Today's Headlines

KEVIN COLBERT signed a five-year deal to remain as the Steelers' Director of Football Operations, a job he's held since 2000. The team is also close to signing second-round pick Jason Worilds, which would leave first-rounder Maurkice Pouncey as the only unsigned draft pick from the 2010 class. The last Steeler to sign a contract after camp started was Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. [PG]

ROSS OHLENDORF left Wednesday's Pirate game in the first inning after being struck in the head with a Troy Tulowitzki line drive. It's the second such incident this season for the team, with Chris Jaukubauskas getting hit in similar fashion against the Astros on April 24. Ohlendorf's current condition is not yet available, but he did leave the field on his own power. Let's hope all is well with Mr. Wonderful. He's had a rough go of it in 2010. [By Gosh, It's Langosh]

RB JAMEEL POTEAT of Bishop McDevitt High, has made it official: he's headed to Pitt. Poteat is the cousin of former Panther standout Hank Poteat and was mentored by another Bishop McDevitt back, Shady McCoy.  Poteat turned down scholarships from Florida, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Cincinnati, Rutgers, and a number of other schools.  Wanny does it again! [Trib]

OF GORKYS HERNANDEZ will be out 3-4 months after fracturing his right ring finger, thus ending his season. One of the Pirates' top prospects, Hernandez was playing at AA Altoona, where he was hitting .266 with 2 HR, 26 RBIs, 11 doubles and 17 SB in 20 attempts. [KDKA Insider]

JABAAL SHEARD's preliminary hearing for his "throwing the man through the glass door" incident has been delayed until August 4. He remains on indefinite suspension from Team Wannstache. [Trib]

THE WINTER CLASSIC PRESS CONFERENCE was captured in all Steeler-and-Penguin-loving greatness on the Kiss Morning Freak Show blog. As the guys point out, Mayor Winter Classic-enstahl was somehow able to shoehorn in a little face time. [Kiss Morning Freak Show]

MARIO LEMIEUX and SIDNEY CROSBY became the first people to hit the Consol Energy Center ice, which they did on Tuesday afternoon. They were then joined by several children donning Crosby and Lemieux jerseys who got the chance to take some shots at 66, who stepped between the pipes. Talk about memories for a lifetime...[PittsburghPenguins.com]

DION LEWIS and GREG ROMEUS are headed to Bristol, Connecticut, on Friday to do TV, radio, and internet appearances on ESPN. And in a related story, The Sporting News was in Pittsburgh yesterday to do a major feature on Lewis. I smell some Heisman hype! [93.7 The Fan]

Don't forget...comments are now located at the bottom of posts, for those interested.

Prepare Yourself For Bad News About Willie Colon

Willie Colon has had an offseason he rather forget about, and that just got worse with the news that he just left the Steelers' practice facility on crutches. The fear is that Colon injured his Achilles, and if that's the case, you can scratch him from the lineup in 2010, says Scott Brown of the Trib.

The Steelers just issued a release on the situation, in the words of Kevin Colbert: “It is confirmed that offensive tackle Willie Colon has suffered an Achilles injury while working out today. He is still undergoing further evaluations by Steelers’ medical personnel and we will not have anything more to release at this time.”

It doesn't sound good, especially for a team with little depth at the position and little room for incidents like this.  Let's just say that I'm not tremendously optimistic that this story will have a happy ending for the Steelers or Colon.

SID IN, GENO OUT FOR PRESEASON OPENER

#87 will be in the lineup tonight as he tries out a new stick, but Geno Malkin, sadly, will not be on the ice. I'm guessing that means Vladimir and Natalia will not be in the stands, either. Crosby will anchor a line with regular linemate Chris Kunitz and Twitter-addicted prospect Eric Tangradi in the preseason opener. Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Pascal Dupuis, Ruslan Fedotenko and Sergei Gonchar will also suit up for the champs. Gonch will be paired with 2009 first-round pick Simon Despres.

The full lineup:

Forwards:
Kunitz-Crosby-Tangradi
Dupuis-Staal-Fedotenko
Conner-Jeffrey-Bayda
Sill-Vitale-Godard

Defensemen:
Despres-Gonchar
Eaton-Engelland
McKee-Bortuzzo

Goaltenders:
Fleury
Thiessen

Gametime is set for 7:30 tonight at Mellon Arena.

Other Pens notes:

--Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert watched practice with Ray Shero yesterday. Any chance they made a wager on whose team will repeat?

--Rick Nash will not play for the Blue Jackets tonight. But good news: Mathieu Garon will!

--Petr Sykora has a tryout with the Minnesota Wild, not coincidentally because Chuck Fletcher is the team's new GM. Minnesota is apparently thinking about a one year, $1.5 million deal. Fletcher is obviously more bullish on the former Penguin than Shero was.

--Fox Chapel's Bill Thomas, a Penguin last year, is trying out for Toronto. In 16 games with the Pens in 2008-09, Thomas had two goals and one assist. He had eight goals and 10 assists in 39 contests for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

--Ulf Samuelsson is running camp in Phoenix as coach Wayne Gretzky's status is up in the air during the team's bankruptcy proceedings. And in totally unrelated news, this paragraph was a little further down in the story (my emphasis):

The team is broken into three groups during the early stages of training camp. Monday's scrimmage featured a lot of hard hitting."I think the intensity level is up, the level of players we have is better," Samuelsson said. "Our younger players are older, better trained, know how to compete better and Donnie (GM Don Maloney) has added some veteran players who also are competing for jobs.

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Meet Your Newest Steeler

The Steelers added yet another free agent recently, and he goes by the name of Justin Hartwig. The deal is for two years and $3,725,000, with a $975,000 signing bonus. This comes just one year after signing Sean Mahan to fill the void left by the retirement of Jeff Hartings. Unfortunately, Mahan was never confused with Mike Webster, so Kevin Colbert went shopping once again.

Like Mahan, Hartwig can play either center or guard. They will both compete for the starting center job, but Ed Bouchette said that Mahan likely will become the swing man as a backup at guard and center.

The 6'4", 312-pound Hartwig signed a five-year, $17 million contract with Carolina in 2006. And since that didn't seem to pan out, he recently became available on the open market. He was originally chosen by the Titans in the 6th round of the 2002 draft, becoming the starter in 2003 and starting every game for the Panthers over the next three seasons.

While this is a step in the right direction from the standpoint of admitting a mistake in the personnel department (definitely not a trait of one William Laird Cowher), the jury seems to still be out on Hartwig. J.J. Cooper of AOL's Steeler Fanhouse recently broke down some video of Hartwig from a few games last year, and he wasn't exactly blown away by what he saw. Will he be better than Mahan? I couldn't answer that, but I'm sure of one thing: there's no way he could be worse.

Scouting Justin Hartwig [Steelers Fanhouse/AOL]

Steelers sign new center [PG]

Backyard Scrawler: Scouting Combine is No Beauty Contest

by The Backyard Scrawler

backyardscrawl@gmail.com

The NFL Combine is the one week when general managers leave the film room –– after looking at NFL hopefuls’ “body of work” –– and take a long look at the players’ actual bodies. Throw in a motor-skill rally and a few Double Dare physical challenges and you have yourself the NFL Scouting Combine.

The trees of this spectacle are the evaluation of players, but the forest, well, looking at this event from afar can seem rather farcical. Ed Bouchette compared the event in last week’s Post-Gazette to a kennel club dog show only without a Best in Show award. Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, while lounging in his 40-yard line seat during the NFL Network’s wall-to-wall telecast, compared the event to the swimsuit competition of a beauty pageant.

The titillating commentary was borderline homoerotic. No, make that a standing broad jump over that line. A jaw-dropped Jamie Dukes did his best Kevin Arnold-gawking-at-Winnie Cooper line (“… and look at the body on this guy”) when Kellen Davis of Michigan State stepped up to the vertical jump platform. Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports fetched some good quotes from the Market’s finest Meat in his column about the televised weigh-ins: “I felt like I was a model for Fruit of the Loom,” said former USC offensive lineman Chilo Rachal. “I don’t care if they want to (talk about my butt), as long as they don’t touch me in that way,” said ex-UTEP tackle Oniel Cousins.

All in all, the last “sporting event” in RCA Dome history was fun to watch. Perhaps having a Hulk Hogan-type sideline reporter force the players into awkward moments of American Gladiator trash talk would help. As far as the information value, you would think with 430 media members, 1,900 team personnel and 334 players present we’d all have a unified Mock Drafts after this week (more on that later). Instead, we’ll have to wait to see where free agents land as well as where potential draftees slide on the Arabus of “stock rising” or “stock falling.”

Here are a few notes and musings from watching the NFL Combine and scouring a few draft web sites:

Darren McFadden, who ran a 4.27 in the 40, is doing his best to prove to everyone that he is the next Travis Henry.

Bill Polian prescribes to the Mo’ Draft Picks, Mo’ Problems axiom.

Perhaps Combine-snub and former WVU defensive lineman Keilen Dykes was not invited for fear that Rich Eisen, at his wife’s request, would have to use the same dirty word that got his scantily-clad e-mail buddy in trouble.

After watching the NFL Network gush over Marshall Faulk during last season’s Steelers-Rams game, the Faulk lovefest continued over the weekend when he made an appearance on set complete with footage of his first game played in the RCA Dome. (The only thing Faulk brought was a mildly funny Price is Right reference when calling a player-on-the-rise a “Yodeler.”)

Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert is not the most revealing sound bite (take his first-round mantra of “anyone except a quarterback or a tight end” the last two years). However, some interesting Colbert blurbs appeared on the web:

NFLdraftscout.com asked him about draft mistakes: “Usually when we go back and try to figure out why a certain player failed or try to find a commonality, it’s usually something we knew about and we took the player anyway.” Colbert also told Rivals.com about what he looks for in a quarterback and why he doesn’t even remember what Big Ben did in his Combine workout.

I got a kick out of how Mike Mayock, the Mel Kiper of the NFL Combine, totally pigeonholed every player at the Combine with positive/negative labels that scrolled at the bottom of the screen during the NFL Network telecast. For example, “Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: Positive: Finesse Blocker / Negative: Needs to Get Physical.” That could be the worse thing to call any lineman, but Mayock still raved about him.

Here are some of my favorite of the “Positive” variety …

Branden Albert: “Specimen”

Roy Schuening: “Good in a Phonebooth” (This guy may by Superman but he sure looked like

John Belushi from Animal House at the Combine.)

Trevor Laws: “Energizer Bunny”

Curtis Lofton: “Downhill Thumper”

Calais Campbell: “Vines for Arms” (Didn’t he play in Little Shop of Horrors?)

Phillip Merling: “Complete Player” (Then why was there a negative?)

Matt Ryan: “Off-the-Chart Intangibles” (This is either redundant or illogical since only tangibles can be charted.)

Kory Lichtensteiger: “Nasty Attitude”

Dustin Keller: “Rocked-Up WR”

Tyrell Johnson: “Tough-in-the-Box SS” (His girlfriend would call that a negative)

… And here are some amusing “Negatives”

Ryan Clady: “Hand Placement” (Needs to practice on that Twister mat)

Darren McFadden: “Legs Dead on Contact”

Sedrick Ellis: “Gets Washed Easily”

Kenny Phillips: “Not Ed Reed”

Curtis Lofton: “Short & Tight-Hipped” (Also a big no-no in the Amish community for child-rearing)

Xavier Abidi: “P.O.A. Issues” (This means Point Of Attack but for some players this could mean Power Of Attorney)

For those wondering who the Draftnik “experts” think the Steelers are going to take in the first round, it’s anybody’s guess. In sampling 25 draft web sites –– and I’m sure there are plenty more –– the resounding opinion is offensive tackle. While some haven’t been updated since the Max Starks news broke, here are the picks. Take them for what little they are worth:

Six for Branden Albert, OG/OT, Virginia:

(nfldraftcountdown.com, nflsmackdown.com, eastcoastsportsnews.com, prodraftguide.com, nfldraftdog.com, draftheadquarters.com).

Five for Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: (thefootballexpert.com, footballthoughts.com, insidetheeagles.com, qisports.com, condraft.com).

Four for Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt (fftoolbox.com, scout.com, walterfootball.com, draftinsiders.com).

Some others include Miami DE Calais Campbell (draftking.com, mynfldraft.com, phinphanatic.com), Arkansas RB Felix Jones (nfldraftblitz.com), USC OT Sam Baker (nfldraftscout.com), USC OLB Keith Rivers (draftace.com), Boise State OT Ryan Clady (draftking.com), LSU DE Tyson Jackson (warroomreport.com).

We’ll have more coverage of “Who the Steelers are Going to Draft” in future posts once the remaining stool samples from the Combine are thoroughly analyzed.

The Backyard Scrawler

Lineman for Dead Parakeet Not an Option

by The Backyard Scrawler

backyardscrawl@gmail.com

With yesterday being the deadline for underclassmen to report for the NFL Draft, so begins the legitimizing of mock drafts that were conceived back when, well, the players themselves were conceived. (There’s got to be a draft website out there waiting for a third-generation Manning to put on its 2029 Mock Draft.)

Still, mid-January is too early for my liking to soothsay what player the Steelers will take with their first pick. Too much can happen between now and the April 26 draft. We are only halfway through the all-star bowl season and the NFL Scouting Combine is a month away. There’s also a lot of posturing by team management, draft hopefuls, and free agents who hit the market March 2. Not to mention all the 40-yard dashes, Wonderlic tests, and stool samples that need analyzed.
That’s not to say we can’t enter discussion on what position the Steelers will draft in the first round. Ed Bouchette reported Tuesday that Steelers war-room honcho Kevin Colbert disclosed the team’s intentions to draft anyone except a quarterback or a tight end in the first round (really, what about a holder?). Either Ed mistakenly used his notes from an April 27, 2007 article or “The Word” from Pittsburgh’s version of The Colbert Report is the exact mantra used heading into last year’s draft.

Like most draft classes within the last few years, the jury is still out on the Steelers’ 2007 selections. Lawrence Timmons is a young, versatile linebacker with upside, especially if the team tries to switch to the 4-3 defense after Dick LeBeau retires or the league’s No. 1 defense falls from grace. LaMarr Woodley seems ready to take over for Clark Haggans. Those picks appear to be solid.

The third- and fourth-round selections of Matt Spaeth and Daniel Sepulveda are still head-scratchers. Going after a back-up tight end in the first day and trading up for a punter are Dumb and Dumber for a team with other foreseeable needs. And I mean Dumb and Dumber like the way a jobless Lloyd Christmas went to the corner store for “a few necessities” and came back with a giant foam cowboy hat, a case of beer and some pinwheels. Now the Steelers are forced sell a dead parakeet ––– metaphorically, of course, unless the Pirates’ mascot keels over ––– to salvage their offensive and defensive lines.

Whoever the Steelers take in the first round, he should live at the Rooney residence (a la Sidney with Mario) for the sake of good karma. His daily chores would involve paying the plumber with autographed copies of Dan’s book and going into the family vault to recount The Chief’s treasured winnings from Saratoga.

Come to think of it, offensive tackle Michael Oher would be perfect. The projected late-first-rounder from Ole Miss knows what it’s like to move in with a wealthy family. Michael Lewis wrote about Oher in his best-selling book The Blind Side. There’s even a movie in the works.

Having given up 47 sacks in 2007, the Steelers will likely go after an offensive tackle to protect its quarterback’s Blind Side. If they don’t, well, they will continue get Dumb and Dumber.

Drafting a blind-side protector late in the first round that will be ready to start next year is highly unlikely. So, Kevin Colbert, what are the chances of a team like the Steelers and a free agent like that ending up together?

Like one out of hundred?

One out of a million?

Hit me with it!

“I don't see any reason or any scenario where we wouldn’t follow the same path we have.”

So you’re telling me there’s a chance.

Whoops

Director of the CIA and Pittsburgh native General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, made an appearance on 102.5 WDVE FM's morning show last Friday to talk about his job, Pittsburgh, and of course, the Steelers.

During his appearance, he mentioned how he is close with the Rooney family and how Tom Donahoe is doing a great job. Just one problem with that comment: Donahoe was fired by the Steelers in 1999.

Donahoe, shown in a non-Steeler moment

Hosts Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann, opting not to make the Director feel embarrassed, did not point out the error on the air. But yesterday, Hayden called back in to the show to correct himself and note that he knows Kevin Colbert has replaced Donahoe. As you can imagine, getting details straight are pretty important to the CIA, so Hayden wanted to reassure everyone that it was just a mistake and not poor research. However, there is no truth to the rumor that he asked if Kordell is ready for training camp.

Quick Morning Roundup

First off, thanks to Dave Dameshek for the double segment on his show last night. It was great fun, as we covered a variety of topics pertinent to Pittsburgh sports. You can catch Dave weeknights from 7-10 on 93.7, "The Man Station".

--Paul Maholm takes his 6.19 ERA to the mound tonight against Houston, when he faces off against Woody Williams and his 6.55 ERA. Not exactly Clemens against Pedro, but it's as good a pitching matchup as you'll find in Pittsburgh on a Tuesday in April. Unless you go watch a WPIAL game.

--Major ups to James Farrior, for this line:

Linebacker James Farrior claimed he wasn't thinking about Porter at all, and, he said, "Change is not always bad."

Especially after an 8-8 season that included a loss to Oakland, perhaps the worst NFL team in 10 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Farrior. I hope your attitude is contagious.

--Sidney Crosby, the most perfect human being on Earth (if he is human). From the PG:

Crosby's game-worn jersey from the first period of the All-Star Game by far topped the list of those sold during an online auction held by the NHL and the NHL Players Association to benefit Hockey Fights Cancer. Crosby's sold for $47,520, more than eight times the next highest price, $5,681 for the jersey worn by Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers.

I think the most amazing part about this story was not the final sale price, but the fact that a valuable Sid jersey reached sale before Troy Crosby could have it swiped from his luggage.

--A-Rod hit home runs #13 and 14 last night in a loss to Tampa, tying Albert Pujols' April record with another week to go. His newfound confidence is the biggest story of 2007. Before this season, he was like Sidney Crosby without self-esteem.

--The Kevin Colbert Report is talking trade regarding the upcoming draft. Wait, the draft is coming up? You'd think there would be some coverage!

--Sounds like Joe Francis of Girls Gone Wild fame is having a hard time with prison life

--Here's 11 classic guy movies, why they're great, and why they secretly suck. How dare they say any part of Billy Madison sucked.