I'm always interested in what's going on with former Steelers players. Unlike a lot of teams, most guys don't seem to leave the team disgruntled and badmouthing their time in Pittsburgh (didn't do much for Plax in the long run).

So, this thread, which I'll update as warranted, will contain news about guys who once wore the black and gold, with the most recent update in bold type.

MIKE REILLY - an undrafted free agent QB out of Central Washington in 2009, he was cut in camp. With ex-Louisville star Brian Brohm leaving the Packers practice squad to sign with the Buffalo Bills, the Packers replaced him with Reilly on November 19. 

ARNOLD HARRISON - Cut by the Steelers, he was almost immediately claimed by the Browns on November 18. That shouldn't be much of a surprise. I suspect he'll immediately be playing on special teams and may even see the field as a linebacker.

ORIEN HARRIS - Taken in the fourth round of the 2006 draft (only two picks after Willie Colon), the d-lineman has been with eight teams in four years (nine if you count two stints in Cincy). He's mostly a practice squadder. He was cut by Cincy on November 16 to open up a roster spot for has-been Larry Johnson. 

ANTHONY MADISON - Too valuable to be unemployed for long, the Colts signed Madison on November 10.

ANTHONY SMITH - The former third round pick from Syracuse played and talked his way out of the starting safety position now manned by Ryan Clark. The Steelers let him go after the 2008 season and he signed with the Packers, who cut him in camp.

He signed with the St. Louis Rams, but struggled with an achilles problem (no, he didn't run around fighting Trojans. That's Homer. The Iliad. Read a Book!)/ Tat last bit was from The Tick: one of the best cartoon shows ever.

Anyways,  the Rams just waived him and Jacksonville claimed him on November 6. I prefer Carter to Smith and don't think he was much of a loss. 

 KENDALL SIMMONS - Except for missing the entire 2004 season, the first round pick was a dependable starting guard from 2002 through 2007. He also overcame diabetes to be a Super Bowl champion. Simmons, who missed all but the first four games of 2008, was signed with New England in the pre-season, appeared in only one game and was cut on November 6.  

MIKE SCHNECK - Schneck was the Steelers' long-snapper from 1999 - 2004. He went on to Buffalo and has been with the Falcons since 2007. He went on season-ending IR with a (presumed) rib injury.

DEZMOND SHERROD - Sherrod was a rookie tight end who was on the Steelers practice squad in 2008. He was out of football this year, but signed with the Texans practice squad on November 4, 2009. It's safe to assume this move was triggered by stud tight end Owen Daniels going onto IR the same day.

ANTHONY MADISON - Madison, a special teams demon for the Steelers (2006 - 2008) was cut by the Browns on November 3, 2009. He's never started a game in his four year career, and I don't really remember him seeing much in the secondary. But the guy was a key part of the 2008 kick and punt coverage turnaround. The Browns, who can't score an offensive TD and just got rid of their GM, decided to dump Madison. Yet another example of how screwed up they are. I hope he lands somewhere. I like the guy.

MITCH BERGER - On October 26, 2009, the Broncos cut their punter (Brett Kern) and signed former Colorado Buffalo Mitch Berger. Berger, of course, lived the book Adventures in Punting en route to claiming a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in 2008. His services were not retained when the healthy Daniel Sepulveda returned. Berger's punting ranged between interesting and disastrous. In his first game (in which the undefeated Broncos were shellacked by Baltimore), he punted 8 times for a 38.4 yd average.

SEAN MAHAN - Tampa Bay cut Mahan, a classic center (classic in the sense he was built like one from the nineteen forties) on October 27, 2009. He started all 16 games for Pittsburgh in 2007. Mahan is listed at 6'-3", 301. He seemed smaller and struggled handling nose tackles all season long. He was replaced by Jeff Hartwig for 2007 and went back to Tampa Bay, where he had played from 2003 - 2006. He appeared in 12 games in 2008 (starting none) and had started 4 games in 2009.

VERRON HAYNES - Haynes was the Steelers third down back for several years, playing there from 2002 - 2007. He was out of football in 2008, and made the roster in camp. However, he didn't play, was cut in September, but re-signed a few days later. He's played in the last three games, catching 3 passes for a total of 20 yards.Haynes is from Georgia and was a Bulldog in college. Nice to see him playing in his home state.