Steelers football blog

LB Timmons gets six year deal

The Steelers today signed linebacker Lawrence Timmons to a six-year, $50 million contract. Timmons, the first draft choice in Mike Tomlin's first year as coach in 2007, had one year left on the contract he signed as a rookie. He now is signed through 2016.

That signing also likely will be the last contract extension the Steelers do this year, which means there will be no extension negotiated for safety Troy Polamalu this year, the last year of his contract. Polamalu could become a free agent in March. However, the Steelers also could put the franchise tag on him to prevent that. They did that with linebacker LaMarr Woodley this year and then signed Woodley to a six-year, $61.5 million contract. Woodley was drafted in the second round after Timmons in 2007. (PPG)

Tomlin keeps Steelers sharp in practice

The Steelers returned to their South Side practice facility Saturday for the final two weeks of training camp and were greeted with something that was familiar and unusual at the same time.

Mike Tomlin put his team through a 2 1/2-hour practice that was typical of what he ordered during the three weeks of training camp at St. Vincent College.

It was something that caught the players off-guard.

"A lot of guys mentally didn't think we were going to be doing that," receiver Mike Wallace said.

LaMarr Woodley doesn't remember having such a physical practice at the South Side facility in his four previous seasons.

"Nah, we didn't expect this," Woodley said. "It was a little different. We haven't had the OTAs and minicamps, so it was good for everybody including the young guys as well."

Tomlin said he wanted to make sure his team still realizes that they are in training camp mode, even though they have returned to their facility.

"The point we are making to our football team is, even though we are back at the comforts of our facility, the team building hasn't stopped," Tomlin said. (continue)

Steelers dominate Vick in 24-14 win over Eagles

- Big Ben running around, extending plays, throwing touchdowns. Hines Ward dancing in the end zone, not on the ballroom floor.Troy Polamalu picking off a pass. James Harrison wreaking havoc in the backfield.

Does the calendar say August or December? For a couple of dazzling quarters on Thursday night, the Steelers made it hard to tell the difference.

Roethlisberger threw for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Pittsburgh's defense put an exclamation point to Philadelphia star Michael Vick's miserable day, intercepting three of his passes in the first half of a remarkably easy 24-14 victory.

Yes, it's only the preseason. But after sleepwalking through a loss to Washington a week ago, the defending AFC champions delivered a reminder to their cross-state rivals about which team from Pennsylvania has played in three of the last six Super Bowls."That's the desired response we were looking for," said Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. (continue)

 

Ike Taylor to get surgery

Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor will undergo surgery on his left thumb Tuesday.

Taylor broke his thumb on the second play of the Steelers` 16-7 loss to the Redskins last Friday night.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that he expected Taylor to miss two to three weeks. Tomlin was evasive after practice today when asked if that timetable has changed or if Taylor will have to wear some sort of cast after he is cleared to practice.

Taylor called the injury a "freak accident." When asked if he will be ready for the Steelers` regular-season opener in Baltimore, Taylor said, "I don`t know. I`ve got to wait on the doctors." (continue)

Steelers muster 7 points vs Redskins

Ben Roethlisberger fired a 19-yard pass to Antonio Brown, transferring what the two have been doing at training camp to an actual game, albeit one that does not count in any standings.

That proved to be the lone highlight for the Steelers' first-team offense in a 16-7 loss to the Washington Redskins in the preseason opener.

Panic didn't grip the visiting sideline at FedEx Field since offensive stalwarts such as Roethlisberger, wide receiver Hines Ward, tight end Heath Miller and running back Rashard Mendenhall played just five snaps, calling it a day before the sun did Friday.

But Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made it clear he was not happy with much what transpired in the Steelers' first game since Super Bowl XLV.

"Quite frankly, we got outplayed in just about all areas. Blocking, tackling, running, throwing, kicking," Tomlin said. "That team was better prepared than us. I look forward to this group responding. I'll expect these guys to respond to this. It needs to be better quickly." (continue)

Steelers sign WR Jericho Cotchery

The Steelers agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery on a one-year contract today according to a Steelers` spokesman.

Cotchery, who was released by the Jets last week, visited the Steelers on Sunday but left without a contract. The receiver also met with the Ravens yesterday.

The Steelers have been looking for a veteran wide receiver to go along with wide receiver Hines Ward to complement their young group that consists of Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace.

Safety Ryan Clark used his Twitter account to applaud the signing.

"We welcome Jericho Cothery! Any man willing to put his hand in the pile is always welcome! Going to be a lot different from the Jets though!" (continue)

No WR signings for Steelers yet

Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery left the Steelers without a contract, leaving them right back to where they started at the position, having taken two swings and apparent misses to adding a veteran from outside to their group.

And that concerns some, including the only true veteran who practiced Monday for the first time since February.

"Looking at our wide receiving corps -- great talent, we have no experience," said Hines Ward, who officially joined his 14th training camp after coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list prompted by June thumb surgery. (continue)

LaMarr Woodley signs six year deal

Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley has signed a six-year, $61.5 million contract with the Steelers.

The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder received a $22.5 million signing bonus, making the new deal the highest-ever for a Steelers defensive player.

Woodley's contract is the second-highest in franchise history, next to only the eight-year, $102 million deal that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger signed in 2008.

"No added pressure at all," Woodley said today. "People are going to expect a lot out of you because of the money you signed for, but you should expect a lot of yourself anyway regardless of the money you sign for.

"I`m a competitive person, and if I didn`t sign that contract I`d still go out and give my all. Last year, I didn`t have a (long-term) contract but I still went out and gave my all because that`s the kind of person I am." (continue)

Burress breaks bread with Steelers twice

Plaxico Burress dined twice with the Steelers at Saint Vincent College today and while he did not talk to the press, it appears it may come down to an AFC championship game matchup for his services: the Steelers vs. the New York Jets.

The Jets, who previously had not been reported to have interest in Burress, now do. And they have the room under the salary cap to make a big pitch. Burress reportedly enjoyed playing in New York, even though he spent two years in jail there on a gun charge before his release the past June. But the Steelers have veterans who have remained friends with Burress throughout the years, and his wife, Tiffany, is a Pittsburgh native. (continue)

Heyward signs 4 yr deal

Cameron Heyward raced into St. Bonaventure Hall, signed some papers, shook Dan Rooney's hand and was off.

The Steelers were 30 minutes into their first practice of training camp Friday, and the first-round pick out of Ohio State could only think of what his late father, former Pitt and NFL star Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, would say.

"Don't be late," Heyward said. "He would be pretty mad at me right now. He would be saying, 'Get your butt in there and get to work.' " The Steelers and the defensive end agreed to a four-year deal worth $6.7 million. Later Friday, the team inked third-round pick Curtis Brown, a cornerback from Texas, to put all seven of their selections under contract.

"We usually do this before he hits the field, but Cam actually beat us to it," Steelers president Art Rooney II said during an introductory news conference. (continue)