Draft: Day One

Its a new year and a new draft. Last year I successfully picked the Cameron Heyward pick for the Steelers; I did go 0 for my next 6 though. So, who do I like this year? What do the Steelers need first?

The Steelers need a lot of help on the offensive line and they could very well ignore that in the first round but should they? I keep hearing all the Dont'a Hightower talk and to me it doesn't make any sense. We have a few great young linebackers, see Stevenson Sylvester, and there are later round picks that could sure this spot up without ignoring the other first round talents. The biggest thing is that our offensive line needs so much more help than our linebackers; and a lineman pick would benefit this team much more than a linebacker.

In a perfect world, to me, I would love to see the Steelers trade up to the 20 spot and grab DeCastro above the Bengals, who have been projected to grab him. He is big and mean and would be someone the fans would fall in love with immediately. Along side Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert, having that monster on our line could help keep Ben standing.

But in case they don't trade up I think they stay offensive line. So, my pick for the Steelers at 24, trade not pending, is Cordy Glenn OT Georgia.

Glenn is extremely underrated due to the fact that he is not a left tackle, although he played there this season at UGA. Glenn is a natural guard or right tackle and with Gilbert moving to the left side he could make our line so much better. It also doesn't hurt he stands 6'5 and weighs a booming 320 lbs.

So, with less than an hour to go we will see how right I am vs the other "experts."

Throwbacks 2012

The Steelers unveiled their 2012 throwbacks for their 80th anniversary, wow. The uniforms are a form of the 1933 jersey with a bit of a modern twist. Wow. They really are something to look at.

It's a much different look than the solid black and yellow throwbacks from the 75th anniversary, but I think I will be buying one of these. They are unique and something you don't see everyday; its probably something you don't want to see everyday.

Tomlin into HOF

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, will receive a great honor on April 14th when he will be inducted into the William and Mary Hall of Fame. Before his days as an NFL coach, Mike Tomlin was a standout receiver for the Tribe from 1992-1995.

In four years Coach Tomlin amassed 101 catches for 2,046 yards and 20 touchdowns. His yards rank 10th all time, while his touchdowns rank 4th all time. Tomlin still owns school records for yards per reception in a season and career with 25.5 and 20.1, respectively.

Since becoming the Steelers head coach in 2008, Tomlin has amassed a 60-28 record; 55-25 in the regular season and 5-3 in the post season.

Congratulations to Coach Tomlin and his family on this great honor.

Cotchery's Back

The Steelers have made their second free agency move in as many days as they resigned one of their own. The Steelers resigned Jerricho Cotchery to a two year deal just one day after inking former Cardinal and Chief, Leonard Pope.

Jerricho spent 2011 with the Steelers after spending seven years with the New York Jets. In 2011, Cotchery caught 16 passes for 237 yards with two touchdowns.

After the retirement of Hines Ward, Jerricho will have a much bigger roll with the Steelers in 2012.

Steelers Sign Pope

Thats right everyone, the Pope has signed with Pittsburgh. Leonard Pope at least.

The Steelers in a very rare instance dipped into the free agent market to pick up the former Kansas City Chief. Pope was drafted in the 3rd round 72nd overall in 2006 by the Arizona Cardinals out of Georgia. He played with Arizona for three years from 2006 to 2008 before leaving via free agency for the Chiefs.

He is a massive body standing 6'8 and weighing in at 264lbs. The big man has started 49 of 87 career games; catching 102 passes for 973 yards and nine touchdowns. Pope has also started four post season games including the Super Bowl XLIII against his new team, the Steelers.

Pope is the sixth tight end to be added to the Steelers roster joining Health Miller, Weslye Saunders, David Johnson, Jamie McCoy and Wes Lyons. With Saunders set to miss the first four games of the season due to substance abuse violations and the rest of the pack, with the exception of Jamie McCoy, looking rather mediocre, Pope has a real chance to be the second or third tight end this upcoming season.

Another Anniversary

The Steelers announced plans to celebrate their 80th anniversary this season. What?

I know it sounds odd especially since we just finished the 75th anniversary five short years ago; but I guess the money generated from the 75th merchandise enticed the Steelers to do it again.

Now, I love the Steelers and will end up getting some of the merchandise but really? What ever happened to the years when you only celebrated key years in your franchises history? Ten years, twenty five years, fifty years, seventy five and one hundred.

Either way this year will be yet another exciting one as the Steelers work to get back to the big game and win their seventh Super Bowl.

FA: Day One

Its being reported that the Steelers will host former Bears tight end, Kellen Davis, in the coming days. The Steelers recieved some much needed cap space after the NFL lobbied fines against the Redskins and Cowboys; and then allocated that money to the other 30 NFL teams.

Now, Kellen Davis.

Davis is a big tight end, standing 6'7 and weighing in at 262lbs. He was drafted by the Bears in the fifth round, 158th overall out of Michigan State.

In four years with the Bears he has accumulated 25 catches for 279 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2011, Davis started 15 of 16 games and finished with 18 catches, 206 yards and five touchdowns.

Davis is a big capable tight end; he is an upgrade over David Johnson but is no where near the caliber of Heath Miller or even Weslye Saunders. I don't expect the Steelers to use any of their little cap space here.

Even with the suspension to Saunders the Steelers have Johnson and Miller on the roster; they also have the very capable Jamie McCoy on the practice squad. Even bigger is the fact that the Steelers could bring up McCoy for nearly five hundred thousand dollars less than any other tight end.

But hey, free agents in Pittsburgh always generates news.