Category Archives: Misc. Steelers News

2014-04-07_2154

[Video] Time Lapse Of Baron Batch Painting Troy Polamalu Tribute

As you probably already knew, former Steelers running back Baron Batch is a painter. A pretty awesome painter. Occasionally, he sells his art to help with a good cause. Recently Batch shared a behind the scenes look at the creation of his tribute to Troy Polamalu.

About the painting, the former 7th round pick said, “I played with Troy Polamalu in Pittsburgh, and if black and gold had a face…it would be his.” Here is the video of Batch painting Troy. Enjoy.

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Titans Sign Former Steelers G/C Eric Olsen

The Tennessee Titans have signed former Steelers C/G Eric Olsen to a one year deal according to The Tennessean.


Olsen was the Steelers only exclusive rights free agent. They did not offer him a tender. Olsen was signed by the team last November, after being released by the Saints in September. The offensive lineman was originally drafted by the Broncos in the 6th round of the 2010 draft.

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Maurice Jones-Drew Agrees To 3 Year Deal With The Raiders

Maurice Jones-Drew has agreed to a three year deal with the Oakland Raiders according to a league source. The deal hasn’t been officially announced yet, and the financial details haven’t been disclosed.

I mentioned last night that the Raiders were hosting Jones-Drew for a workout, and both sides were looking to move quickly towards making a deal. The former Jaguars running back was a Raiders fan growing up, and even mowed John Madden’s lawn as a kid. Jones-Drew was originally rumored to be looking for a contract that averaged $3.5 Mil/year, though reports later contradicted that figure.

The Raiders have over $14.5 Mil in cap space currently, and the veteran running back will likely be the new starter ahead of Darren McFadden. The courtship between the Steelers and MJD never really made a whole lot of sense. The team is short on cap room, and MJD is likely looking for more than 40 touches next season.

LeGarrette Blount is in town for a visit today, so we’ll soon know how that unfolds. If I was a betting man, I’d wager the Patriots re-sign him shortly after his visit here.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, be sure to share with your friends.

WR James Jones Considered Steelers Before Signing With Raiders

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones signed a 3 year, $11.3 Mil contract with the Oakland Raiders today. According to Ian Rapoport, Jones considered signing with a few other teams, including the Steelers, before ultimately choosing the Raiders.

While that might be true about his childhood fanhood, I’m sure the Steelers wouldn’t be able to compete financially. Jones saw 61 receptions for a total of 837 yards and 3 touchdowns last year. Granted, Aaron Rodgers was out for much of the season. The Steelers lost Emmanuel Sanders to the Broncos a few days ago, and are likely to lose Jerricho Cotchery to the free agency from the looks of things.

The Steelers host Lance Moore for a visit tomorrow. Other free agent wide receiver visits will likely be on the horizon.

Chiefs Execs Call Shenanigans Over Sanders Deal

So, I reported earlier that Emmanuel Sanders was expected to sign with the Denver Broncos. You could say this came out of left field. As it turns out, Ian Rapoport is reporting that some team officials are crying foul over the way negotiations were handled by Sanders’ camp.

According to Rapoport, one unnamed team official claimed that Sanders’ agent Steve Wienberg “broke every rule in negotiations”. A team source says that Wienberg accepted a deal “in principle” with the Chiefs, but then went on to use that deal to negotiate with Tampa Bay. All the while, never telling Tampa Bay that they agreed to terms with KC.

An executive involved in the dealings was quoted to have said, “This was one of the worst situations in modern football negotiation. Adding, “[It’s] totally wrong. This needs to be stopped.”

Adding perhaps a little more drama to this situation is the fact that Sanders recently changed representation. As it turns out, the agent he switched to is his former agent’s old partner at Woy, Weinberg, & Woy. Weinberg was recently reinstated by the NFLPA after being de-certified in 2003.

While it doesn’t sound like Wienberg did anything illicit here, it’s certainly going to hurt his credibility in future dealings.

Time To Navigate The Murky Waters Of Free Agency Tampering

It’s that time of year again. The weekend before free agency officially begins, where teams can tamper with free agents, without actually tampering. Starting at 12:00 pm est Saturday and ending with the start of the new league year at 4:00 pm est on Tuesday, the legal tampering window is open.

In the past, there was confusion about what teams were and were not allowed to do regarding negotiations with pending free agents (not their own of course). The NFL released a memo to all teams this year, to try to clarify what they weren’t so clear on in the past. The memo, provided by NFL network reporter Albert Breer, stated that a team may “express its position as to signing bonus, length of contract, amounts of signing bonus and yearly compensation”, but it “cannot make an offer” or “enter into a written or oral agreement of any kind”.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared more specific rules and outlines  for clubs during the tampering period on Facebook. Here is what Schefter had to share-

“During the three-day period commencing at 12 noon, New York time, on Saturday, March 8, and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expirations of their 2013 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11.

1. During this negotiating period, a club is permitted to:
a. Submit a written summary of the club’s negotiating position to a certified agent;
b. Express its position as to signing bonus, length of contract, amounts of signing bonus and yearly compensation, and other items;
c. Adjust its negotiating position in response to a certified agent’s position; and
d. Engage in an oral exchange of positions.

2. A club must express that it is stating a negotiating position, not making an offer. No part of the exchange of information is binding on either party.

3. A club cannot:
a. Execute a contract;
b. Submit a draft of an NFL Player Contract to a certified agent or the player;
c. Make an “offer;”
d. Enter into a written or oral agreement of any kind, express or implied, or make promises or representations of any type concerning the terms or conditions of employment to be offered to any Unrestricted Free Agent for inclusion in a Player Contract after the start of the new League Year;
e. Provide assurances of intent as to the future execution of an NFL Player Contract;
f. Announce an agreement or an agreement in principle; or
g. Discuss or make travel arrangements for a player.

During this negotiating period, a prospective Unrestricted Free Agent cannot visit a club (other than the player’s current club) at its permanent facility or at any other location, and no direct contact is permitted between the player and any employee or representative of a club (other than the player’s current club). If a player is self-represented, clubs are prohibited from discussions with the player during the negotiating period.

Furthermore, clubs (other than the player’s current club) may not discuss or make any travel arrangements with prospective Unrestricted Free Agent players, their certified agents, or anyone else associated with the player until the expiration of those players’ contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 11.

The three-day negotiating period applies only to potential Unrestricted Free Agents; it does not apply to players who are potential Exclusive Rights Players or Restricted Free Agents, or to players who have been designated as Franchise Players or Transition Players.”

So in summary, teams and agents can essentially do everything but fill out a contract. 🙂

Jack Bicknell Jr. Lands With The Dolphins

The Dolphins announced today that they have hired former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Jack Bicknell Jr. He was fired by the Steelers on January 3rd, and replaced by…well, you know.

The Dolphins previous offensive line coach, Jim Turner, was fired recently after being cast in a negative light in the Wells Report. Miami has promoted their assistant offensive line coach, and hired Bicknell to take over assistant duties.

Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin released the following statement about the hire:

“With the promotion of John Benton, along with the addition of Jack Bicknell Jr. we have two experienced football coaches who have an impressive history working with and developing quality offensive line units. They are both excellent teachers and are highly respected within the coaching community. Both coaches will be great assets to the Miami Dolphins organization.”

 

Ben Roethlisberger Foundation To Buy New Dog For Pittsburgh Police

The Ben Roethlisbeger Foundation will purchase a new police dog for Pittsburgh Police according to a news release issued tonight. The purchase wasn’t planned, but Roethlisberger felt compelled after Rocco, a German shepherd in the K-9 unit, died last month after he was stabbed by a suspect.

“This last week, a K-9 officer named Rocco was killed in my current hometown of Pittsburgh. After talking with officer Phil Lerza and getting his blessing, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation would like to announce that we are going to get Officer Lerza a new dog. Rocco can never be replaced, but we only hope to help with the healing process and to provide Officer Lerza with another loyal partner,” Ben said in the release.

Thousands mourned the loss of the K-9 officer, and the city mayor ordered the flags to be at half mast the day after his death.

The Ben Roethlisbeger Foundation began in 2006. It’s main purpose is to provide police and service dogs to police and fire departments across the US.

Emmanuel Sanders Parts Ways With Agent

Emmanuel Sanders has parted ways with his agent, Jordan Woy, according to Liz Mullen of the SportsBusinessJournal. Willis and Woy Sports Group has represented some familiar names including Flozell Adams, Donald Driver, and former Steelers WR Yancy Thigpen.

No details were given about why Sanders left his agent, but you’re imagination is as good as mine. This isn’t huge news, and players change agents regularly, but it’s the off-season and Sanders will be a FA so I thought I’d pass it along.

Ravens To Wear Alternate Black Jerseys Thursday

The Ravens will wear their alternate black jerseys against the Steelers Thursday night. These are the same jerseys that they wore last year when we beat them in Baltimore, so it does seem fitting.

If you have nothing better to do, you can follow this link to the Ravens site and see how superstitious some of their fans are about their jerseys in the comments. Heh heh.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-To-Sport-Black-Jerseys-vs-Packers/d08cd087-d630-4772-9b85-5d78552dcdf8