What we learned from minicamp

Transcription

1 ESPN.com - Steelers have a lot of options on offense Page 1 of 3 6/25/2008 ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images] Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Steelers have a lot of options on offense By James Walker ESPN.com The Pittsburgh Steelers, the reigning champions of the AFC North, continue to build the way they always have -- through the draft. Selecting first-round tailback Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois and As he learns the ropes behind starting tailback Willie Parker, rookie first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall will provide the Steelers with a dangerous weapon out of the backfield. second-round receiver Limas Sweed of Texas could turn out to be major steals for Pittsburgh. Neither player will start this season, but both could play important roles in the offense. Fifth-round QB Dennis Dixon also could be used on offense during trick plays. Dixon was the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy until a knee injury ended his senior season. Coming off a $102 million contract extension, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had another solid minicamp and looks poised to put up big numbers once again. Last year he threw for 3,154 yards and a career-high 32 touchdowns, and there is no reason to believe he cannot be just as stellar this season with the team's added weapons. The defense was tops in the NFL in 2007 and again should be one of the league's stingiest units. Outside linebacker Clark Haggans, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals, was the only significant loss on that side of the football. But Pittsburgh expects Lawrence Timmons or LaMarr Woodley, both of whom are second-year players, to step in and fill that role. What we learned from minicamp The Steelers want to go big on offense.

2 ESPN.com - Steelers have a lot of options on offense Page 2 of 3 6/25/2008 Roethlisberger asked for bigger receivers and, lo and behold, Pittsburgh's newest skill players resemble an NBA team. New acquisitions Sweed (6-foot-4), Matt Trannon (6-6) and 2007 draft pick Dallas Baker (6-3) join tight ends Heath Miller (6-5) and Matt Spaeth (6-7) as bigger red zone targets. NFL.com Video An inside look at Troy Polamalu's offseason rehabilitation program. Starters Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes remain the stalwarts in the passing game. Ward sat out this offseason after knee surgery, but Holmes looked very impressive as Roethlisberger's favorite target in minicamp. Holmes was very sharp and in great shape, and he was the hardest receiver for the Steelers' defense to contain in team drills. Sweed also caught the ball well and is coming along fine after a wrist injury dropped his stock a little in the draft. Sweed and third-year veteran Nate Washington should have a good competition for the No. 3 receiver spot in training camp. Still unresolved Pittsburgh didn't do much to address its shaky offensive line. The Steelers lost former All-Pro Alan Faneca, who left a gaping hole at guard. The team signed Justin Hartwig from the Carolina Panthers, who can play both guard and center. But the team can use help at both positions. The running game was solid last year, but pass protection remains Pittsburgh's biggest weakness. Roethlisberger was sacked 47 times last year and 93 times total the past two seasons. Even at 6-5, 241 pounds, no quarterback should have to endure that kind of beating. If Hartwig remains at his natural position, he could be a solid center and an upgrade there this season. But questions still remain at guard and tackle, as opposing defenses were often able to collapse the pocket in the passing game and force Roethlisberger to make plays with his legs, throw on the run, or take a sack. Injury analysis

3 ESPN.com - Steelers have a lot of options on offense Page 3 of 3 6/25/2008 "Fast" Willie Parker lived up to his nickname in minicamp. He hasn't lost much of his speed coming off a broken fibula, but the team was cautious, keeping him out of the second half of two-a-days. Parker says he's fine and that sitting out was just a precautionary measure. He is expected to increase his workload by training camp. Last year, he was leading the NFL in rushing with 1,316 yards before he broke his leg in December. Ward played on a bad knee for most of last year but had it corrected in the offseason. He also says he will be ready by training camp. Mendenhall factor Mendenhall is exciting to watch, with a good combination of size, strength and speed. Mendenhall suffered a minor hamstring injury in minicamp but has since returned. Pittsburgh's coaching staff is excited about devising ways to get Mendenhall on the field, either as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. There are even packages to put both Parker and Mendenhall in the same backfield to provide dual running and passing threats. Mendenhall was a dynamic player in college last season. He's in an ideal spot in Pittsburgh, where he will not be asked to do too much right away. Training camp start date: July 28 James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN.com. ESPN.com: Help PR Media Kit Sales Media Kit Report a Bug Contact Us News Archive Site Map ESPN Shop Jobs at ESPN Supplier Information 2008 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use (Updated 5/6/08) and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.

4 Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw clarifies comments about steroid use Page 1 of 1 6/25/2008 Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw clarifies comments about steroid use BY NATHANIEL VINTON AND MICHAEL O'KEEFFE DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS Tuesday, June 24th 2008, 6:48 PM Terry Bradshaw used steroids, but not those kinds of steroids. Appearing at a news conference Tuesday in midtown to welcome Michael Strahan to the "Fox NFL Sunday" team, the Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-broadcaster clarified comments he made last week in a radio interview during which he said he used steroids while playing for the great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s. Bradshaw said he was referring to therapeutical corticosteroid injections, which are used to reduce inflammation, not anabolic steroids that build muscle and sometimes cause extreme side effects. "I'm not bodybuilding here," Bradshaw said, laughing about the confusion that stemmed from the interview. "They were not those kind of steroids. They were anti-inflammatories." Bradshaw was more vague last week in his radio interview with Sports Illustrated's Dan Patrick, who did not ask for clarification. "We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing," Bradshaw told Patrick. "My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up (healing after) injury, and thought nothing of it.... It was to speed up the healing process, that was it. It wasn't to get bigger and stronger and faster." Anabolic steroids are on the NFL's prohibited substance list, but corticosteroids are not. It is not uncommon for players to receive cortisone injections for injuries. Such shots are banned in Olympic sports unless the athlete has a medical exemption filed with anti-doping agencies. Bradshaw told The News he had surgery recently to repair to broken vertebrae from his playing days. He said he is using corticosteroids to aid his recovery. "I've been on steroids for about six weeks," he said.

5 Giants sign guard Chris Snee to $43.5 million extension - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 1 Powered by EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants guaranteed that their offensive line will stay together for the foreseeable future, signing guard Chris Snee on Wednesday to a six-year, $43.5 million contract extension. Advertisement Snee, 26, will earn nearly $24 million in the first three years of the deal, agent Tony Agnone said. The extension will keep the right guard under contract with the Super Bowl champions through Since beating the New England Patriots for the NFL title in February, the Giants have locked up three starters on the offensive line. Left tackle David Diehl got a two-year extension last month that will keep him under contract through 2013 and pay him $31 million. Right guard Rich Seubert also got a new contract through Right tackle Kareem McKenzie and center Shaun O'Hara are under contract through "Chris thought re-signing everyone was important," Agnone said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "They can have a cohesive unit for a while now." The signing will also keep the family happy. Snee is the son-in-law of coach Tom Coughlin. The Giants rewarded the coach after the Super Bowl with a four-year contract worth $21 million. "I am just happy to have it done before the season and really just have peace of mind and not worry about it and go out and play," Snee said. "I had faith that it would be done." A former second-round draft pick, Snee has started all 59 regular-season and six postseason games that he has played for the Giants. The former Boston College product has started 48 consecutive regular-season games. He missed the final five games of his rookie season because of an inflamed gland under his jaw. "We are very pleased to get Chris extended," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He has been a tremendous player and person for us since day one. It's also very important to keep our offensive line intact." The Giants scored 373 points, their fifth-highest total in franchise history, last season. New York averaged yards rushing, fourth best in the league. The Giants also acquired guard Kurt Quarterman off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. He spent most of last season on the Falcons' practice squad. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

6 NFL looking into Marshall misdemeanor arrest in Atlanta - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 1 Powered by DENVER (AP) The NFL is looking into the March 6 arrest of Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall on a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly hitting his girlfriend. Advertisement NFL spokesman Gary Aiello confirmed the inquiry Wednesday but declined to comment further. Fulton County, Ga., authorities say no formal charges have been filed. Marshall's lawyer was in a meeting and unable to comment. The arrest was reported in Wednesday's editions of The Denver Post. Marshall's girlfriend filed an affidavit in Fulton County claiming Marshall hit her in the mouth and eye on March 4. Marshall, who owns homes in Denver and Atlanta, was released on a $1,000 bond. Separately, Marshall is scheduled for trial in September on a DUI charge stemming from an October 2007 arrest in Denver. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

7 ESPN.com - Friends offer counsel, support -- if Walker decides he wants it Page 1 of 4 ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images] Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Friends offer counsel, support -- if Walker decides he wants it By Bill Williamson ESPN.com Ray Sherman knows life hasn't been right for Javon Walker since the first day of Walker's world has taken a turn that worries Sherman, the Dallas Cowboys' receivers coach and a longtime Walker mentor. "It's not him," said Sherman, who became a father figure to Walker while the two were in Green Bay together. "We need to sit down and talk. He needs to say what is going on, what is bothering him. We need to hammer it out. I'm concerned. I'm worried about him." Sherman's concern is shared by others. Many of the dozens of people ESPN.com interviewed declined to talk on the record about their concern for Walker, a wide receiver who in March signed a six-year, $55 million deal with the Oakland Raiders. But everyone said they have reached out to him in recent days and they all worry about Walker's well-being, both mentally and physically. A traumatic 18-month journey took another sad, upsetting turn in the early morning June 16 on a desolate Las Vegas side street. Shortly after 7 a.m., Walker's athletic body was found motionless, unconscious. His classically handsome face was battered. His wallet was empty. Jewelry was missing from his wrist, his neck and his ears. Two days after the assault, the Raiders said they expected the former Pro Bowl receiver to make a full recovery and to be ready for training camp. ESPN.com's attempts to interview Walker were unsuccessful and his agent, Kennard McGuire, declined to comment. The police still are investigating the robbery, which occurred after Walker spent two nights in chic casino nightclubs, reportedly spraying patrons with expensive bottles of champagne. Once again, Vegas and spraying champagne bottles were playing a leading role in a drama starring Walker. "When I heard this week that [the robbery] happened in Vegas, it immediately made me think of the past," said Walker's former Denver teammate John Lynch. Javon Walker, shown here in 2006, expects to recover from facial injuries and a concussion suffered in a June 16 robbery in time to participate in the Raiders' July training camp. "It was just ironic. I'm not going to judge Javon. He's been through stuff few of us can imagine. He's really a good guy. I just hope the best for him." Worry and concern have dominated thoughts for Walker since the first hours of 2007.

8 ESPN.com - Friends offer counsel, support -- if Walker decides he wants it Page 2 of 4 Walker was sitting next to popular Denver right cornerback Darrent Williams in a limousine when Williams was shot and killed in a still unsolved drive-by shooting. Walker said in an August, 2008 interview with HBO -- the only documented time Walker has spoken about the tragedy -- that Williams died in his arms. Walker showed up at Denver's facility 12 hours after the shooting with Williams' blood covering his white shirt. In the HBO interview, Walker said there was a melee at a Denver nightclub before the shooting death of Williams that escalated when fellow Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall and his cousin were spraying champagne. Walker, who was known to go to Vegas often on the team's off days in 2006, went to Las Vegas and was seen frequenting nightclubs during the weekend of Williams' funeral. Nearly every other member of the Broncos' organization attended the heart-breaking service in Williams' hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Walker was roundly criticized for the action, but many in the Denver organization supported him, saying he needed to handle the situation his way. Rosalind Williams, who lost her only child in the limousine, said she wasn't upset with Walker for not going to the service. Williams, who has built a relationship with Walker since the tragedy, cringes at the thought that Walker went to Las Vegas this month. Still, she said it all makes sense. On the weekend of Walker's trip, the Darrent Williams Foundation held its first fundraising gala and parade. Rosalind Williams personally asked Walker to attend the event. He told her he was busy. Williams believes Walker, who'll turn 30 in October, went back to Las Vegas so he'd have an excuse not to face the memory of her son's loss. "It hurts me because he should have been here," Williams said. "But he went back to Vegas. It's his coping mechanism." Williams said she knows Walker has not come to grips with the loss of her son. "He hasn't dealt with it, he just tried to move on, and believe me, you can't," she said. "I think he is just trying to be strong for everyone. Some men are like that. But he hasn't allowed himself to grieve." Perhaps, he's now trying. Sherman said Walker recently told him he is seeking professional counseling to deal with his memories of Williams. In his HBO interview, Walker was defiant when asked about the possibility of counseling. He said he didn't need it. The Broncos tried to get Walker help, but he was reluctant. "There were guys who said if he needed to talk, we were there for him," Lynch said. "But he never wanted to go there." Some close to Walker said he has said he feels he can't get over Williams' death. Still, those who know him best said that day has changed him dramatically. Walker's Rosalind Williams embraces Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan at the funeral for her son Darrent Williams in She believes Javon Walker "hasn't allowed himself to grieve" her son's death.

9 ESPN.com - Friends offer counsel, support -- if Walker decides he wants it Page 3 of season was hampered by a knee injury that helped lead to an ugly departure from the Broncos, similar to his 2005 farewell to Green Bay. Besides the injury, many in the locker room said Walker, already a loner, was withdrawn last season. "It will never go away, but he needs to deal with it so he can go on," said Sherman, who lost his son to an accidental shooting in Green Bay several years ago. "Javon needs to come to grips. He is such a good guy. My daughters look at him like a big brother. He has such a good heart." On his ESPN radio talk show in Dallas, Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin talked to Rosalind Williams about Walker. He told her on the air that he was close with Walker prior to the shooting. But Irvin told Williams that he can no longer get Walker to return his calls since the tragedy. Others have similar tales. NFL.com Video Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin on his conversation with Javon Walker. Walker, described by some as a lost soul, is an enigma. He can be as cocky and selfish as any receiver in the league, often clamoring for the ball through the media. But he can also be generous and caring. Walker, who made a practice in Denver of asking media members about their families and often asked for details of their jobs, would often show up at high school football games in low-income areas of Denver on Friday nights. Last season, he wore a Mohawk in a clear tribute to Williams for several months but he never publicly admitted the tribute, and also surprised Rosalind Williams with a professionally painted portrait of her and her son. He also donated $30,000 to the Darrent Williams Teen Center in Denver. For all of his inner pain, his questionable judgment and his complaints about his role in offenses in both Green Bay and in Denver, Walker has a sizable warm, lovable side. "Hearing about this situation is just so hard because I have so many good memories of Javon," said Jeff Bowden, Walker's offensive coordinator at Florida State. "He'll always be a special kid to me. And that's how I see Javon -- as a kid. He has that great child-like smile. He always wanted to please you -- he was never trouble. Never." "He's a great kid," Sherman said. "I just want the best for him."

10 ESPN.com - Friends offer counsel, support -- if Walker decides he wants it Page 4 of 4 Bill Williamson covers the NFL for ESPN.com. ESPN.com: Help PR Media Kit Sales Media Kit Report a Bug Contact Us News Archive Site Map ESPN Shop Jobs at ESPN Supplier Information 2008 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use (Updated 5/6/08) and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.