Matt Spaeth missed his third consecutive practice on Friday. He's expected to sit out Sunday's game due to his bruised quadriceps, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Spaeth has only three catches this season as the Steelers No. 2 tight end, but two of them have been for touchdowns. His absence could open the door for a bigger week from No. 1 TE Heath Miller.
Tight end Matt Spaeth, who has scored in each of the Steelers' first two games, is nursing a bruised thigh that may limit him in practice this week. "When you are 6-7 and catch balls on the fly, people are going to hit you in the thigh," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That is how they tackle you. He has to get accustomed and used to that and how to defend himself in those situations. He will be limited some. We will see where he is tomorrow. But as of right now, he is going to be limited a little bit, particularly at the top part of the work week tomorrow." The rookie has converted two of his three pro catches into paydirt, and we're willing to bet those with Heath Miller on their fantasy roster are frantically poking pins into their Matt Spaeth voodoo dolls right now.
James Harrison was taken off the field on a stretcher Sunday after being hurt on the final play of the first half against the Bills. Harrison became caught up in a pileup as Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch was tackled. After initially starting to get up, he fell onto the field and remained motionless for several minutes, according to the AP. Harrison could be seen moving his legs and arms and gesturing with his hands while being assisted onto the stretcher. We'll update Harrison's status when more becomes known.
The Steelers added running back Larry Croom to their roster Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Croom has played three seasons in NFL Europa and appeared on four other NFL rosters before landing in Pittsburgh. He'll fill out the depth chart somewhere behind Willie Parker, Najeh Davenport, Kevan Barlow, and Verron Haynes.
The Steelers cut three rookie free agents Friday. The released players are wide receiver Eric Deslauriers, running back Paul Mosely, and fullback Aaron Robbins, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. None of the above was pushing Willie Parker or Santonio Holmes—or even Najeh Davenport or Cedrick Wilson—for looks anyway.
The Pittsburgh Steelers release the veteran kicker Chris Gardocki in less than one month after they selected Daniel Sepulveda in the past draft. Gardocki, a veteran of 16 seasons and selected al For Bowl in 1996, never had a kick blocked and had the best mark of its career last season with 45.7 yards by kick.
The Steelers made some changes in the 4th round of the draft to take Sepulveda, who is the first player in receiving twice the Ray Guy prize as the best clear up kicker of clearness from football college. Gardocki signed with the Steelers before the 2004 season of. It was selected by the Chicago Bears in 1991 and also played for Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.
PITTSBURGH -- last week, Mike Tomlin came upon its first one great challenge as flaming coach in leader of Pittsburgh, when the Hurricane Faneca untied all its force in the installations of the Steelers and the South zone of the city.
Alan Faneca, captain of team and chosen guard al For Bowl in six opportunities, unbalanced the tranquil mini training camp al to declare that "this will be my last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers".
Faneca accused the executives of the team of not to have given "any security" in the last year of its contract, and said that will result him "difficult" to continue being a captain. Every Pittsburgh was anxious by seeing how the new coach before so explosive and potentially divisive situation would react. The people was asked if Tomlin, a former open receiver, would drop the ball. It would lend a formal statement and would refuse to comment on the theme? It would scold to Faneca and would initiate a rivalry? It would minimize the situation? Nothing of that. Tomlin congratulated to Faneca by working hard in the practices and said that respects the delicate situation of the player. "It is a sensitive theme for him, and is logical", said Tomlin. "He lives on this". Al same time, Tomlin did not he try to evade the comment of Faneca about his intentions to yield the headquarters.
"It is somewhat worrying, but always I listened that is a professional, a man to whom charms him to play soccer", said Tomlin. "Generally, you worry very little by these men. Now, if will be leaders or not, is another question. At times you have to be careful with what ask in which concerns al leadership. What him is required is that play, and that play al maximum of its capacities".
Tomlin sounded as a veteran of 20 years in the industry of the soccer, instead of its six years in the lateral, al to compare the dispute of Faneca with the contractual battle of Warren Sapp in Tampa Bay after the victory of the Bucs in the Super Bowl XXXVII. At that time, Tomlin was performed like the coach of the secondary one in Tampa.
"It is not for minimizing the gravity of the situation, but is nothing new", said. "If you are in the league certain quantity of time, when are compromised with teams that have large players that know the success, this is inevitable... Is the nature of the NFL nowadays".
The old observers of the Steelers were amazed with the ability of Tomlin to handle the situation. They remained still more impressed a day later, when Faneca the first practice was attacked, apparently because someone of the organization had insulted him that tomorrow. Tomlin spoke with Faneca al noon and the guard returned for the practice in the afternoon. Then it was seen them joking together in the country of play.
A day later, Tomlin reflected on the situation, that would be able to be lit again at any moment.
"In this sport we use phrases as 'wait the unexpected thing' and those things, that are true phrases", said. "There is not a manual to continue in this work. There is not a determined way to do the things. Never was thus and never will be it. The fundamental thing is to learn of the experience and to trust in the intuition".
