Steelers football blog

Steelers sign Timmons in time for camp

Mike Tomlin's first training camp as Steelers' coach is off to a good start - and the team doesn't hold its first practice until Tuesday. The Steelers assured that all of their players will be in camp on time by agreeing to contracts over the weekend with their two remaining unsigned draft picks, including first-rounder Lawrence Timmons.

The five-year deal with Timmons, which includes a signing bonus of just over $8 million and could be worth as much as $15 million, was reached late Sunday afternoon. A day earlier, the Steelers agreed to a three-year contract with cornerback William Gay. The fifth-round draft pick received a $106,000 signing bonus and his base salaries are $285,000, $370,000 and $460,000. Continue

Steelers sign rookie tight end Spaeth

Another one down, a big one to go. A busy week for the Steelers continued Friday when they signed third-round pick Matt Spaeth to a three-year contract. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound Spaeth last season won the Mackey Award, which is given to the top tight end in Division I-A college football. He left Minnesota as the school's all-time leader in receptions (109) and receiving yards (1,291) by a tight end.

The Steelers raised some eyebrows when they used their third-round pick on a tight end, but offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has said he likes using three-tight end sets. Starter Heath Miller, Jerame Tuman and Spaeth will allow the Steelers to do that this season. Continue

Steelers reach deal with No. 2 pick Woodley

The Steelers will have at least one of their prized linebacker prospects in camp on time. The team and second-round draft pick LaMarr Woodley reached an agreement on a four-year contract Wednesday. Woodley played defensive end for Michigan last season but will be converted to outside linebacker. Terms of the deal were not released.

The Steelers have come to terms with five of their eight draft choices, and they are close to an agreement with their third-round pick, Matt Spaeth. The tight end is expected to be in camp, which starts Monday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, on time. Continue

Steelers sign seventh-round pick Baker

The Steelers have reached agreement on a three-year contract with seventh-round draft pick Dallas Baker, a wide receiver from Florida. Baker, 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, will receive a signing bonus of $39,750 and base salaries of $285,000, 370,000 and $460,000.

The pace also has quickened on negotiations for a long-term contract extension for safety Troy Polamalu. The Steelers are hopeful an agreement can be reached with Polamalu by Sunday's 4 p.m. reporting deadline to St. Vincent College for training camp or soon thereafter. Continue

Timmons' agent, Steelers exchange proposals

The Steelers have exchanged contract proposals with first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons, and a deal could be completed before the opening of training camp, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.

"We've both exchanged proposals, and I hope to meet with the team at some point in the near future," Rosenhaus said Monday. "Things are progressing at a good rate, and I'm still hopeful of getting a deal done before camp starts." The Steelers open training camp Monday at St. Vincent College -- the earliest start for any NFL team. The Steelers face the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 5 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Continue

Wait and see with signing Steelers' Timmons

Want to be the first to place your head on the chopping block? Go right ahead. Agent Drew Rosenhaus took the plunge once already. He probably won't be so quick to do it a second time. Rosenhaus represents tight end Greg Olsen, the No. 31 overall draft pick, who became the first first-rounder to sign. Olsen inked a five-year, $10.6 million contract with the Chicago Bears on July 3. The deal includes almost $4.9 million in bonuses and is about 10 percent higher than what last year's No. 31 pick received.

Rosenhaus' other first-round client, Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons, still hasn't signed with the Steelers, who open training camp July 23 at St. Vincent College. Rosenhaus told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in May that "we have all the confidence" Timmons will be signed before camp starts. Continue

Steelers' LeBeau has plans for draft picks

Napkins, envelopes, random pieces of paper -- none have been safe around Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau lately. It is hardly uncommon for LeBeau (or any coach for that matter) to commit the ideas that are constantly swirling around his head to paper -- or whatever happens to be the closest thing on which he can write.

But LeBeau said there has been one significant difference between the creative impulse that followed the NFL draft and countless ones that preceded it. The Steelers' taking outside linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley with their first two picks has really brought out the mad scientist in LeBeau. Continue

Agent promises Timmons won't hold out

Wildly successful agent Drew Rosenhaus has never experienced a player holdout he didn't enjoy. But he has good news for Steelers fans who are concerned about his bad-guy reputation for holding teams hostage during contract negotiations. Rosenhaus guaranteed that first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons will be signed in time for the start of training camp in July at Saint Vincent College. "We have all confidence that Lawrence will be signed before camp starts," Rosenhaus said.

Timmons, the Florida State linebacker who was the 15th overall player selected in this year's draft, will participate in his first official team function -- a mandatory minicamp Friday-Sunday at the Steelers' South Side facility. Continue

NFL draft speaks volumes about current Steelers players

The Steelers may not be precisely sure where their new additions fit in. But the NFL draft and the team's reaction to it was revealing in regard to how some players are being perceived. Punter Chris Gardocki, for example, is a goner. Dan Kreider, while in no danger of being let go, is going to play less of a role, as the Steelers diversify on offense and begin to rely more on their tight ends than their fullback.

Najeh Davenport and Verron Haynes, who technically isn't back on the roster but appears to have been offered an open door, have been rubber-stamped via the Steelers' decision not to draft a running back. Continue

Steelers' new punter already a hit on TV

There's a highlight of him from 2004 running under his 51-yard punt and then smacking North Texas return man Johnny Quinn to the turf. "Maybe the best hit we've had since I've been around here," gushed Baylor coach Guy Morriss at the time. "The kid bugs me every day about being a linebacker, and I understand why."

At 6 feet 2 1/2, Sepulveda is taller than the Steelers' first-round draft choice, linebacker Lawrence Timmons, and at 229 pounds just five pounds lighter -- and faster, considering Sepulveda has been clocked running the 40 at 4.43. Continue