Free Agency Buzz: Mendenhall reunited with Arians; Lewis to visit Saints

STEELERS FREE AGENCY BUZZ Running back Rashard Mendenhall is reunited with Bruce Arians. Mendenhall this afternoon agreed to a one year deal worth around $2.5 – $3 million, turning down an opportunity to join the Denver Broncos. Mendenhall’s camp had been discussing a longer term with both teams but Mendenhall has opted to try to prove himself again and cash in next off-season at age 26. Now it remains to be seen whether Denver might have been the better fit for Mendenall. In Denver he would have had an all-pro quarterback around him in Peyton Manning and a strong offensive line. Arizona has neither. *It has been absolutely dead quiet on Steelers CB Keenan Lewis. Indications are no one is showing

Four teams showing early interest in Rashard Mendenhall

MENDENHALL DRAWING INTEREST Running back Rashard Mendenhall enters free agency coming off the worst season of his career, but Mendenhall doesn’t figure to be on the free agent market long. Four teams are expressing steady interest in Mendenhall, an NFL source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports. Two teams that expressed immediate interest over the weekend when teams were allowed to begin talking to agents were the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. The Denver Post reported on Sunday that the Denver Broncos also have interest in Mendenall. At age 25 Mendenhall doesn’t have a lot of tread on his tires and one NFL source predicted Mendenhall will land at least $3 million per season, despite the concerns around the league of whether

Offense: Inside look at the Steelers top candidates to be released or have their deals restructured for cap reasons

Offensive Breakdown The Steelers will come out of the lockout, almost $11 million over the salary cap and will have to say goodbye to some key contributors from last season. While on the defensive side of the ball, extending Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons are top priorities, we take a look on the offensive side of the ball today with top candidates to be released or have their deals restructured. Antwaan Randle El, Flozell Adams and Arnaz Battle are among the top candidates to be released, while Max Starks who carries a $7.9 million cap hit, is a top candidate to have his deal restructured. Here is a look at the Steelers depth chart, salaries, buzz on each

Champion ends endorsement deal with Rashard Mendenhall

Champion has dropped Rashard Mendenhall as an endorser in the wake of his tweets about Osama Bin Laden this week. Champion dropping Mendenhall will be one of many endorsement deals he figures to lose. According to the USA today, Mendenhall recently signed a 4-year contract extension to endorse Champion athletic wear through 2015. That extended a 3-year deal with the unit of Hanesbrands first inked in 2008. “Champion is a strong supporter of the government’s efforts to fight terrorism and is very appreciative of the dedication and commitment of the U.S. Armed Forces. Earlier this week, Rashard Mendenhall, who endorses Champion products, expressed personal comments and opinions regarding Osama bin Laden and the September 11 terrorist attacks that were inconsistent

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

Ryan Clark among players whose focus is not where it should be

After a 2-6 start, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed pride in 2006 when they finished 6-2 in their final eight games that included a overtime victory of the Cincinnati Bengals in their regular season finale. In the midst of a five game losing streak, that’s the big question surrounding this years team. Do they have it in them to finish on a high note? Mentally it doesn’t look like it Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark went on a tirade following practice on Wednesday, criticizing the fans and media for what Clark claims to be is harsh coverage of the players. Clark went as far as calling the media turds as frustrations are brewing in the Steelers locker room. “You watch the

The Latest Steelers Buzz: Kemoeatu, Polamalu out for Sunday’s game

Week 15 Mike Tomlin Press Conference The Pittsburgh Steelers received some bad news last week when star safety Troy Polamaly had an MRI on Wednesday. The Steelers were hopeful that Polamalu would be cleared to practice this week but there has not been enough healing on his injured PCL. Polamalu has been ruled out for this week and his status for the rest of the regular season is in doubt. The injury is worse than initially thought as the Steelers were hopeful that Polamalu would only be sidelined for 1-2 weeks. “The healing process is a little slower than we anticipated, ” Tomlin said. Polamalu told the media on Monday that he is hopeful to play in the Steelers season

Post-Cleveland Judgements

The Pittsburgh Steelers chances of earning a playoff berth took another serious blow Thursday night as the Steelers lost their 5th straight game in what has become a stunning collapse for a team that had the look of being another Super Bowl contender, through the first eight weeks of the season. The AFC playoff picture is bunched up and even if the Steelers found a way to turn things around and win out, which appears very unlikely, their conference losses (6) has them needing Jacksonville to lose 3 games, Baltimore to lose 2 games and the Jets losing 2 games for a chance to clinch the 6th seed. JAX 7-5 (Miami, Indy, at New England, at Cleveland) BAL 6-6 (Detroit,