Tomlin Says Charlie Batch is in "Pole Position" to Start Sunday

Byron Leftwich will compete for the gig, but it looks like Charlie Batch could very well be the Steelers' starting quarterback on Sunday at Tampa.

Willie Colon Expected to Miss the Season

If the word of NFL.com is worth anything (and I think it's pretty safe to say that it is), RT Willie Colon tore his Achilles' tendon and will miss the entire 2010 season. 

Especially considering the team's re-commitment to the run in 2010, this is a very significant blow.  But where does the team go from here?

Adam Caplan of Scout.com, who broke the story this morning, lists Flozell Adams, Mike Gandy, Levi Jones, and Damion McIntosh as the best available UFA tackles on the market. He also names newly-signed Jonathan Scott, Tony Hills, and Trai Essex as internal replacements, and also floats the possibility of a switch from the left side to the right side for Max Starks.

Whatever happens, this is another very formidable obstacle for a team that absolutely, positively did not need one.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Sidney Crosby will not be playing for Canada in the world hockey championships in Germany, turning down an invitation offered after the Penguins were eliminated. I think everyone's in agreement that he's done enough for that country in 2010. [ESPN]

However, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar will both be joining Team Russia, maybe to flush the memories of the Canadiens series away. Or maybe to fully burn themselves out on hockey. It's up in the air. [TSN]

Tom Gorzelanny (1-4, 2.83) takes the hill for the Chicago Cubs this afternoon against Brian Burres (2-1, 3.91) and the Pirates at 2:20. Despite their overall struggles, the Pirates are actually 3-0 against the Cubs this year, so their embarrassing week thus far has at least a chance to improve just a little. [PittsburghPirates.com]

The Mellon Arena debate was pushed to the forefront with the Penguins' recent elimination, and people remain as divided as ever on its future, as a meeting last night at Ebenezer Baptist Church would illustrate. [Trib] 

Trai Essex, Justin Hartwig, and Sean McHugh recently visited patients at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, which is the kind of Steeler off-field story that I much prefer mentioning given the other options. [Steelers.com]

Timothy Olyphant, the actor known for his roles in Deadwood and Justified, has replaced Sharlto Copley in the film I Am Number Four, which starts shooting in the Pittsburgh area next week. It will become the 8,000th movie shot in Pittsburgh in the last two years, give or take a couple thousand. [PG]

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DARNELL STAPLETON PLACED ON IR

Some bad news from our favorite football team this afternoon, as offensive lineman and former Howard Stern Show guest Darnell Stapleton will be placed on IR with an injured right knee. Stapleton had not practiced since the beginning of camp, and had arthroscopic surgery at the beginning of August.

Stapleton, an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2007, started the final 15 games at right guard last season. This turn of events pretty much guarantees that job to 2005 draftee Trai Essex. Essex, a member of both championship teams, has played in 31 games since 2005, starting four. Stapleton's visit to the IR will also free up a roster space for someone on the bubble, most likely Doug Legursky, says Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider.

Steelers to place Stapleton on IR [Trib]
Jim Wexell [Twitter]

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STEELER UPDATE: OBAMA MAKES IT OFFICIAL

--As I alluded to earlier, it's now official: Barack Obama chose Dan Rooney as the new U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Nice timing, on St. Patrick's Day and all.

Rooney was a lifelong Republican, but has shown unwavering support for Obama for quite some time, so the announcement was nothing more than a formality. It's been hinted at for weeks.

Rooney's Irish roots go deep, as he helped found the American Ireland Fund, an organization that has raised millions for advocacy of peace and education in Ireland. He's always been a great ambassador of the city of Pittsburgh, and he's been an influential and diplomatic owner in a room full of NFL billionaires for decades. This is just the natural evolution to the next level. [SI]

--So much for Trai Essex joining Nate Washington in Tennessee. The Steelers put the kibosh on that by signing the o-lineman to a two-year deal on Tuesday. Essex received a signing bonus of $500,000 and will earn salaries of $620,000 and $800,000 over the next two seasons. Affordable depth, affordable depth. [Trib]

--We're reached the time of year when Steeler basketball games are on the radar, and the first that I've seen is the contest on March 27 at 8 PM at Chartiers Valley HS. If anyone has any details or recaps from Steeler basketball, please feel free to share. [PG]

--The Steelers signed LB Arnold Harrison to a one-year deal to return to the team. He was on IR all of last season. While I would've preferred to see "the other" Harrison signed, I always liked whatever it was that Arnold Harrison brought to the table. And speaking of Arnold Harrison and Steeler basketball, as I saw firsthand last year, they go hand in hand. [PG]

--From the same link above, the Steelers brought in Moon HS and Penn State's A.Q. Shipley, a center, for a look-see. They've also visited with Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop and center C.J. Davis. Revise your draft boards accordingly.

--The Steelers didn't end up with DBs Leigh Bodden or Chris Carr, but they are bringing back Fernando Bryant for another go-round. He played in two games last season after joining the Steelers on November 11. Once again, affordable depth. That's the theme of the day. [ESPN]

Update:
--Shawn D. informed me that there was a Steeler basketball game tonight (March 17) at Union High School in New Castle. They played LCAA Sports to a 59-59 tie. Some notables who showed up: James Harrison, Willie Colon, Lou Lipps, and Cardinals WR Steve Breston.

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STEELER UPDATE

A few updates on our favorite football team:

--Joey Galloway became roughly the 800th veteran free agent to sign with New England this offseason, which obviously means he won't be reuniting with Mike Tomlin. There are other fish in the sea. [ESPN]

--Lineman Trai Essex visited Tennessee as they attempt to find a roommate for Nate Washington. [WHNT.com]

--The Steelers re-signed LB Andre Frazier, who gives the team nice depth at the position. [PG]

--The Steelers may be getting a compensatory third-round pick in this year's draft. The more, the merrier. [FanHouse]

--11 Steelers parade banners were stolen from the Pittsburgh Public Works Garage. Between this, the melee at Allderdice, and the drug dealings at McDonald's, it was a pretty rough week for the city. [ESPN, The Pittsburgh Channel]

--Several Steelers helped raise money for the Woodlands Foundation, including Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Jason Capizzi, and Patrick Bailey. [WPXI]

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LOOKS LIKE BIG BEN BEHAVED

It appears that Big Ben and his merry band of brothers' Super Bowl celebration in Vegas went off with no hitches on Friday night, which bucks the trend of other recent Steeler-related bar promotions. That's a good thing.

The big guy happily posed with Trai Essex, Darnell Stapleton and Willie Colon, a trio of linemen who hopefully prevented anyone from tackling Roethlisberger on Friday night. Newly-signed lineman Chris Kemoeatu was not in attendance, presumably because he was home counting all his money, which takes longer than you'd imagine. And center Justin Hartwig was probably busy thanking his lucky stars that Jeff Saturday decided to stay in Indianapolis. But all in all, it looks like the Super Bowl 43 champions were having some good clean fun...at least from these pictures.

A Few Photos From Last Night's Victory Party... [Big Ben News]

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Morning Headlines

DOWN GOES HOSSA: The Penguins dropped a less-than-inspiring 5-1 decision at Boston, but the worst news is that of Marian Hossa, who sprained his MCL in his Pittsburgh debut. The injury was neatly summed up by Bruin Glen Murray:

"I don't know what happened," he said. "I turned, and we collided. We hit at the hips or the knee or something, then all I heard was, 'Oh [expletive], oh [expletive], oh [expletive].' I figured it had to be him."

DOWN GOES GORZO: Tom Gorzelanny missed his first start of the preseason against the Philadelphia Phillies because of left shoulder discomfort. Wow...Tom Verducci was right on the money on this prediction. And so soon in the season!

NATE WASHINGTON IS GOING TO GET PAID: The Steelers issued a $1.4 million tender for the greatest thing to ever come out of Tiffin. They also issued tenders for offensive tackle Trai Essex, guard Chris Kemoeatu, and long-snapper Greg Warren. As for linebacker Andre Frazier, "Don't let the door hit ya".

FRANTIC START TO FREE AGENCY: Not in Pittsburgh, of course. But there have been several deals done already, such as the Dolphins giving a five-year, $25 million deal to 49ers guard Justin Smiley that included a $9 million guarantee. The 49ers responded by signing former Vikings LB Dontarrious Thomas, Lions QB J.T. O'Sullivan, Panthers RB DeShaun Foster and former Steeler KR Allen Rossum. Alan Faneca is reportedly close to a deal with the Jets, who are also close to a trade for Carolina's Kris Jenkins.

1 IN EVERY 100 IN US IN JAIL: And leading the charge is Pennsylvania, who had the largest prison population growth in the Northeast last year.

GOVERNATOR GIVING KIDS TANK RIDES: Arnold Schwarzenegger owns an Austrian army tank which he's having shipped to Cali so that he can offer rides to school children. Are you listening, Ed Rendell?