Steelers: Is offensive line worth big bucks?

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1 Steelers: Is offensive line worth big bucks? Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers: Is offensive line worth big bucks? Monday, August 03, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette Steelers offensive tackle Willie Colon could command a big contract next season. By any mathematical standard, the Steelers tossed around a lot of money to re-sign two players -- left tackle Max Starks and left guard Chris Kemoeatu -- from an offensive line that remains, even despite a Super Bowl victory, a lightning rod for criticism. Starks signed a four-year, $26.3 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus in the offseason, despite beginning each of the past two seasons as a backup. And Kemoeatu, after just one season as a starter, signed a five-year, $20 million deal that included a nearly $4 million signing bonus. Think that was too much? The Steelers might have to pay even more if they want to keep right tackle Willie Colon, who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The coaches not only think Colon, 26, was the team's best offensive lineman last season; they think he is one of the best at his position in the National Football League. "I think Willie Colon is as good a right tackle as there is in this league," said offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. "He's as good a run-blocking right tackle as there is in the league," said offensive line coach Larry Zierlein. "He's an excellent drive blocker and his pass protection has improved tremendously. He's a lot better pass blocker than people want to give him credit for." The Steelers allowed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to be sacked 46 times last season -- second most among NFL quarterbacks -- and their running game averaged the fewest rushing yards per game (105.6) of any playoff team in franchise history. But, they won the Super Bowl, despite having four players at new positions on the line, and they rewarded two of those players with enough money to bankroll the new casino opening next to Heinz Field. In the process, they let go two of their former starters -- left tackle Marvel Smith, who had been plagued with back problems; and former No. 1 pick Kendall Simmons, who missed most of last season with a torn Achilles' tendon. "They obviously believe in Max; they believe in all five of us," said center Justin Hartwig, another player who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. "They signed those guys to big contracts in the offseason and they deserve them. They're up-and-coming young players." But where do the Steelers go from here? If Colon, a fourth-round pick from Hofstra in 2006, was their best offensive lineman last season, then Hartwig was a close second. Brought in as an unrestricted free agent to handle some of the bigger nose tackles in the AFC, especially in the Steelers' division, Hartwig more than held his own against players such as Cleveland's Shaun Rogers and Baltimore's Haloti Ngata.

2 Steelers: Is offensive line worth big bucks? Page 2 of 2 "They're obviously going to make their plays because that's what they're paid to do," Hartwig said. "But, overall, I felt I did a pretty good job to neutralize those guys." Hartwig, though, signed only a two-year contract with the Steelers and the team would like to sign him to an extension, if possible. He said he didn't want to sign a longer contract at the time because he "didn't know what was going to unfold" with the Steelers. "I know coach [Mike] Tomlin mentioned to me a while back that he wished he had signed me for longer, but it's a better situation for me," Hartwig said. "If I stay healthy and continue to play at a high level, I feel like everything will take care of itself. "We've had brief discussions with the Steelers and there's mutual interest in having me here beyond this year, but it remains to be seen. I know there are a lot of guys up after this year and they have paid several players this year." And they're going to have to pay Colon, especially if they hold him in such high regard. Colon enters his third season as a starter, but, for the first time, is unchallenged at the position. He spent each of the past two seasons battling Starks for the right tackle spot, beating him out when Starks was the incumbent in 2007 and then holding him last season in what was loosely billed as a training camp competition. The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line, even though the production did not seem to merit such a windfall. But Arians is not concerned, nor is he deterred. He likes the players on his line. "I think we're a solid offensive line," he said. "An offensive line is all about cohesiveness, five guys working together, and you look at our injuries -- Marvel goes down, Kendall goes down. They really did a great job, I thought, of doing that. They're a very close knit group. They have each other's back." Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com. First published on August 3, 2009 at 12:00 am

3 Steelers Notebook: Mendenhall takes steps to get better Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Mendenhall takes steps to get better Monday, August 03, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Safety Troy Polamalu walks off the practice field with ice bags wrapped around both legs at the end of practice yesterday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. If Rashard Mendenhall starts to dance through holes this season, maybe he can attribute it to part of his offseason workout program. Who knows? He might even land a spot on "Dancing With The Stars." Mendenhall, last year's No. 1 pick, began taking a hip-hop dance class last season after a season-ending shoulder injury and eventually took part in a dance performance before about 1,000 people, including some of his teammates, at Chartiers Valley Intermediate School. He said the dancing helped with his conditioning and he "definitely" is in better shape than he was last year when he came to training camp. Mendenhall said he is more cut and has added more muscle since last season. "It's a lot different," he said. "It's tough to be able to move like that for a period of time. You get a newfound respect going through that." Mendenhall began taking the classes at the Bella School of Dance in Wexford shortly after his injury -- a broken scapula Sept. 29 when he was hit by Baltimore's Ray Lewis -- began to feel better. He continued the classes through the spring, culminating with the performance in June that was attended by free agent running back Stefan Logan, free agent wide receiver Brandon Williams and director of player development Ray Jackson. "I like it, it was something to do," Mendenhall said. Asked if the hip-hop classes will help him as a running back, Mendenhall said, "I would think being able to move, the creativity of making guys miss, it probably can." Then he added, "I have been dancing since I was little, but this was the first time I took a class, so it was exciting, it was new." Is his dance career over? "I don't see myself being done with it, but I don't know if I can do it if I'm around the whole season," Mendenhall said. Tank buster Rookie running back Frank "The Tank" Summers, a fifth-round pick from UNLV, was knocked off his feet and fumbled after being hit by 190-pound cornerback William Gay in the afternoon practice. Gay's hit on Summers, who weighs 240 pounds, did not sit well with running back Carey Davis, who yelled at Gay. Safety Ryan Clark then came over and "stirred the pot," he said, verbally jousting with Davis. "When you carry a nickname like 'The Tank' guys are going to try you," coach Mike Tomlin said. "They want him to prove that nickname is earned."

4 Steelers Notebook: Mendenhall takes steps to get better Page 2 of 2 Asked if he likes it when the players are physical, Tomlin said, "I'd rather say 'Whoa,' than 'sic-em.'" Working in the rain Tomlin did not stop practice, nor cut it short, when a heavy rain came about an hour after the players took the field yesterday. "We don't worry about things we don't control; we came here to work," Tomlin said. "They maintained their focus through the rain. There was no lightning, so no real danger." Helping hand Former Pro Bowl center Dermontti Dawson, who is spending a week as a scouting intern, is being asked to take on another job while he is at Saint Vincent -- work with rookie center A.Q. Shipley of Penn State and Moon Area High School. "They just want me to help some of the young guys with some of the slant-tackle sets," said Dawson, who owns a commercial real-estate development company in Lexington, Ky. Dawson said he wants to learn the scouting business because he is getting tired of working in an office. "I like to be out and moving around," he said. Quick hits Wide receiver Hines Ward was held out of practice for precautionary reasons. Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons did not practice after getting a cramp Saturday, but he is expected to be back today. Rookie defensive tackle Sonny Harris (strained groin), a sixth-round draft choice, also did not practice.... Wide receiver Limas Sweed, a No. 2 pick last year, made two outstanding catches along the sideline on the first series of team drills. "Night and day," Sweed said, describing the difference in his comfort level between last year and this year.... One of the early standouts has been rookie tight end/hback David Johnson of Arkansas State, a seventh-round pick. Other rookies who have caught the attention of the coaching staff -- free agent running back Isaac Redman (6-0, 230) of Bowie State, the school's career rushing leader; and free agent tackle/guard Ramon Foster of Tennessee. Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com. First published on August 3, 2009 at 12:00 am

5 NFL Notebook: Mason returns to the Ravens Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Mason returns to the Ravens Death of McNair led to retirement Monday, August 03, 2009 The Associated Press Derrick Mason was looking around for a marching band to mark his much-anticipated return to the Baltimore Ravens. Back on the field three weeks after announcing his retirement, Mason kiddingly spoke about getting the kind of reception that wide receiver Terrell Owens received upon his arrival with the Buffalo Bills. "T.O. went to the airport and got a band," Mason said with a smile after his first training camp practice. "I can't even get the Girl Scouts to come out." After announcing his retirement July 13, Mason acknowledged that family weighed heavily on his mind, as did the murder of close friend and former teammate Steve McNair. "It impacted my decision on whether to continue to play or retire," Mason said of McNair's death. "When something like that happens out of the blue, it makes you think about certain things where your life is headed and where your football career is headed." Now the 35-year-old Mason says he's 100 percent committed to the Ravens, as he enters the final year of a five-year, $20 million contract. Mason was seeking an extension during the offseason, but said his contract status had no bearing on his decision to retire. "When I made it, I was sincere about it," Mason said. "It wasn't a ploy or anything contractual. It was from the heart.... I'm coming back to play football and try to win a Super Bowl." Browns Cleveland Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers was limited during practice with an unspecified injury. Rogers, who is coming off a dominant first season with Cleveland, was in full uniform but only rode a stationary bike and did other conditioning work while the Browns went through their second day of training camp. Cardinals Rookie running back Beanie Wells sprained his right ankle in his first training camp practice with Arizona. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said yesterday the injury doesn't appear serious but it's uncertain how much practice time Arizona's first-round draft pick will miss. Vikings Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson did not practice while rehabbing a sprained MCL in his left knee. Jackson stayed inside while his teammates practiced in the afternoon and he wore a brace on the knee when he emerged from the locker room. Broncos Disgruntled Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall missed the last hour of practice after pulling up with an apparent hamstring injury while running a deep sideline route. Titans Not Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem. Forget about hiring a private chef to cook healthy meals. LenDale White lost more than 30 pounds this offseason and is in his fourth training camp with Tennessee at his slimmest weight since high school. Just how did he lose the weight? White gave up tequila. "I really got to be honest," White said. "It wasn't a lot of major diet changes. [It was] watching what I drink. I was a big Patron consumer." Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. First published on August 3, 2009 at 12:00 am

6 Steelers' Mendenhall eager to show moves - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers' Mendenhall eager to show moves By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, August 3, 2009 After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last September, Rashard Mendenhall wanted to find something to keep him active. Mendenhall, who has an artistic bent, signed up for hip-hop dance lessons at a Pittsburgh dance studio. Near the end of June, he performed in a recital at Chartiers Valley Intermediate School. Among those in the crowd of about 1,000 people were Steelers director of player development Ray Jackson, running back/wide receiver Stefan Logan and wide receiver Brandon Williams. "It does take a little extra gumption to go out there and dance in front of some people knowing you are the biggest person out there," Williams said. "On a scale of one to 10, I'll give him a seven. He worked hard, and it showed." Mendenhall is hoping his hard work pays off on a much bigger stage and also allows him to showcase his moves. The Steelers' first-round draft pick in 2008 is healthy and is expected to push starter Willie Parker for playing time this season. Mendenhall is part of a backfield that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said may be as deep as he has ever seen as a coach. That is good news for any offense and particularly one that finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing a year ago, as the Steelers uncharacteristically did. "Everybody is capable of busting one out there," Arians said, "all the way down to the last guy." Arians compared the quality depth the Steelers appear to have at running back to what he had in Kansas City in the early 1990s when the Chiefs' stable of backs included Christian Okoye and Barry Word. "If you told me Frank (Summers) and Isaac (Redman) had to be our backs, I'd feel pretty good except for the fact that they are rookies," said the well-traveled Arians, who coached running backs for the Chiefs from "But talentwise, I'd be real happy." He'll hardly be disappointed with Parker, a two-time Pro Bowler, and Mendenhall.

7 Steelers' Mendenhall eager to show moves - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 Both reported to training camp in excellent condition, and Mendenhall said he is in better shape than he was as a rookie. Even more promising for the Steelers: Parker has embraced the idea of sharing the load at running back even though he could be playing for a new contract. "It's a long season, (and) most NFL teams are merging into a two-back system," said Parker, who is going into the final year of his deal with the Steelers, "so I think it would be great for me not to get as many carries as I got two years ago." A heavy workload in 2006 and 2007 seemed to catch up with Parker, who averaged 329 carries in those two seasons. He missed five games last season with shoulder and knee injuries. The sixthyear veteran also averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry and gained only 791 yards. When Parker and Mendenhall were sidelined, it was Mewelde Moore who kept the running game afloat. That is why Arians said Moore will be anything but an afterthought even if the 5-10, 209-pound Parker has a bounce-back season and Mendenhall lives up to the promise that made him a first-round pick. "If we didn't have Mewelde last season," Arians said of the player who could be the team's third-down back, "we wouldn't have been in the Super Bowl." The broken shoulder he sustained in his first NFL start forced Mendenhall to watch the Steelers' Super Bowl run from a distance. Dance lessons may have helped him stay fit and flexible, Mendenhall said, but it couldn't replace football. The 5-10, 225-pounder said he has lost a little weight and added that "maybe" he is more cut these days. What is clear is the only dancing Mendenhall hopes to be doing in the next couple of months is the kind that takes place in end zones following touchdowns. When asked how anxious he is to getting back to playing football, Mendenhall said: "As a competitor, who wouldn't be? Expectations will be high, but that's how it's supposed to be." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

8 Harris: Long odds don't bother Grisham - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Harris: Long odds don't bother Grisham By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, August 3, 2009 Tyler Grisham allegedly doesn't have the speed to go deep, but there he was somehow getting behind the Steelers' secondary to grab a long pass on the first day of practice. Grisham is what's known as training-camp fodder. His measurables height, weight, 40-time don't stack up. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent following an undistinguished senior season at Clemson. When he caught the ball Saturday for the longest pass play of the afternoon, I had to consult my roster because I didn't know who No. 19 was. Grisham is the type of player who grows on you. The more you watch him, the more you realize he can play. Forget his 40-time. He has football speed, similar to Wes Welker and Kevin Curtis. "I'm going to have to play extremely well to make the team," Grisham said in the understatement of the year. "What's good is we have Hines Ward on the team. He's made a niche for himself in the NFL. He's played so long because he's smart, he has good hands, he's tough and runs good routes. That's what I think I bring." Mind you, Grisham 5-foot-11, 180 pounds won't receive many opportunities with the Steelers, playing behind the likes of Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, Shaun McDonald, Dallas Baker and Mike Wallace. The Steelers kept five receivers last season, which means Grisham barring injuries to veterans is facing long odds. He knows that, and he couldn't care less. "I've had to work my way up from the bottom at every level," said Grisham, who recorded 132 receptions for 1,390 yards and eight touchdowns in his career at Clemson but had only 37 catches and one touchdown reception as a senior. "If I sit around and think I'm in a room with Super Bowl MVPs and (high) draft picks, I'm only going to think negative thoughts. You've got to go out there and think everybody's the same. I felt Pittsburgh would be a good place for me to compete."

9 Harris: Long odds don't bother Grisham - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier gives Grisham high marks. "He's tailor-made for what the Steelers do," Detillier said. "They like to throw that short intermediate stuff, have somebody go across the middle. He fits that mold." Steelers college scout Dan Rooney Jr. is credited with finding Grisham. Rooney has a reputation for locating hidden gems undrafted free agent Willie Parker comes to mind. Maybe Rooney saw something special in Grisham like he did in Parker. Wide receivers coach Randy Fichtner said Grisham has a chance because he can play inside and outside and has the ability to take what he learns in the classroom and apply it on the field. A voracious blocker, Grisham recorded 68.5 knockdowns in 2007, according to the Steelers' media guide. "Dan Rooney scouts that area and was the first to tell me about him," Fichtner said. "(Offensive coordinator) Bruce Arians was also familiar with him. Some of the best route runners, some of the best receivers in the league, aren't always the fastest. He's solid. I haven't found a weakness yet.'' Of course, if Grisham was such a hot commodity at receiver, he would have been a first-round pick instead of an undrafted free agent. He knows the odds are stacked against him. To shorten those odds, he's also playing on special teams. "I'm going to have to be extremely consistent, more than I ever have been," Grisham said. "They're working me in everything punt returns, kickoff returns. That's how I have to make the team. I have to be very valuable." John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

10 The Tank takes a big hit at Steelers camp - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 The Tank takes a big hit at Steelers camp By Scott Brown and John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, August 3, 2009 Two days into training camp, running back Frank "The Tank" Summers got his welcome-to-the-nfl moment. Near the end of practice Sunday, cornerback William Gay lowered his shoulder into the 5-foot-10, 240-pound rookie on a running play. The collision jarred the ball loose, giving Gay the hit of the day in what turned out to be a lively practice. "When you carry a nickname like 'The Tank,' guys are going to try you," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "They want him to prove that that nickname is earned. That's the story of the National Football League. This is a show-me game. He's starting to understand that." When asked if he welcomed such physical play among teammates, Tomlin said, "I'd rather say 'Whoa' than 'Sic 'em.' " The Steelers held starting inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons out of practice yesterday as a precaution, Tomlin said. Timmons, who is ticketed to take over Larry Foote's old spot alongside James Farrior, didn't finish practice Saturday afternoon because of cramps caused by dehydration. Keyaron Fox and Donovan Woods got extra snaps in the absence of Timmons yesterday. "We'll start fresh with him (today)," Tomlin said of Timmons. Wide receiver Hines Ward was given practice off yesterday, a nod to his veteran status, while the Steelers held rookie defensive end Sonny Harris out of drills because of a strained groin. Center Justin Hartwig (toe) and tight end Heath Miller (abdomen) were again limited in practice. Rain intruded on practice yesterday. It did not, however, interrupt it, even though the threat of a storm caused the Steelers to clear spectators from the field at St. Vincent an hour early. Tomlin said he didn't mind the wet weather. "We don't worry about the things we can't control," Tomlin said. "No lightning so there was no real danger. I thought we had a very productive day. Very physical practice." Dennis Dixon said last week that he'd welcome the opportunity to run the Wildcat offense for the Steelers. It looks like the second-year quarterback has as good a chance of beating out Ben Roethlisberger as he does of getting featured in the sub package that is the wrinkle du jour in the NFL.

11 The Tank takes a big hit at Steelers camp - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 "I'm not a Wildcat guy," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said, "and Dennis would get broken in half." One of the top passing and running quarterbacks his senior year at Oregon, Dixon is long and lean at 6-3, 209 pounds. He gave the Steelers' first-team defense a look at the Wildcat before last season's regular-season finale when he played the role of Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs. But it doesn't look like Dixon will run the Wildcat in a game any time soon. "The only Wildcat runner in this league is a 240-pound running back named Ronnie Brown," Arians said of the Miami Dolphins running back. Dick LeBeau could appreciate the work of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, a fellow innovator and crafter of attacking, blitzing defenses. Their similarities are one reason why Johnson's death last Tuesday at the age of 68 hit LeBeau harder than most. "Jim and I were friends, and I thought he was a wonderful man and a great coach," said LeBeau, the Steelers' defensive coordinator. "It's a loss for all of us in the league. He was a great asset and beyond that a great man." Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the Eagles in May to deal with a cancerous tumor on his spine. "We just wish his family the very, very best," LeBeau said. Punter Daniel Sepulveda unleashed a bomb yesterday in practice. Kicking from the 10-yard line, Sepulveda boomed a punt so far that Santonio Holmes had to back-pedal into the shadow of the opposite end zoned to catch it. The Steelers have two practices today. The second one starts at 2:55 p.m and is free and open to the public. INSIDE THE ROPES A daily look at the best parts of the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe: ZIGGY UNLEASHED: Steelers first-round draft pick Ziggy Hood faced thirdround pick Kraig Urbik in one-on-one drills Sunday afternoon. Both players had their moments, but Urbik had more of them. The first time they lined up, Hood beat Urbik, who was playing right guard, with an outside rush. The next time, Urbik stopped Hood's bull rush. On the third try, Urbik stopped another Hood outside rush. Hood and Urbik went against each other three more times, with Urbik winning twice. Overall, Urbik won four of the six matchups. Urbik also looked good matched against veteran defensive end Aaron Smith. WIN SOME, LOSE SOME: Rookie defensive back Keenan Lewis played well Saturday, breaking up a long pass intended for fellow third-round draft pick Mike Wallace and also recording an interception. Yesterday, the tables turned

12 The Tank takes a big hit at Steelers camp - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 on Lewis, who was beaten deep by Wallace, outjumped for a long pass by Limas Sweed and was beaten on a short route by rookie free agent Tyler Grisham. NO MORE PLAYING IN SHORTS: Coach Mike Tomlin is fond of saying he doesn't put much stock in minicamps and voluntary practices because it's football in shorts. Tomlin finally got to see his players, especially his rookies, handle the physicality of training camp. Wallace caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger yesterday and was flattened by cornerback William Gay, who was congratulated by cornerback Ike Taylor for dropping the hammer on the rookie. When Wallace returned to the huddle, Roethlisberger congratulated him for making the catch under duress. PROVING GROUND: Two players who contributed very little as rookies squared off under the watchful eye of Tomlin yesterday. Linebacker Bruce Davis, a third-round pick in 2008 and tackle Tony Hills, last year's fourth-round selection, faced each other in one-on-one drills that received Tomlin's rapt attention. On one play, Tomlin used colorful language to motivate Hills. When Davis, trying to anticipate the snap count, jumped offsides, Tomlin said, "C'mon, 5-0 (Davis' number)!" GROUND ATTACK: As promised, Tomlin ran a goal-line drill yesterday following a rainstorm that scattered large groups of fans. With linebackers James Farrior and James Harrison egging on their teammates from behind the end zone, the defense stopped running back Justin Vincent for a 1-yard gain on first down. On second down, Shaun McDonald couldn't handle Dennis Dixon's pass in the end zone. On third down, Vincent slammed inside and scored standing. Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

13 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 1 Print Page MONDAY AUGUST 3, 2009 :: Last modified: Monday, August 3, :20 AM EDT Harrison's efficient as Smart car By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff LATROBE James Harrison is a smart guy. Make that a Smart guy. Even though he s one of the wealthiest athletes in the league, the fleet of cars he drives includes a low-budget ride that doesn t guzzle gas. I just want to help the environment, said Harrison, the star linebacker who drove to training camp in a Smart car. Last year, Harrison produced perhaps the greatest single-season performance by any defensive player in Steelers history. He set a franchise record with 16 sacks. He was named the team s Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the second straight year. And he set a Super Bowl record by returning an interception 100 yards on the last play of the first half in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Then in April, Harrison signed a new six-year contract reportedly worth $51.17 million including $20 million in guaranteed bonuses. He has more money than he could ever imagine, yet he has a Smart car which costs around $12,000 and gets 31 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway. The tiny car that s roughly 9 feet long, 5 feet high and 5 feet wide has another ecological bonus. It also has one of the lowest carbon dioxide emissions figures on the market. Friday when Harrison reported to camp, his Smart car caused such a stir that coach Mike Tomlin actually took a turn driving the car. Now that s an interesting vehicle, Tomlin said. It doesn t feel small, as you sit in the cabin, which was interesting. I expected it to feel maybe like a go-kart or something. But it s not, it s a nice little ride, and I imagine that he s only going to gas that thing up about once every six weeks. As far as football, how does Harrison improve on the season he had last year? I do whatever it is I need to do to make the defense better, he said. This is not about me. It s about the Pittsburgh Steelers, not James Harrison. My numbers may not be as good as last year. But as long as we get better as a total defense, I ll be happy about it.

14 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page MONDAY AUGUST 3, 2009 :: Last modified: Monday, August 3, :20 AM EDT Notebook: Sweed science? Don't think By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff LATROBE It s probably way too early to say that Limas Sweed has the No. 3 wide receiver spot locked up but he certainly looks like he has every intentions of doing so soon. Sweed, below, who struggled last year as a rookie, made two impressive catches Sunday afternoon during an 11-on-11 drill. The first was a diving grab on an intermediate out route near the sideline. The second was a long pass in which he out-jumped rookie cornerback Keenan Lewis. Just playing football, Sweed said afterward. Honestly, I wasn t just playing football last year. I was just thinking too much. Now I m out here playing like I was playing on Friday nights in high school (in Brenham, Texas). I m not over thinking. I m not trying to be perfect. I m not trying to play up to anybody s standard. I m playing to my own standard, and I feel like I m coming into my own. The Steelers are looking for a new No. 3 receiver after Nate Washington left for Tennessee via free agency in March. The candidates to succeed Washington are Sweed, free-agent acquisition Shaun McDonald and rookie Mike Wallace, a third-round draft pick. Sweed didn t have a perfect practice Sunday, however. He did have one glaring drop. But after that long catch on a pass from Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback made it a point to congratulate Sweed. Ben said, That s confidence, Sweed said. That s confidence that I can throw you the ball like that. That builds confidence and it builds a relationship. You make plays like that, and that will make me believe in you even more. RAIN DIDN T HURT Around 4:25 Sunday afternoon, rain began to fall in the Laurel Highlands while the Steelers were finishing up special teams practice. When it began to rain harder, most of the fans in attendance headed home but the Steelers kept on. Then about 20 minutes later, the rains let up. We came out here to work today, and I thought they did, coach Mike Tomlin said. They maintained focus throughout the rain, which is great. There was no lightning, so there was no real danger. I thought we had a very productive day. HURRY IT UP!

15 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Late in practice, the Steelers worked on their hurry-up offense and defense. Tomlin put the ball near midfield and put 1:12 on the clock. The offense tried to score a touchdown, the defense tried to prevent one. The first-team offense failed to score though as Roethlisberger s pass was intercepted by strong safety Troy Polamalu. The second-team offense, which Charlie Batch at quarterback, moved into the red zone but couldn t score. The third-team offense, with Dennis Dixon at QB, scored on a 1-yard run by running back Justin Vincent. INJURY UPDATE * LB Lawrence Timmons was held out of practice for what Tomlin said was cramps. Timmons left Saturday afternoon s practice for the same reason. * Rookie DL Ra Shon Harris sat out with a strained groin. * TE Heath Miller (sports hernia) was in uniform but hardly participated in drills. * C Justin Hartwig (toe) practiced but didn t take part in the two 11-on-11 sessions. * WR Hines Ward didn t practice after Tomlin gave the veteran the day off.

16 Essex hopes he has right stuff Page 1 of 2 Essex hopes he has right stuff By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com LATROBE - The person who came up with the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none," was definitely onto something. Just ask Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex. Essex worked hard last season to learn how to play every offensive line position except center. But when right guard Kendall Simmons was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon Sept. 29 against Baltimore, it wasn't Essex who got the call to replace him. Instead, second-year pro Darnell Stapleton moved into the open spot while Essex continued to be the team's top backup at both guard and tackle. "To that point last season, I hadn't played a lot of right guard," said Essex at the Steelers training camp here at Saint Vincent College. "I had practiced mostly on the left side. Darnell had played more right guard than me at that time. It was a lot of things. I thought I had a pretty good camp last year and thought I deserved to go in. But last year is last year." This year, the Jack of all trades is getting his opportunity to master the right side of the line. And Essex, a third-round pick in 2005, hopes to make the most of it. Simmons was released at the end of the 2008 season and the Steelers re-signed Essex to a two-year, $1.92-million contract offering him an opportunity to battle Stapleton for the starting right guard position. Rookie Kraig Urbik was also selected in the third round of the draft with the thought of turning up the heat on the competition at the position. "It's a competition like everything," said Essex. "Coaches like to say that all jobs are open. Some are more competition than others and this is a legit competition. I'm going in with that mindset, that I've got to win it. It's not going to be given to either one of us." Not that Essex would expect that, either. He spent the offseason working on his weight and conditioning - something that had been a problem for him in the past - and getting closer to his listed playing weight of 6-5, 324 pounds. "Trai has got desire to be great, he wants to be in the huddle with the other starting 10 and you've got to respect that," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "He will be given an opportunity, but that's all he will be given. Who walks out of that tunnel for us on opening day in the starting line up will determine what they do here." In this case - at least early on - it may be Stapleton who is being hurt by versatility. With starting center Justin Hartwig out of action early at training camp with a toe injury, Stapleton has been working at center with Essex lining up at right guard. Essex also spent much of the spring working on the right side of the line, something that was especially

17 Essex hopes he has right stuff Page 2 of 2 important since he had been a backup primarily on the left side - at both tackle and guard - throughout most of his first four NFL seasons. In fact, all four of his career starts have come at left tackle. "I played left tackle all throughout college and I was a backup here on the left side until last year," Essex said. "It was more of a weight placement thing, getting used to pushing off with my left leg as opposed to pushing off with my right one. "I practiced a lot with that, getting used to coming out of that position." But he feels all of the work on the right side has paid off, just as all of his work at four different positions did last season. "(Being the primary backup everywhere) you don't get enough time to get a lot of reps at one position," Essex said. "At the same time, if you're going to be that guy, you need the reps at the other positions, so it's a catch-22. I'm going to make it a very hard decision for them this year to do that (again)." Odds and end zones A 15-minute rain shower rolled through Latrobe Sunday during the Steelers' practice but the team completed its workout.... Linebacker Lawrence Timmons (cramps), defensive lineman Sonny Harris (groin), center Justin Hartwig (toe), tight end Heath Miller (hernia surgery) and wide receiver Hines Ward (veteran's day off) did not practice Sunday.... The Steelers will hold two practices today, the second of which (3 p.m.) is open to the public. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

18 The Herald Standard - Sports - 08/03/ Hood has impressive first day of practice Page 1 of 2 08/03/2009 Hood has impressive first day of practice By Jim Wexell, For the Herald-Standard UNITY TWP. - Ziggy Hood just wanted his first practice at training camp to be better than his last practice in the spring. The first-round pick did that and more. "I just watched the film and he really did have a good practice," said one team source. "He was throwing people around," said another. Advertisement "I wouldn't say 'Throwing people around,'" Hood said with an embarrassed laugh. "I was probably getting thrown around a bit myself." Humility won't get Hood everywhere with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the young defensive end is off to a strong start. Not that it was noticeable to the layman, or even the journalist, but the professionals watching the practice tape saw a young end carry out his assignments like a grown man. "Even I needed to watch the film before I felt good about the practice," Hood said. "Overall, I felt I had a great practice, but I'm always more concerned about getting better in the next practice." In Hood's second practice, in his first one-on-one drill in pads, he drew thirdrounder Kraig Urbik, the big guard from Wisconsin. Hood performed so well that Urbik came under fire from Coach Mike Tomlin. "I wouldn't say I embarrassed him," Hood said. "I probably got him once and he came at me the second time and got the best of me." Urbik came back with a better showing against Hood on Sunday, but Hood's athleticism is obvious. "Right now we're both just looking for playing time, really, and just trying to make each other better," Hood said. UP, DOWN O-LINE Trai Essex is off to a strong start at right guard. In fact, he could replace Darnell Stapleton full-time after Stapleton's fill-in stint at center ends. Yet, using Essex at guard would create a depth problem at tackle, where Tony Hills has performed poorly thus far. The 2008 fourth-round pick had the worst first day of all linemen, and he wasn't much better Sunday. Hills stopped Bruce Davis on the first rush, but was beaten - sometimes badly - the rest of the way. On a positive note, undrafted tackle Ramon Foster played well at left guard Sunday. In the one-on-one drills, Foster planted Jordan Reffett on his back and then stopped Reffett a second time. Foster also put Scott Paxson on the ground, causing line coach Larry Zierlein to shout, "We're having a Ramon day!" Foster also pulled into the strong side during the run scrimmage and blew open a hole for Rashard Mendenhall. The block occurred at the expense of a third-teamer, but look for the coaching staff to increase the level of competition against Foster in the next couple of days. PLAYS TOO HARD? Ryan Clark was telling reporters that he hoped the Steelers were "7-0, or whatever" when they travel to Denver for a Monday night game on Nov. 7, "so I won't have to play." Clark, of course, became ill his last two trips to Denver. The second illness - sparked by his sickle cell trait - resulted in the loss of his spleen and gall bladder. "Hopefully they'll figure it all out," he said of the doctors and coaches. "I want to play, but I'm not going to risk my life or my career to play a game." Clark is only 29 and together with Troy Polamalu forms what coordinator Dick LeBeau calls "head and shoulders the best safety tandem

19 The Herald Standard - Sports - 08/03/ Hood has impressive first day of practice Page 2 of 2 in the league." Yet, Clark isn't being offered a chance to extend his contract this offseason. Is it due to his health issues and the fact he threw his body into two shoulder injuries last season? "I choose not to get into it right now," Clark said. "I want to like (Business Coordinator) Omar (Khan). I want to like Kevin (Colbert). I want to like Coach Tomlin. Right now I just want to keep a positive attitude about everything. Sometimes during those contract negotiations you may hear something like that. I went through it with the Redskins and they brought up my surgeries and the way I threw my body around. Those are things, supposedly, that they liked about me, so sometimes you're right: When it comes time for contract talks, it's a negative. Right now it's not even a situation where we're talking about it like that." Tomlin appreciates Clark's positive attitude. Here's what the coach said after Sunday's practice: "The thing that I appreciate about Ryan Clark, and it's a special talent, is he doesn't have a bad day. He's always up. He's mentally tough. Those are the things I appreciate about him. His story's his story, but we've got a lot of guys with stories. That's what's great about this game." The Herald Standard 2009

20 Lowery Tries to Rebound After Tough Rookie Season - NYTimes.com Page 1 of 2 This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now. August 3, 2009 New Coach, New Tattoo and a Fresh Perspective for Jets Lowery By GREG BISHOP CORTLAND, N.Y. Dwight Lowery spent this spring performing football s version of regression analysis, a painful but necessary exercise that consisted of a single case study: his rookie season with the Jets. Lowery spent last season moving in reverse. He peaked in September, already a starting cornerback despite being a fourth-round draft pick, then fell both out of favor and out of the starting lineup. By Week 5, doubt held his confidence in a vise grip. Can I do anything right? Lowery said he often wondered. Lowery, 23, had expected that he would exchange the typical rookie challenges for growth, that coaches would find and focus on his flaws, that he would do more learning in one season than he had in all his previous years combined. Even when he shined in September, Lowery knew the attention could fade as quickly as it had come. Fade, it did. Eventually, he developed a crisis of confidence, although Lowery insisted it was as much from what happened off the field as what happened on it. Lowery said his playing style did not match the coaching style of the previous regime under Eric Mangini. He said the coaches talked down to the players, called them out in meetings, embarrassed them, discouraged them, pushed them toward their breaking points. I wasn t being talked to like a man, Lowery said. A lot of guys weren t being talked to like they were men. And when that happens, you don t necessarily rebel, but you re in an environment you don t want to be in. That s not an environment where you can be successful, if they re not treating you like an adult. Now in his second season, Lowery has engaged in an extreme makeover. He started by switching jersey numbers, to 21 from 34. He had a reminder of his rookie struggles tattooed on his left shoulder and down his arm. Those qualified more as cosmetic changes, but Lowery said his turning point came at an unexpected moment, in an unorthodox place. Upon returning to his hometown, Santa Cruz, Calif., Lowery and his girlfriend went into a shopping mall, where they found a store that Lowery described as total Zen. I thought I d check it out, Lowery said. I was thinking about Phil Jackson, all that kind of stuff. Tucked among the shelves filled with teas, incense and bamboo sticks, Lowery found a row of books. He took a liking to the first one he picked up, a book that took a self-help approach to building self-esteem. Even though Lowery cannot remember the title, he said those pages provided the beginnings of his turnaround.

21 Lowery Tries to Rebound After Tough Rookie Season - NYTimes.com Page 2 of 2 Lowery said the book told readers to name the two voices that speak most commonly inside their heads. The book said to call the voice that nags and focuses on faults Mr. Perfect, and to name the other voice, the more positive and pragmatic one, the Realist. Most football players would probably not read books aimed at boosting self-esteem to overcome the struggles of their rookie season, much less openly admit to reading those books. But Lowery found something in that book that he never expected to, and instead of trying to forget that Mangini benched him for the aging veteran Ty Law, he chose to embrace those struggles and channel them into his planned resurgence. Lowery, whose play had been slipping in the weeks before his benching, learned that the Jets had signed Law when he saw the news scroll across his television. He called that moment the best thing that ever could have happened to me, because it lifted the spotlight and the pressure. He gained additional perspective shortly after the Law signing, when his grandmother, Thelma Muse, had a heart attack. Lowery said Muse had basically raised him until he was 10, and although she recovered, he saw a parallel between nearly losing a loved one and losing his starting job. Each could happen at any time. Visits home, where Lowery held long talks with his uncle, helped too. Even when Lowery was 5, he and his uncle would sit in his uncle s car and talk for hours about Lowery s potential. While reminiscing about those conversations, Lowery fought back tears. Renewed confidence emerged, even when the Jets made a trade in March for cornerback Lito Sheppard, a former Pro Bowler with Philadelphia who immediately moved ahead of Lowery on the depth chart. Coach Rex Ryan noted Lowery s surging confidence level Sunday, along with the depth he gives the Jets at cornerback. Ryan plans to use Lowery in a variety of ways, from blitzing off the edge to covering tight ends in passing situations to the more traditional role of nickel back. When things aren t going your way as a rookie, and you retreat into a shell, it can be tough, safety Kerry Rhodes said. That s what happened to him last year. But the pressure is off him now. Teammates say Lowery looks like the player who surprised them last September after sliding into the starting lineup. In Ryan and his staff, Lowery has found uplifting counterparts compared with the coaching he experienced last season. Football feels more like freedom now. Lowery need look no further than his left shoulder for a reminder of that. There, he has a tattoo of a prisoner, shackled at the hands, chained to the ground below. The prisoner is reaching skyward, toward the clouds and the word believe. That says it all, Lowery said. Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Terms of Service Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

22 Harvin agrees to five-year deal with Vikes; Brown, Colts come to terms - USATODAY.c... Page 1 of 1 Powered by Harvin agrees to five-year deal with Vikes; Brown, Colts come to terms MANKATO, Minn. (AP) First-round draft pick Percy Harvin (FSY) has agreed to terms on a five-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, and the former Florida standout is expected to be ready for Sunday afternoon practice. Harvin missed the first two days of training camp while his agent Joel Segal negotiated a contract. Segal said his client was ready to hit the field immediately. Coach Brad Childress has said that it was important for Harvin, the 22nd overall pick in April's draft, to get into camp as soon as possible. He'll be asked to play a variety of roles for the Vikings, including wide receiver, running back and return man. While many scouts and draft analysts said Harvin had top-10 talent, he slipped to the Vikings due to concerns about his durability and a failed drug test at the NFL combine. Childress had some of the same concerns, so he flew to Florida and met personally with Harvin and his family before the draft. The coach came away impressed by his willingness to take responsibility for past mistakes and didn't hesitate to draft Harvin when the Vikings came on the clock. The versatile playmaker is expected to complement Adrian Peterson (FSY) in Minnesota's ramped-up offense. During minicamps earlier this summer, Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell began experimenting with their new toy. They lined up Harvin at receiver out wide, in the slot, and motioned him into the backfield on reverses and other running plays. His arrival could also bring a version of the Wildcat offense to Minnesota. Harvin and Peterson in the same backfield would give the Vikings a dynamic element that's been missing since Childress took over in Harvin also could bolster the team's mediocre return game. His quickness and ability to change directions in a heartbeat make him ideal for the job. Colts come to terms with first-round pick Donald Brown The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to terms with top draft pick Donald Brown (FSY). Team president Bill Polian made the announcement Sunday afternoon as the team reported to training camp in Terre Haute, Ind. He did not disclose details of the contract, which is expected to be signed before the Colts open practice Monday. Brown, a running back from Connecticut, is the last unsigned rookie of the Colts eight draft picks. Indianapolis announced last week that it had signed all of its other draft picks. Copyright 2009 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 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.