The Steelers make it official this morning and announce that they have signed former California University WR CJ Goodwin.
https://twitter.com/steelers/status/474191412162875392
WR Jasper Collins has been waived to make room on the roster. Collins was a small, small school receiver who saw time with the Dolphins and Browns last year, before being signed to a futures contract by the Steelers in January.
According to multiple media reports, the Steelers are signing former Cal U Vulcans wide receiver CJ Goodwin.
https://twitter.com/dlolleyor/status/473930440647012352
https://twitter.com/WKKX/status/473873184140574720
https://twitter.com/WKKX/status/473873465704189952
Goodwin is 6’3, 190 lbs according to media releases from the Pennsylvania college. Johnson was new to the Vulcans roster in 2013 after transferring from Fairmont State. He only started in the last one or two games of the 2013 season and finished with 11 receptions, 126 yards, and 1 touchdown. He also returned 1 kick for 25 yards last year.
Steelers scouts were in attendance at his Pro Day, where he ran a 4.41 40 yard dash, and posted an impressive 40 inch vertical jump. That would have tied for 2nd highest at the national combine. Goodwin wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but he did participate in one of the regional combines. Here’s the video of his performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC3frn8jpxw
Tribune beat reporter Mark Kaboly shared a couple videos from OTA practice today, presumably ones that he took with his phone. I think it’s safe to assume that’s the case, as he shares little quick cell phone vids from time to time.
In this first brief video, the linebackers are participating in a type of shuffle read drill. You can see that Spence appears to be moving very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGHeTxOkzs
In this next video, the backers are working the bags. You’ll notice Ryan Shazier early in this one. You can see Spence on the right towards the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOqlC4gVbA
We’re almost three months shy of the two year anniversary of Spence’s horrific injury. While these few second glimpses into padless drills can’t tell you very much, it’s good to see the linebacker looking unencumbered.
Ike Taylor has arrived to OTA’s according to various media reports from the practice facility. It’s not uncommon for Ike to arrive after the training activities are well underway. Taylor, who is coming into his 12th NFL season, has been working more on explosiveness in his offseason training.
The veteran cornerback typically spends much of his offseason training with renowned sports trainer Tom Shaw down in Florida. “I am working more on explosiveness,” said Taylor via the Steelers website. “Coach Shaw has gone back to the old school New Orleans workouts, you have to pass out before you come and talk to him. We drink the water, but we are going all the way in. I have been at my best when we had that mindset in the offseason. I said coach put me to the breaking point.”
Back to OTA’s, Dri Archer is also back to practice after missing most of last week due to the NFLPA Premier event. As I mentioned last week, his absence was mandatory. Most rookies would rather be with their team during that time.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is absent today from OTA’s, reportedly due to a family matter which required his attention. Troy Polamalu and Jordan Zumwalt are the other two players who are absent. Zumwalt will not be back with the team until after UCLA’s finals conclude. He’ll be back again when minicamp convenes.
Jason Worilds and Nick Williams are rehabbing today according to Scout.com writer Jim Wexell. Williams for his knee, and Worilds for his leg that he hurt a week ago. According to Worilds at the time, it was just cramping. According to a beat reporter at the scene, it looked like a hamstring injury. Clearly it wasn’t just cramping.
Last week I reported that Matt Spaeth was one of the few Steelers who was rehabbing an injury during OTA’s, but at the time, it wasn’t clear if the injury rehab was related to his Lisfranc, or a different injury entirely. According to Scout.com writer Jim Wexell, Spaeth’s rehab activities this week were indeed related to the Lisfranc surgery he had last September.
Spaeth’s Lisfranc surgery required multiple screws to be inserted into his foot. Those screws started to become loose, so they were removed four weeks ago. The veteran tight end spent much of the time this week running on the sidelines at OTA practice. According to Spaeth, via Scout.com, he looks forward to being able to play without foot pain this season. Spaeth added, “I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
The injury first occurred during training camp early last August. A few weeks later, the team placed Spaeth on IR with the return designation. He returned to practice November 21st and was subsequently activated on December 7th. He saw limited reps for much of the remaining 4 weeks, participating for a total of 132 snaps.
Hopefully Matt Spaeth has a full and productive season this year.
As you likely know, Steelers speedy draft pick Dri Archer missed OTA time this week reportedly due to illness. This morning, Ed Bouchette reported that while Archer was excused from OTAs earlier this week due to illness, he was present for the NFLPA rookie premier activities in LA. The post was titled, Rookie Archer Blows Off OTAs.
Bouchette’s post created quite a stir on social media platforms, leading many fans to believe that Archer was playing sick, or lacking commitment. While it seems reasonable to question why a rookie would seem to be “too sick” to appear for OTAs, but not for some lavish event in Los Angeles, that’s not the case at all.
Per the CBA, rookie attendance is not optional at the NFLPA Rookie Premier. From the CBA:
Section 7.
Rookie Premiere:
Invited Rookies will be permitted by their respective Clubs to attend the NFL Players Rookie Premiere provided that: (i) such event is scheduled during the month of May; (ii) such event encompasses a maximum of four consecutive days, including both a Saturday and a Sunday; and (iii) the NFLPA provides the NFL with the dates for the next Rookie Premiere not later than February 1 of each year.
If there is any question as to whether or not that validates Archer’s OTA absence this week, NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello made a statement about this very subject two years ago via profootballtalk.
“Yes, it’s mandatory per the CBA,” Aiello told ProfootballTalk. “No, a player invited to the Rookie Premiere by the NFLPA cannot choose instead to work out at the team facility. He cannot be at the team facility during the Rookie Premiere.”
So, that should settle that. Hopefully Archer is feeling better, as travelling while sick is never a good time.
The Steelers announce that they have released left guard Nik Embernate this morning. OG/OT Emmanuel McCray was signed with the available roster spot.
Embernate was rehabbing his knee from multiple ligament tears that he suffered last August. If he remains unsigned, it’s possible the team will bring him back down the road. Embernate had a long way to go before being ready to return to action. According to Trib reporter Mark Kaboly, he wasn’t close in terms of recovery.
McCray, who measures in at 6’5″, 315 lbs, was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent earlier in the month. He was released a few days later. McCray played mostly guard at Ole Miss. He ran a 5.50 40 yard dash and a 1.94 10 yard split at their Pro Day. These types of tire-kicking signings are common during this time of year.
The Steelers have signed another one of their draft picks this morning. Selected with the team’s first of two fifth round picks, Richardson is now under contract for four years. As I projected a couple weeks ago, Richardson’s 2014 cap number will likely be right around $467,513. The total value of his contract should be at or just about $2,410,052, with a signing bonus of $190,052.
If you’re not familiar with the number crunching behind rookie contracts, here’s a quick breakdown behind determining his 2014 cap number. To determine his 2014 cap hit, simply divide the signing bonus by 4. Signing bonuses are prorated across the life of the contract. Rookies carry a first year salary of $420,000. Add that to the $47,513, and you’re left with the $467,513 total from above.
With this signing, the team now has the last 5 of their 9 draft picks under contract. They still have cap space for more signings, but they will have an additional $8 Mil on Monday to pen the remaining picks to deals, which I expect them to do in fairly short order.
Following up on the report from earlier, according to the NFL transaction sheet, the Steelers have waived OT Kaycee Ike today. The team had to release someone to make room for the addition of Deion Belue, whom they were awarded via waivers. The team is currently carrying the maximum of 90 players on the roster.
Ike was one of several undrafted free agents signed by the team earlier this month.
The Steelers have been awarded Deion Belue off of waivers according to the NFL transaction sheet and various reporters. Belue was signed by the Dophins earlier this month as an undrafted free agent. He was waived by the Dolphins yesterday.
The former Alabama cornerback was productive in 2012, but was limited for much of 2013 with a foot injury. In 2012, he totalled 40 tackles, 9 passes broken up, and 3 interceptions. (In 2013, it was 20 tackles and 1 interception.)
He measured in at 5’11, 182 lbs at the NFL Scouting Combine, but did not participate in the 40 yard dash or other agility tests. Since the Steelers roster is currently full, I would expect the team to announce the release of a player in the very near future to make room for his addition.