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FORMER STEELERS UPDATE (11/19/09)


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.

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.

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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


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