FORMER STEELERS UPDATE (12/16/09)
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. Also, Steeler roster moves will be added in the replies.
JASON CAPIZZI - Capizzi, an offensive tackle, was an undrafted free agent in 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, he has moved between practice squads, active rosters and injured reserve seven times (including three stints with Pittsburgh. He just finished playing in the new United Football League. He was signed to the Browns' practice squad on December 16, 2009.
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. Reilly was taken by the Rams on December 10 and put on the active roster.
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.Haynes was cut by Atlanta on November 28. He was re-signed on November 30. And cut again on December 5. Yeesh.
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.Too valuable to be unemployed for long, the Colts signed Madison on November 10. He was cut on December 1. The Steelers cut Corey Ivy to make room for Madison and signed him December 2. Welcome back!
DONAVAN WOODS - Woods, a surprising cut after only one week up from the practice squad (he certainly was at least as good as Patrick Bailey on ST), was signed to the Cowboys pracatice squad on November 30.
BYRON LEFTWICH - Tampa Bay placed Leftwich on IR (elbow) on November 24, so he's out for the year. Byron served well as a backup QB for the 2008 Steelers after besting Dante Culpepper in a tryout necessitated by Charlie Batch's season-ending injury in pre-season. Byron left to take on the Bucs starting job but was benched after only three weeks.
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 by New England in the pre-season, appeared in only one game and was cut on November 6. Simmons was signed by the Bills on November 24.
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 (ten if you count three 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. Harris was re-signed by the Bengals on November 24
CAMERON STEPHENSON - Stephenson was a fifth round pick in 2007: 15 picks before the Steelers took Wiliam Gay. He was cut and has spent time on the practice squads in Green Bay and New Orleans and he suited up for the Eagles for two games in 2008 but did not play. He had finished 2008 with Jacksonville, who just cut him on November 23.
ALLEN ROSSUM - On November 23, the Cowboys cut former Steelers return man (2007) Allen Rossum. Rossum, injured this year, started the season with the 49ers before being cut there. He's only had 8 returns all year. He averaged 23.8 ypr in Pittsburgh, including a 98 yarder for a TD. Current returner Stefan Logan is better, averaging 25.9 ypr.
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.
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.
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.
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.
0 recs |
21 comments
| Add comment
Comments
Uhhh we should definitely grab Anthony Madison
We desperately could use him on ST with how horrible our coverage looks. Get on it Tomlin!
" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.
by Johnny_S on Nov 3, 2009 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree, but not sure who we cut at this point.
by Silverback92 on Nov 3, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ty Carter.
He’s a bum, and doesn’t belong in a Steeler uniform.
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Keiwann?
" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.
by Johnny_S on Nov 3, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yes, please
we should send Ratliff packing
by SteelerStuckintheSouth on Nov 3, 2009 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What was Madison
other than a ST ace?
On another note, it’ll be nice to see Berger fornicating punts for a team other than ours…
"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum
by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think he is a DB
And he was better than Ratliff, but I haven’t seen him play recently.
" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.
by Johnny_S on Nov 3, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Denver site seemed
happy about Berger. Did Kern only have one leg?
"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.
by kick him in the head on Nov 3, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
THat would be funny; A one legged kicker!
He’d be interesting in a butt kicking contest too.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Nov 4, 2009 7:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan McBean
McBean, starting for the Broncos d-line this year, was one of the Steelers 2007 draft class. This turned out to be a very good crop of draft picks.
Lawrence Timmons – Emerging star
Lamarr Woodley – Even closer to the pro bowl than Timmons
Matt Spaeth – Has some holes in his game but has played a lot and filled in big when Miller got hurt last year.
Daniel Sepulveda – Good punter
Ryan McBean – Cut in camp but starting for the one-loss Broncos
Cameron Stephenson – Cut in camp and has been with five organizations in three years. But he’s still plugging away with the Jaguars.
William Gay – starter for the Steelers
Dallas Baker – Was on the practice squad for two years and very nearly beat out Limas Sweed in camp last year.
Eight guys drafted: four are starters and one a backup who sees a lot of PT for the Steelers. Another starts for the 6-1 Broncos. 6 out of 8 contributing for top teams. Good talent evaluation by the front office.
by upabob on Nov 9, 2009 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Add Harrison to the ex-Steelers list
The same day that Cincy cut Orien Harris, the Steelers releasted linebacker Arnold Harrison to move Donovan Woods up from the practice squad. We’ll see if Harrison lands on somebody else’s special teams unit.
by upabob on Nov 17, 2009 3:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Mitch Berger in Denver
Berger has punted 22 times in three games with the Broncos. He’s averaging 40.8 per punt (worse than last year’s 41.3 with the Steelers). He has downed four inside the 20, versus one touchback.
Apparently chicks dig ex-punters (this is from June). Mitch must have been hanging out with Skippy Reed last season.
http://thevikingage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/bergerbroads.jpg
by upabob on Nov 24, 2009 10:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Woods, Ratliff and Vincent cut
A few more ex-Steelers out there today (Nov 24) as Tomlin makes some roster changes; mostly driven by the debacle that is special teams.
by upabob on Nov 25, 2009 7:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Leftwich - Last chance gone?
Byron hoped to resurrect his career by heading to Tampa to become the starter. Three bad games, demoted, inactive for a few weeks then put on IR in November. He did a good job for the Steelers in 2008. Too bad his career is winding down this way.
by upabob on Nov 25, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Byron did a nice job for us last year................
actually I wish he rather than Charlie (now injured) was our #2 this year.
by grapes on Nov 26, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shaun McDonald cut
The former Lion is now a former Steeler; cut to make room for Tyler Palko. He didn’t have much impact in Pittsburgh.
Steve McLendon, an undrafted free agent out of Troy, was cut from the practice squad.
by upabob on Dec 2, 2009 7:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
McLendon signed back to practice squad
Along with running back Justin Vincent, who did nothing in pre-season.
Isaac Redman, the touchdown maker, was cut from the practice squad.
Really unleashing hell so far this month….
by upabob on Dec 2, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe special teams ability played a role
These guys may be waiting in line for the ax to fall on the next special teams casualty.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Dec 2, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ivy cut for Madison
Woohoo!!! Not that Ivy was a bad pickup, but Anthony Madison had 25 ST tackles for Pittsburgh last year. Ivy will probably find a spot somewhere else.
by upabob on Dec 3, 2009 8:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Palko cut
Tyler Palco was cut on December 9 so that receiver Tyler Grisham could move up from the practice squad. I don’t ever recall so many roster moves in a season.
by upabob on Dec 10, 2009 7:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
















