Steelers/NFL
Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El will be returning to the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2002 draft and it’s a dream come true for the versatile receiver to be returning to the place that Randle El claims to be “home.”
During his first stint with the Steelers, Randle was a focal point of the Steelers offense as the No. 3 receiver for three of four seasons and an asset in the return game.
In his second stint with the Steelers, Randle El claims that the Steelers plan to use him as the No. 3 receiver during the 2010 season and that being the primary punt or kick returner was never discussed with Steelers brass as the two sides only talked about playing “No. 3 receiver.”
We’ve talked about just playing No. 3 receiver. That’s all we talked about,” Randle El told the Washington Post. “I’m not even sure about punt return, now that I think about it. The way I always look at it, I’m going to go in and be No. 3.
Randle El added, “But if the other guys go down, certainly, I’ll be the one to step in. I don’t think I’m going to be sitting on the sideline watching. That’s how I approach it.”
Randle El indicating that he was told by Steelers management that he will be the teams No. 3 receiver will bring up some heated discussion.
The Steelers are deep at wide receiver with rising star/ No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes, veteran Hines Ward and 1st year player Mike Wallace who made an immediate impact and led the Steelers in yards per catch.
Meanwhile, Limas Sweed’s tenure with the Steelers is over. Through his agent Ben Dogra, Sweed is expected to seek a release or a trade, sources close to Sweed tell me. The two sides have been in frequent contact throughout the process and the Steelers will likely grant Sweed his wish.
Sweed who had a breakdown following a loss to the Oakland Raiders on December 6th, left the team soon after on what is being described as a personal issue.
It is not clear what the exact issue is as rumors have been swirling for months. He was not injured or ill and one source said Sweed had a breakdown in-between the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns games in December.
Whether that’s the entire story remains to be seen.
One source indicated that during half time of the Raiders game, Sweed was blasted by a coaching staff member in front of the entire team after a Ben Roethlisberger interception in the end zone, that was intended for Sweed.
According to the source, Sweed then took some heat from teammates following a dropped hail mary pass to end the game.
