Steelers/NFL
STEELERS PUT AN END TO SPECULATION ABOUT SUISHAM LOSING HIS JOB
The Pittsburgh Steelers put an end this morning to speculation regarding the possibility of rookie kicker Daniel Hrapmann beating out veteran Shaun Suisham for the starting kicker job. Hrapmann showed a strong leg and at least had the media talking but was among the Steelers 15 cuts this morning as the team gets down to 75.
The 15 players released also included linebacker Ryan Baker, defensive tackle Mike Blanc, wide receiver Paul Cox, cornerback Andre Freeman, linebacker Mortty Ivy (Waived/Injured List), offensive lineman Kyle Jolly, long snapper Matt Katula, tight end Jamie McCoy, cornerback Walter McFadden, tight end Justin Peelle, safety Myron Rolle, wide receiver Juamorris Stewart, defensive tackle Kade Weston and wide receiver Jimmy Young.
Suisham is in the second year of a 4 year, $6.3 million deal and there had been some chatter that if the Steelers needed to clear space to strike a deal with Mike Wallace, releasing Suisham could be an option, therefore rolling the dice with Hrapmman as the team would save close to $1 million. Suisham is carrying a $1.687.500 million cap hit. Word is the Steelers are high on Hrapmman’s leg strength but didn’t believe in him being accurate enough to be a viable option over Suisham.
DeCastro not going to IR Yet
Early prognosis of David DeCastro’s injury gives team doctors the belief that its possible if everything goes right that DeCastro could return by late November, early December. That has prompted the Steelers to not place DeCastro on IR yet, but they still can at anytime in the coming weeks or months. The team just doesn’t have an exact timetable yet.
Keeping DeCastro on the active roster is not problematic for the Steelers O-line, as the Steelers are likely to go with Max Starks, Willie Colon, Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, Doug Legursky, Trai Essex as the eight healthy linemen and keep DeCastro as the ninth guy for now. That’s not an issue because there’s really nobody else worth keeping on the active roster as the ninth lineman.
The one problem though with the Steelers keeping DeCastro on the active roster would be that they already plan to have Rashard Mendenhall and Casey Hampton on the active roster, despite neither player expected to be ready for Denver.
WALLACE NOT TAKING ANY RISK FOR PLAYING IN THURSDAY’S PRESEASON FINALE
The main reason Mike Wallace didn’t sign his tender on Sunday or today is that he wanted to rule out every scenario that could put him on the playing field in the preseason finale. By not signing the tender until Tuesday, Wallace can’t play Thursday night, so now a pissed off head coach can’t make him suit up for any reason.
David Paulson to be kept as No. 3 Tight End for short-term?
The release of Jamie McCoy has set the stage for rookie David Paulson to be kept as the No. 3 tight end. The team appears primed to go into the season with Heath Miller, Leonard Pope and now Paulson for the first four weeks until Wesyle Saunders serves his suspension. Once Saunders returns, Paulson or Pope will be the odd-man out.
WILLIAMS MAKING A LATE PUSH
Derrick Williams is making a late push for the Steelers No. 5 receiver after a solid showing in Saturday’s game and a strong week of practice. Things have setup for the final receiver spot coming down to Williams and David Gilreath with Gilreath having the edge going into the final week. There’s believed to be no chance 7th rounder Tony Clemons ends up on the active roster, although the Steelers could look to place him on the practice squad.
