they’re going to do if there is no season in the 2011 season. So it’s just really, really frustrating for a lot of people, and I think that everybody wants a deal, but make sure it’s a fair deal for both sides. Just make sure it gets done. But just to make myself clear – this is not a strike by the players; we’re not fighting over labor issues. This is an actual lockout coming from the owners locking out the players that can ultimately have a trickle down effect on everybody.”
Townsend to Steelers: Can I come back?
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers CB Deshea Townsend wants to return to the squad this season. In fact, Townsend said he’ll play for any team this season. Townsend told reporters, “I kind of expect to be back, just to add some depth at the position. They know there’s a player out there they don’t really have to teach the systemthat can come in and play”.
Townsend says he’s staying in shape, working out with a conditioning coach and waiting for the phone to ring. There is always the chance that someone goes down in training camp and there is always the possibility that Townsend could catch on with another team but the reality of it is he’s a 35 year old cornerback. A demanding position which usually doesn’t fit players of his age.
Steelers’ Tomlin rock solid, gets extension
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Amid a rocky offseason, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has remained rock solid and now has been rewarded with a contract extension. The Steelers have extended Tomlins contract through the year 2014 according to the Post-Gazette.
The Steelers off season troubles have been well documented, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes not withstanding. The Steelers are also coming off a disappointing 2009 season. Tomlin told the Daily Press, “I don’t ride the rollercoaster. I don’t ride the wave when it’s going extremely well; I don’t ride the wave when it’s not going well. I take the same approach to my business”.
Tomlin declined to comment on issues regarding Roethlisberger and told reporters, “The messages I deliver to the team are not reactionary messages. They’re not based on the actions of any one person or any group of people. It’s things that we believe in and how we conduct ourselves”. Tomlin was in Hampton Virginia for his annual football camp.
Tomlin’s steady approach will most likely be tested this coming season right from the start as Tomlin tries to get the Steelers back to the playoffs in a very tough division.
Bettis talks about Big Ben
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jerome Bettis was at Oakmont Country Club yesterday sharing some time with golf legend Arnold Palmer. Bettis was asked about what he thought about the Ben Roethlisberger situation and whether he’ll be able to repair his image with the community and fans.
“It’s a situation where he has to prove his heart is in the right place. And I know from knowing Ben that his heart is in the right place”, Bettis told reporters. He continued, “He has to keep his head down, play hard and give back to the community. If he does that, slowly but surely, he will be able to work through the process”.
Bettis then commented on the Steelers outlook for 2010. “They have an uphill battle. The running game is going to have to sustain this team until Ben comes back”. Not really a glowing endorsement of Byron Leftwich who is penciled in as the starter until Roethlisberger returns.
Bettis also said that he has lowered his golf handicap from a -24 to a -11.
