Author Archives: Steve Alan

About Steve Alan

Steve, known by most as TTF, is owner of TheSteelersFans and administrator of the best Steelers message board on the net. Big fan of strong coffee and hardcore Steelers fan from womb to tomb.

2016-01-15_1112

Antonio Brown Has Been Ruled Out For The Broncos Game

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The Steelers have announced that Antonio Brown has been ruled out for the divisional playoff game in Denver this Sunday.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/688003827312779265

This doesn’t come as a big surprise. Brown didn’t participate in practice yesterday, and as I mentioned, he would need to show the team physician and a neurological consultant that he can participate in “football activity” without a setback. These tests are typically a day or two apart.

http://gty.im/459756745

With Brown ruled out, the important question now becomes- will Pacman Jones issue that apology he promised? Just kidding. Of course he won’t. He’ll likely say that the conspiracy is so deep that the Steelers held Brown out to cover up his fake injury.

The important question becomes how will the Steelers find a way to replace AB’s production? Heath Miller, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey, the TnT backfield and perhaps even Jesse James and Sammie Coates will all need to be sharp when they face the league’s number 1 passing defense.

Martavis+Bryant

Antonio Brown And DeAngelo Williams Miss Practice Again

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While the wide receiver hinted at returning to practice last night on Snapchat, it appears to have just been wishful thinking.

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Martavis Bryant told media members this afternoon that AB has been going to team meetings. While the door isn’t closed for Brown to play on Sunday, it’s creaking slowly that way. Brown will still has to show the team physician and a neurological consultant that he can participate in “football activity” without a setback.

DeAngelo Williams did not practice again today. He was in a walking boot yesterday and visited a foot specialist earlier in the week. He is reportedly out of the walking boot today for what it’s worth.

Here’s the rest of today’s injury report:

Ben Roethlisberger, Robert Golden, Vince Williams, and Will Johnson were limited. Cam Heyward and Ryan Shazier were full participants.

Ben-Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger Resumes Practice, Doesn’t Do Any Throwing

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Ben Roethlisberger has returned to practice today after suffering an AC joint sprain during Saturday night’s victory over the Bengals. “I am not going to do any throwing,” Roethlisberger told reporters today just before practice. “I will do some hand off work and stuff like that.”

http://gty.im/490328692

Roethlisberger told the media yesterday that he hasn’t thrown a football since Saturday. He was limited to watching practicing while doing ‘mental reps’ yesterday, and describes his status for Sunday as ‘hour to hour’.

Landry Jones has had a heavy work load this week in practice. The journeyman quarterback will get his first career playoff start if Big Ben isn’t ready to go against the Broncos.

Maurkice-Pouncey

Maurkice Pouncey Reportedly Needs Another Ankle Surgery

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Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey reportedly has had a setback on his road to recovery and will require another ankle surgery. Due to complications from an earlier surgery, the veteran center will apparently require follow-up surgery.

https://twitter.com/Rand_Getlin/status/654703787576201216

Pouncey had surgery in August to repair a broken fibula, which he sustained after getting hit by Packers safety Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix. The Steelers placed Pouncey on IR with the designation to return, which would have kept him out until week 9 at the earliest.

We’ll have to wait and see how this revelation impacts Pouncey’s return date. For now, Cody Wallace remains the man in the middle.

cam heyward

Cam Heyward Fined For Honoring Late Father

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Cam Heyward says he was fined for wearing an eye black tribute to his late father, “Iron Head” Heyward.

https://twitter.com/CamHeyward/status/654340648053510144

Craig Heyward died after a short battle with brain cancer in 2006. He was only 39. During his 11 year NFL career, he rushed for a total of 4,310 yards.

The fine for uniform violations of that type is $5,787 for the first violation. Heyward intends to appeal the fine according to ESPN.

Martavis+Bryant

Steelers Activate Martavis Bryant, Release Ventrone

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As expected, the Steelers have activated WR Martavis Bryant to the 53 man roster this afternoon.

http://gty.im/457906560

The Steelers had a roster exemption for Bryant who just finished his suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. The team had until 4:00 this afternoon to make a move on the 2nd year star receiver, and they took all the time they were given. Bryant only practiced with the team last Monday after coming back from Texas, and was ultimately kept out of the game in San Diego due to a minor knee injury.

To make room for the roster move, S Ross Ventrone has been released. Ventrone injured his hamstring during last night’s win over the Chargers. I imagine the special teams standout will back with the Steelers at some point in the not-too-distant future.

 

 

chris boswell

Report: Steelers Are Signing K Chris Boswell

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According to NFL media reports, the Steelers are signing a new kicker today. Chris Boswell, who was in for a tryout today, will be signed by the team. Josh Scobee should be released as a corresponding move.

https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/650360363993595904

Boswell was an UDFA out of Rice last year. He spent time with the Texans on the practice squad and was with the NY Giants during preseason this year. He’s never kicked a regular season field goal or extra point, but the Steelers thought he was the best among the options currently available.

http://gty.im/459828543

Kudos to the Steelers for quickly moving on from Scobee.

josh_scobee

Steelers Holding Tryouts To Potentially Replace Scobee

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The Steelers are hosting kickers for tryouts to likely find a replacement for Josh Scobee.

The Steelers traded with the Jaguars just before the start of the season after placing Suisham, then his replacement Hartley on injured reserve.

The Steelers sent a 2016 sixth-round pick to the Jaguars in return for Scobee and agreed to pay $2.5 Mil of his salary for the 2015 season as part of the deal.

http://gty.im/486582932

Since joining the Steelers, Scobee has struggled. The veteran kicker converted only 60 percent of his field goal attempts, and is only 3 for 7 from 40 yards or more. He has also missed an extra point two weeks ago.

So far, the Steelers are scheduled to host former Redskins K Kai Forbath and former Texans K Chris Boswell. Forbath in the coming days, and Boswell tomorrow.

Forbath (28) had been in Washington since 2012, making 60 of 69 career field goal attempts. He was released after week 1 when he missed one of two field goal attempts.

Boswell (24) was with the Texans last year in training camp, but failed to make the roster. The UDFA out of Rice was with the Texans on their practice squad last year, but has never played in an NFL game.

I feared that the Steelers were going to stubbornly stick with Scobee due to what they had invested in him, but it appears that they are wasting no time to try to find his potential replacement.

Brandon Boykin

Shazier, Spaeth, McCullers Ruled Out For Ravens Game

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The Steelers will be without starting inside linebacker Ryan Shazier tonight when they host the Ravens at Heinz Field. Here is the official injury report.

OUT: NT Dan McCullers, QB Ben Roethlisberger, ILB Ryan Shazier, TE Matt Spaeth
QUESTIONABLE: CB Cortez Allen
PROBABLE: OLB James Harrison, Cody Wallace

McCullers has been limited due to a nagging knee injury. Tomlin previously described him as day to day, but the big man will not see any playing time against the Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger’s absence requires no explanation.

Shazier is still dealing with the “stinger” he suffered against San Francisco. Stingers are one of the those vague injuries that can last for minutes or last for weeks depending on the location and severity. According to Coach Tomlin, he is still experiencing weakness and will need to be cleared by doctors before he can return to play.

Spaeth has a hand fracture. Tight End Jesse James will get a helmet tonight in his absence.

For the Ravens:

DE Chris Canty, TE Crockett Gilmore, LT Eugene Monroe and WR Breshad Perriman are all out.

Gilmore and Canty are the only two players who have had any meaningful playing time on the Ravens list this season. Gilmore has started the first 3 games recording 10 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.