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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Reporting time come and gone

The Steelers had another busy day, releasing tackle Max Starks and wid receiver Antwaan Randle El and signing tackles Willie Colon and Jonathan Scott.

Starks' release was purely due to cap reasons and he could be re-signed.

© Hines Ward, Chris Kemoeatu and Eugene Bright will all begin camp on the PUP list.

© For those of you who follow me on Twitter - and I don't know why you wouldn't - you know that I reported seeing a couple of draft picks in the cafeteria, including first-rounder Cameron Heyward.

I'm pretty sure - the rules are so convoluted right now - that means they have agreed to a contract. The team is not confirming that at this point, but Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will address the media later on today.

I do know that the NFLPA is urging rookies to get to camp as soon as possible.

© Emmanuel Sanders said he had a second surgery on his broken foot 13 weeks ago, but the foot is 100 percent now.

© I didn't see any vets who did not look to be in good shape.

© The players who avoided the media today included Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison, Hines Ward and Rashard Mendenhall. They must have been off in the mountains singing campfire songs and bonding.

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:23 PM

    Buh-bye Matt Spaeth...Wow, can't believe all this is finally happening, it's a great time to be a Steelers fan.

    Really interested in seeing what Sweed does in camp, and to learn what the plan is for their tackles this year...people like to laugh, but Jon Scott did really, really well last year subbing at LT given the situation.

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  2. adamg4:11 PM

    Hallelujah! No more watching Spaeth try and block his way out of a wet paper bag.

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  3. I have a feeling they'll resign Starks at some point. This was purely a cap move.

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  4. Anonymous5:57 PM

    Dale - do you know of any other possible free agent signings? Or do you wait to read about it on espn?

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  5. Anonymous6:18 PM

    ^ That's just wrong. Why don't you stay over at ESPN and start your own blog. I can't imagine what is going on behind the scene's right now for a reporter. ESPN has 1000+ people working on stories and we only have one Lolley.
    Keep up the good work Dale.
    Zeke

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  6. Dale,

    What do you think happens on the o-line now? Does Flo Adams get the axe? It seems unlikely to me that they would allow him to think he has a starting job with them, prepare for camp and then give him boot. Just doesn't seem like the Steelers.

    My guess for the o-line is?

    J. Scott - Kemo - Pouncey - Colon - Adams

    Maybe Starks comes back for the left side at a much better price. Either way, that line is a bit rag tag, but its not bad.

    Also, any idea what the $$ are for Taylor? My guess is 35 mil +.

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  7. Patrick,

    I sure hope you're wrong about that $35 million.

    I'd be happy with the number around $20-25 million, but I'm sure it's more. I'm guessing in the high 20s or 30.

    $9 million per year doesn't sound like much of a hometown discount.

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  8. Also Patrick,

    Your guess for the line is the same as mine, assuming Starks does not return. But I find it interesting (and not in a good way) that the man that is clearly the worst of the bunch is manning the LT spot. I'd really like to fix that before opening day.

    Dale,

    This may just be madness, but could Willie Colon play on the left side? Then we could put Gilbert in at RG and keep more talent on the field and J. Scott as the swing backup. I know he's never done the left side, but he's never done guard either. Is it worth a shot in preseason?

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  9. Dale, any insight on the players agreed to have the cap be less in 2011 than it was in 2009? Seems a lot of their members are losing jobs as a result.

    Or did they think the lower cap would be offset by the new mandatory salary floor as far as jobs and pay for vet players?

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  10. Tim, I prob did overshoot that big time. For some reason I thought big corners were getting paid a lot more than they are. I just looked up what Revis's deal was last year, so Ike isn't getting more than that.

    Prob 4 year/25 mil then.

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  11. I'd guess it was in the same range that Colon signed for, 4-years, 28, 29 million.
    That's just under what Troy is playing for.

    Colon's signing gives them definite leverage with Adams. They can go to him and say we want to cut your salary in half or we're going to release you. If he does, he gets the shot to start at RT and Colon gets a shot at guard. If not, they keep him around long enough to make sure nobody gets hurt, then cut him. Either way, he's making less money this year than $5 million.

    And no, Colon can't play the left side.

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  12. Damn.

    What's Wayne Gandy up to these days?

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  13. Anonymous9:15 AM

    Colon play the left side?

    Hope you meant left guard. If you meant left tackle, you are a complete idiot

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  14. Anonymous10:45 AM

    steeler's released adams.

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  15. looks like colon only has 7.5 million guaranteed.....one year deal then he can be cut. hoping starks signs soon

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  16. Anonymous12:18 PM

    I love that there is still hope in the world for Limas Sweed. Steeler fans truly never give up.

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  17. Anonymous1:02 PM

    ^ yeah wtf

    several people have said, they can't wait to see what Sweed can do

    he will be cut most likely

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  18. Mohammed3:01 PM

    So, from what I see, the Steelers have several UFAs or RFAs not under contract. Do those individuals still participate in training camp or do they not practice? They obviously don't have an actual contract with terms for injury, so, I'm assuming they can't practice?

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  19. Jesus, Anonymous. I'm really sorry about that. I'll try not to wonder anymore. It just wastes your time, and I really don't want that. Sorry, again.

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  20. Dale,

    Is Tony Hills in camp? Ed Bouchette said practice squadder Kyle Jolley was the starter at 1st team LT on Friday. Restricted free agents can't practice until they sign their tender, correct?

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  21. Hills can't practice until Aug. 4. He was a restricted free agent.

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