Steelers football blog

Steelers sign TE David Johnson

The Steelers have signed rookie tight end David Johnson to a three-year contract.

Johnson, a seventh-round pick in April, was the final selection the Steelers made in the NFL draft.

Johnson caught 22 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns during his senior season at Arkansas State.

Steelers sign 3 draft picks

The Steelers signed one of their three third-round draft choices, cornerback Keenan Lewis of Oregon State, and their two fifth-round picks Friday.

Lewis is considered by the Steelers to be a physical cornerback who should complement starter Ike Taylor.

Also signed were cornerback Joe Burnett of Central Florida and running back Frank Summers of UNLV.

The team released punter Dirk Johnson, who signed May 1 after punter Daniel Sepulveda underwent knee surgery for the second time within a year.

Steelers take HS teammates on second day

A small swath of New Orleans just turned black and gold.

The Steelers selected wide receiver Mike Wallace of Ole Miss and cornerback Keenan Lewis of Oregon State, teammates at O.P. Walker High School in the Big Easy, within a dozen picks of each other Sunday.

"I'm sure they are excited," coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's kind of a neat story."

The Steelers picked eight players in the second day of the 2009 NFL draft to complement first-round defensive tackle Ziggy Hood of Missouri. The newcomers included Penn State center and seventh-rounder A.Q. Shipley of Moon.

"It's a good day for us," Tomlin said. "We're pleased."

Steelers take DT Hood in 1st round

Evander "Ziggy" Hood was so stunned at being selected with the final pick of the first round by the Steelers that the 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman from Missouri "almost fainted."

"I couldn't describe the feeling," Hood said in a teleconference call with reporters. "My stomach just tightened up. I choked. I almost fainted. ... When my name popped up, I almost dropped the phone."

Hood was chosen with the 32nd pick of the first round in a move that allows the Super Bowl XLIII champion Steelers to get younger on their defensive line, where all three starters are in their 30s.

"I feel excited, especially to be part of a Super Bowl team, just to be part of what's known as the Steel Curtain," Hood said. "It's a real honor."

Long wait for champs on draft day

If there is one downside to winning the Super Bowl -- and this is the equivalent of having to pay taxes on a winning million-dollar lottery ticket -- it's the long wait the Steelers will have to endure today at their South Side facility.

The Steelers aren't slated to pick until No. 32 in the first round of the NFL Draft. That means the Steelers, barring a trade, will take a lot of players off the draft board they have painstakingly put together before it is their turn to make a pick.

"The frustrating thing," Steelers director of operations Kevin Colbert said, "is just waiting that long."

Not that Colbert is disheartened by where the Steelers are picking in the first round.

He said the Steelers have identified 32 players they feel "comfortable" taking with their top pick, and the team has done well picking near the bottom of the first round. Continue

Steelers welcome 2 draft prospects

The latest NFL Draft prospects to meet with the Steelers were a study in contrasts as they stood outside of the team's South Side practice facility Wednesday afternoon.

But the picture of 6-foot-8, 337-pound offensive tackle Phil Loadholt and 5-10, 192-pound cornerback/return specialist Joe Burnett showed that the Steelers are looking at all shapes and sizes as they try to address various needs in the upcoming draft.

Loadholt started at left tackle the past two seasons at Oklahoma -- he played two years at a junior college before signing with the Sooners -- though he may project as a right tackle in the NFL because of questions about his quickness.

Burnett, meanwhile, set the career record for interceptions (16) at the University of Central Florida and also excelled as a return man. Continue

Steelers looking to sure up O-line

The premier offensive line prospects in this year's NFL draft do not appear to be lacking for confidence.

"I'd say, first of all, put on my film from Baylor and you'll see that I'm the best," left tackle Jason Smith said.

"To be honest," Ole Miss left tackle Michael Oher said, "I feel that I'm the best at my position."

The Steelers may have alleviated an immediate need at left tackle by placing the franchise tag on Max Starks. But if they are looking to upgrade an offensive line that has some uncertainty — tackle Marvel Smith and guard Chris Kemoeatu can become free agents on Feb. 27 and there is no guarantee that Starks will sign a long-term contract with the team — they may be a year too late. Continue