Monthly Archives: September 2013

Jonathan Dwyer Worked Out For The Patriots Today

The National Football Post reports that the Patriots had Jonathan Dwyer in for a workout today. Dywer was one of two running backs to workout with New England today. The Patriots had several other players in for workouts today, too, but none were immediately signed. Dwyer was also in for a workout with the New York Giants on Tuesday, but no signing is anticipated in the immediate future.

Dwyer’s tender offer was $1.323 million with the Steelers this year, but I can’t imagine a team signing him for more than the minimum $630,000 salary.

Steelers Vs. Titans Injury Report

The Steelers injury report for week one is out and it looks like this:

Out: Le’Veon Bell (foot)

Doubtful: Heath Miller (knee)

Probable: Jarvis Jones (chest), Will Johnson (hamstring), Brett Keisel (not injury related)

Will Johnson has been limited in practice this week due to his hamstring injury. Johnson told media today that he wants to play Sunday, but it will ultimately be Tomlin’s decision. No details were given about Keisel’s situation.

For the Titans:

Out: LB Gooden (ankle)

Doubtful: FB Quinn Johnson (quad)

Questionable: OT David Stewart (calf) and OLB Akeem Ayers (ankle)

Thursday Steelers Practice Participation Report

Great news and not so great news coming out of practice today. The great news- Jarvis Jones was a full participant. He was limited yesterday. The not so great news is that Will Johnson was limited again today in practice. Johnson said he was ’80 -85%’ yesterday, and happy with how things went after sprinting and testing his hamstring.

According to Jim Wexell, Johnson said he didn’t scrimmage today, and there’s “a good possibility” that he won’t play on Sunday. Get ready for a healthy dose of David Johnson.

Heath was also limited today in practice and Le’Veon Bell did not participate.

John Malecki Scheduled To Workout For Chiefs

According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, John Malecki has a workout scheduled with the Kansas City Chiefs. Malecki was released a day after making the 53 man roster so the team could sign offensive lineman Cody Wallace.

Malecki was a local kid who grew up in western PA, and played on the offensive line at Pitt. After bouncing around from practice squad to practice squad, he landed with the Steelers. Here’s what the former Steelers C/G told the Tribune about his time with the Steelers earlier this week.

“I got a long-shot, small opportunity when I first got to the Steelers, and they gave me every chance that they could to make that team,” Malecki said. “It was truly a humbling and a really great circumstance for me, being a local guy and whatnot. I really had a fun time the last couple years, even when it was bouncing up and down off the practice squad or whatever.

“It’s every kid’s dream around Pittsburgh to be a Steeler, I guess, and I got that opportunity to play on the field last season. It was pretty cool, and it’s been really good to me.”

https://twitter.com/John_Malecki/status/374516348275412992

Steelers Vs. Titans CBS Broadcast Distribution List

The Steelers host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at 1:oo PM. The game will be broadcast on CBS, with Dan Fouts and Ian Eagle as commentators. Here is a list of the CBS affiliates that are scheduled to broadcast the game:

WIAT – Birmingham, AL
WHNT – Huntsville, AL
WAKA – Selma, AL
WUSA – Washington, D.C.
WBCL – Atlanta, GA
WRDW – Augusta, GA
WRBL – Columbus, GA
WMAZ – Macon, GA
WNKY – Bowling Green, KY
WJZ – Baltimore, MD
WBOC – Salisbury, MD
WLOX-DT2 – Biloxi, MS
WCBI – Columbus, MS
WXYT – Greenville, MS
WHLT – Hattiesburg, MS
WJTV – Jackson, MS
WMDN – Meridian, MS
WBTV – Charlotte, NC
WFMY – Greensboro, NC
WNCT – Greenville, NC
WRAL – Raleigh, NC
WILM – Wilmington, NC
WTAJ – Altoona, PA
WSEE – Erie, PA
WHP – Harrisburg, PA
KYW – Philadelphia, PA
KDKA – Pittsburgh, PA
WYOU – Scranton, PA
WCSC – Charleston, SC
WLTX – Columbia, SC
WBTW – Florence, SC
WSPA – Spartanburg, SC
WDEF – Chattanooga, TN
WBBJ-DT3 – Jackson, TN
WJHL – Johnson City, TN
WVLT – Knoxville, TN
WREG – Memphis, TN
WTVF – Nashville, TN
KDBC – El Paso, TX
WCAV – Charlottesville, VA
WSVF-CD2 – Harrisonburg, VA
WTKR – Norfolk, VA
WTVR – Richmond, VA
WDBJ – Roanoke, VA
WOWK – Huntington, WV
WVNS – Lewisburg, WV
WIYE – Parkersburg, WV
WDTV – Weston, WV
WTRF – Wheeling, WV

Hopefully, your local affiliate isn’t on that list, but if not there are other ways to catch the game. Ask for help or search the forum if you need help with that.

[Audio] Mike Tomlin On SiriusXM NFL

On Tuesdays during the regular season, Mike Tomlin makes a weekly appearance on SiriusXM NFL. During this week’s interview, he shares his thoughts on the roster downsizing process, coaching Ben, Dwyer getting cut, and more.

The interview starts off with Coach Tomlin responding to questions about making roster cuts and calls it ‘a bittersweet process.’

On offense, what were you most pleased with coming out of camp?

“Cohesion of the offensive line group and how they’re growing together…I like the growth and development of that group.” ‘I’m excited about the growth of that group and their demeanor during camp.’

Do you have to try and teach Ben to at times play for the next play?

“He’s been in this thing 10 years now. We don’t do a whole bunch of talking about that…Ben’s going to be Ben…More than anything, it’s a joy watching him do what it is he does.”

On Dwyer getting cut-

“We drafted Bell for obvious reasons…and he’s proved that he’s going to be a capable featured runner for us. Redman is a known commotity…

LaRod Stephens-Howling has shown a good aptitude of making things happen for us…specifically 3rd downs, he’s good at routes, great out of the backfield. Felix Jones quickly showed that 1st round pedigree.”

‘It’s not about what Dwyer did or didn’t do, but what other guys did. We just felt like we kept the very best players to create an opportunity for us to be successful.’

You can listen to the majority of the interview below:

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmsports/mike-tomlin-steelers-hc-talked[/soundcloud]

Steelers Practice Squad: CB Smith Waived, CB Green Added

The Steelers have made another practice squad move today by waiving CB Devin Smith and adding CB Isaiah Green. Green was signed to the 53 man roster on Saturday and cut on Monday. Green cleared waivers yesterday, and this isn’t a surprise move by any stretch of the imagination. Expect more practice squad moves in the not so distant future.

Steelers Place Matt Spaeth On IR Designated To Return List

As I suggested the other day, the team has placed Spaeth on IR with the designation to return. Spaeth had surgery on August 10th to repair a Lisfranc injury he suffered during training camp. The team had to wait until today at 4:00 PM to make the move with Spaeth, and this will give him the opportunity to return to practice in six weeks depending on how his recovery goes.

The Steelers also announced the signing of LB Terence Garvin to the 53 man roster. WR Kashif Moore was signed to the practice squad to fill the vacancy.  Garvin was a UDFA out WVU who will likely soon get a chance to contribute on special teams during a regular season game. Moore was a UDFA out of UCONN last year, who originally signed with the Bengals. He was signed to a futures contract in January and was cut by the Steelers on Saturday to get down to the required 53 man roster.

Steelers Waive Drew Butler

The Steelers have officially waived Drew Butler and signed Zoltan Mesko. Drew Butler won the battle against veteran punter Brian Moorman, but the team apparently wanted to wait to find a different veteran punter via the waiver wire. Out of 77 attempts for Butler last year, 6 were touchbacks and 26 were inside the 20.

Since Mesko cleared waivers, his salary is negotiable.

Report: Zoltan Mesko To Sign With Steelers

According to multiple media sources, Punter Zoltan Mesko will sign with the Steelers today.  Zoltan was set to make $1.323 Million before being released by the Patriots on Saturday. Zoltan is 27 years old and spent the entire 3 years of his career with New England. In those 3 years, he had a 39.5 net average, with 71 punts inside the 20, and 14 touchbacks. I’ll post more details when they become available.

https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/374626235709534208