Pittsburgh Steelers news and notes

	Pittsburgh Steelers Stories
	2010 NFL Draft in review: Pittsburgh Steelers I see a lot of draft grades on the Pittsburgh Steelers that are average to less than average. The thing to remember about his team, is that they have a system in place, and they go out and get players thy think can player the Steeler way. When we view their 2010 draft class through that filter, it look a heck of a lot better. They addressed their biggest need with the first pick, and went out and found depth and guys with big upside who they plan to develop into starters down the road.
	2009 NFL Draft one year later: Pittsburgh Steelers Coming off a Super Bowl win, and with their first pick deep in the first round, The Pittsburgh Steelers had to draft for need, and take a best player available stance with their picks. However, it seems they may have missed a bit on this draft. With that said it will be very hard to effectively grade this draft until Ziggy Hood becomes a full time starter for them. If he does this draft was above average, if he doesn’t they missed big time. A year ago I gave the Steelers a B+ grade for drafting to their needs, and pulling a draft day trade that landed them a pretty good receiver.
	Draft Day decision makers: Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, like Bill Cowher before him, as a large part of the say on what this team does on draft day. However Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert actually conducts the draft. Ron Hughes joins the group in the war room as Director of College Scouting, and of course their full complement of scouts.
	What to do with Ben Roethlisberger? The Pittsburgh Steelers and really the entire NFL have found themselves in a very sticky situation. The off the field conduct of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger suggests that he ha run afoul of the NFL’s personal conduct policies and is due a suspension. However he has not been charged criminally.
	What are the needs of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010? Recent events and free agency might dramatically change what the Steelers do in the 2010 NFL Draft. They do not appear to be a team with glaring needs, but could use a few playmakers in the defensive secondary, and could start a youth movement along their offensive and defensvie lines.
	Fix the Franchise: Pittsburgh Steelers edition If I were in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers I would have had enough of QB Ben Rothlisberger and his antics. For me no mater of quilt or innocence will take away the fact that he is totally immature, reportedly rude to Steelers fans, and unaware that prima donna NFL players are rapidly falling out of style. At this point, with Big Ben facing a suspension and no real backup behind him I would consider doing something drastic. That might sound harsh, but how many off seasons will Ben’s behavior be an issue in?
	Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault I am not one to rumor monger, or do I like hype up a story before all the facts are in. However it is my job to report on the news, and it now looks like Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual assault again. While I am always skeptical of reports that come up months or years later, this incident allegedly took place last Friday night. Allegations that come forward this fast are usually based in some kind of fact, and at the very last Big Ben is continuing to put himself in bad situations.
	Steelers lose to their rivals, complete terrible week On nights like tonight football fans everywhere have to give big props to one Art Modell. Even in Cleveland, where Modell is though to be the devil. However, if were not for Modell we would not have the great rivalry that is the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Back when the AFL and the NFL merged Modell convinced the Rooney family to switch to the AFC with Cleveland so that both teams could battle with Paul Brown’s Cincinnati Bengals. Later when Modell moved his Browns to Baltimore the AFC North got his fourth team. From football team all over thanks Art for great games like the one we saw tonight.
	Tomlin to shake up Steelers starting lineup Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin vowed to unleash hell on his opponents in December. After losing, at home no less, to the pitiful Oakland Raiders, he is unleashing a little hell on his starting lineup. The Steelers are suffering through their longest losing streak since 2003 when they lost five games in a row. The current Steelers losing streak stands at 4, and two of those loses are ugly loses to the Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. Since the Cincinnati Bengals swept their AFC North Divisional games, the Steelers are amongst a crowded field to make the 2009 NFL playoffs.
	Steelers need an experinaced backup QB This is potentially very, very bad news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting QB Ben Roethlisberger has a concussion and we will not know how that will affect him until he takes the field Sunday night at Baltimore. However we do know that his backup, Charlie Batch, broke his wrist last Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs, and will not be able to play for 2-4 weeks.
	Steelers win, but lose Polamalu The Good news is the Pittsburgh Steelers have not lost a step since winning the Super Bowl last season. In what was a likely preview of the AFC playoffs the Steelers were able to outlast the Tennessee Titans in a defensive struggle 13-10. The bad news is that star Safety Troy Polamalu hurt his knee in what Head Coach Mike Tomlin is calling a MCL sprain. The Recovery time for an injury likes this is 3-6 weeks, and that may leave a big hole in the Steeler secondary.
	2009 Pittsburgh Steelers draft analysis What does a team that just won a Super Bowl need via the draft? Usually the Super Bowl Champions just have to build depth or address a highly specific need or replace a player leaving via free agency.