Steelers football blog

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)

Steelers draft OT Gilbert and CB Brown on 2nd day of draft

The Steelers never came close to drafting the twin brother of center Maurkice Pouncey in the first round, so they did the next best thing by drafting one of his best friends in the second round -- and they got their cornerback from Texas on the third.

Addressing two desperate needs on the second day of the draft, the Steelers took tackle Marcus Gilbert of Florida in the second round and cornerback Curtis Brown of Texas in the third.

Gilbert, a strapping offensive tackle and former Pouncey twins linemate, is a 6-foot-6, 330-pound blocker who started the past two years for the Gators, 27 times at right and left tackle and three times at guard.

"He's a high energy player, he's athletic, he plays the game physical the way we like here, and we feel like he can play different positions for us," said Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler. "It's also an added bonus that he and Maurkice are best buds. There is chemistry there, and that chemistry is a big thing in the offensive line room." (PPG)

Steelers select DE Heyward in 1st round

Maybe not as good a story as the Pouncey twins, but the Steelers played their own game of all in the family when they drafted Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward on the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.

Born in Pittsburgh, he follows in the shoes of his father, the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, a Pitt running back who also was drafted in the first round, by the New Orleans Saints at No. 24 in 1988. His mother, Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell, is a Pittsburgh native.

"I know he's watching," Heyward said of his father. "I'm going to try to do everything to make him proud of me and live his legacy on."

Heyward, who lived in Monroeville as a youngster, has plenty of family in Pittsburgh, including uncle Nate Heyward, who followed in his brother Craig's shoes as a running back at Pitt. (PPG)

Another Pouncey for Steelers O-line?

The safest player, the one who carries the least risk when the Steelers make their first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft tonight, is Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey.

Maybe you have heard of his twin brother.

Maurkice Pouncey last season became the first Steelers offensive lineman since 1956 to earn a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie and added to the impressive lineage the organization boasts at center.

When asked at the NFL owners meetings last month about the similarities between Maurkice and Mike Pouncey -- and they are uncanny -- Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said, "Identical twin." When asked about the similarities between the two on the football field, Colbert said, "Identical twin."

The possibility of the Pounceys playing alongside each other for the next decade has the Steelers considering trading up in the first round -- something they haven't done since 2006.

Problem is, Maurkice Pouncey may have blown Mike's cover and driven his value beyond what the Steelers are willing to pay. (Trib)

Steelers meet with O-Line prospects

The Steelers met with three offensive line prospects, all from SEC schools, Monday at their South Side headquarters.

The team hosted James Carpenter Jr. of Alabama, Marcus Gilbert of Florida and Jarriel King of South Carolina.

Carpenter may be the most highly regarded of the three.

The 6-4 1/2, 321-pounder replaced Andre Smith, the sixth overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft, at left tackle and started for two seasons there after transferring to Alabama from a junior college.

The 6-6 Gilbert started at both tackle spots while at Florida and played on the same line as Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey.

King, who is 6-5 and 317 pounds, started parts of three seasons at left tackle for South Carolina. (Trib)