Sweed expected to join Roethlisberger for workouts

Sweed to join Big Ben Wide Receiver Limas Sweed, the Steelers 2nd round pick in 2008, is fully recovered from a torn Achilles and is expected to join Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for workouts in the “immediate future”, a league source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports. Various Steelers receivers have joined Roethlisberger for workouts over the past month and Roethlisberger also reached out to the underachieving Sweed who believes that he’s still in the Steelers plans for 2011. Sweed will be given a chance to earn a roster spot but he’s one of those players who needs a training camp to show that he has his head on straight and is ready to turn the corner. With the lockout, there’s no

Wednesday Practice Report: Polamalu practices on limited basis

By Inside Pittsburgh Sports Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley has questioned the integrity of the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals as they prepare for the last day of the 2009 regular season in the NFL. Woodley believes the Patriots and Bengals will “lay down” in games which are virtually meaningless for them. But the New England at Houston and Cincinnati at the New York Jets games aren’t meaningless for Steelers. For the Steelers (8-7) to land a wild-card berth, the Texans (8-7) and Jets (8-7) might have to both lose. “Cincinnati is probably going to go into New York and lay down for the Jets and not play them hard just because they’re not going to want to see Pittsburgh

Ravens @ Steelers: Playoff Implications; Harrison to play; Reed inactive

Baltimore (8-6) @ Pittsburgh (7-7) Live Updates: Big news coming out of warmups is that Baltimore Ravens star safety Ed Reed (groin) was going to play but Reed is inactive today and will not play. Reed participated fully in warmups but was limited. Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker James Harrison (biceps) remains in a lot of pain due to a biceps injury but will start at ROLB. Carey Davis, Troy Polamalu, Keenan Lewis, Kraig Urbik, Joey Galloway, Sunny Harris and Chris Kemoeatu are inactive for Pittsburgh. Charlie Batch will serve as the No.3 quarterback for Pittsburgh. Ravens starting left tackle Jared Gaither is inactive. Rookie Michael Oher will move from right tackle to left tackle today. Tackle Oniel Cousins will start at

Townsend to make 1st start of season; Parker to play in final home game @ Heinz Field?

Townsend earns 1st start of the season In a move that should have been considered weeks ago, cornerback Deshea Townsend took first team reps at cornerback all week and will make his first start of the season Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens. Townsend will replace William Gay in the starting lineup. However, in the nickel base defense, Townsend will slide back as the nickel back –position he has played all season. Based on practice this week, Joe Burnett will see his playing time decrease a bit this week. Steelers focus on Ray Rice The Steelers focus this week is on Ravens running back Ray Rice. Rice exploited the Steelers in their week 12 matchup and the Steelers primary focus

Harrison, Ward won’t be at full strength for Sunday’s showdown

The 7-7 Pittsburgh Steelers head into Sunday’s game as a much more confident team than we’ve seen the past couple weeks after last Sunday’s thrilling 37-36 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers have a “pulse” according to head coach Mike Tomlin and this week the team appeared to have a little bit of their swagger back. It was a much looser team in the locker room. In a must win situation against Baltimore, Pittsburgh will not be close to being at full strength and the same can be said for the 8-6 Baltimore Ravens Strong safety Troy Polamalu will miss his 10th game of the season and starting guard Chris Kemoeatu had a minor setback and will miss

Post-Green Bay Judgements: Roethlisberger delivers

Roethlisberger saves Steelers *Great players deliver in clutch situations and Ben Roethlisberger did exactly that as the Steelers franchise quarterback threw for a team record 503 yards and saved the Steelers season with a 19 yard game winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace as time expired. Roethlisberger’s heroics against Green Bay was one of the greatest quarterback performances in the history of the game (10th to be exact) as Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to throw for 500-plus yards in a win since Boomer Esiason in 1996. Roethlisberger’s game winning pass has given the Steelers life, after driving the Steelers 86 yards on 11 plays for the Steelers winning score that included a 4th and 7 and 3rd

Roethlisberger throws season high 3 TD’s; Steelers beat Lions 28-20

Pittsburgh 28 – Detroit 20 Ben Roethlisberger threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers held on to beat the Detroit Lions 28-20, Sunday afternoon at Ford Field in Detroit. The Steelers jumped out to a 21-13 half time lead on a touchdown run from Rashard Mendenhall and touchdown receptions from Hines Ward and Heath Miller. The Steelers took control of the game in the 3rd quarter as Roethlisberger connected with rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace for a 47 yard touchdown reception as the Steelers jumped out to a 15 point 3rd quarter lead. A common theme for the Steelers has been letting teams hang around and that is exactly what happened again this afternoon.

Steelers 2009 Schedule

Thursday Sept 10 vs Tennessee (8:30 p.m., NBC) Sunday Sept 20 @ Chicago (4:15 p.m., CBS) Sunday Sept 27 @ CIN (1:00 p.m., CBS) Sunday Oct 4 vs San Diego (8:20 p.m., NBC) Sunday Oct 11 @ Detroit (1:00 p.m., CBS) Sunday Oct 18 vs Cleveland (1:00 p.m., CBS) Sunday Oct 25 vs Minnesota (1:00 p.m., FOX) BYE Monday Nov 9 @ Denver (8:30 p.m., ESPN) Sunday Nov 15 vs CIN (1:00 p.m., CBS) Sunday Nov 22 @ Kansas City (1:00 p.m., CBS) Sunday Nov 29 @ Baltimore (8:20 p.m., NBC) Sunday Dec 6 vs Oakland (1:00 p.m., CBS) Thursday Dec 10 @ Cleveland (8:20 p.m., NFLN) Sunday Dec 20 vs Green Bay (1:00 p.m., Fox) Sunday Dec 27 vs

NFL: Steelers to turn attention to Starks, Miller

With James Harrison locked up, the Steelers focus has now turned to Left tackle Max Starks. The two sides have been in negotiations since March but talks have yet to reach the serious stages. Starks is due 8.451 million for the 2009 season, the average of the top five highest-paid tackles in the NFL. The Steelers want to get that cap hit in the $5.5 million range but the difficult task is giving Starks enough guaranteed money to satisfy him as he is due a guaranteed salary of $8.451 million this season. Talks will pick up later this week according to sources with the Steelers and the Steelers would love to get a deal done by the middle of May.

Harrison signs for 6 years 51.7 million, $20 million guaranteed; PC Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

Harrison gets 6 years – $51.7 million deal On Saturday we spoke to Bill Parise the agent for James Harrison and he told us the Steelers finalized a deal Saturday afternoon and scheduled a press conference for Tuesday. Parise tells us this morning the press conference will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Ed Bouchette has details of the deal and reports Harrison gets $51.7 million over 6 years and $20 million in signing & roster bonuses. Parise has confirmed to Inside Pittsburgh Sports that Harrison will receive $20 million in guarantees. The signing and roster bonuses are guaranteed. Breakdown of the Contract According to Parise, the deal is