March 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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For the second time in eight months, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman. The latest allegations against Roethlisberger, who was accused in July of sexually assaulting a casino worker during a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada a year earlier, stem from an incident that a 20-year-old college student told police occurred early Friday at a dance club in Milledgeville, Ga. No criminal charges have been filed against Roethlisberger, but Milledgeville police said at a news conference that they have spoken to Roethlisberger once and plan to interview him again. "It is alleged (Roethlisberger) is the perpetrator," said Richard Malone, the ..."
March 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers have made one-year contract offers to cornerback William Gay and tight end Matt Spaeth that will keep the two from becoming unrestricted free agents. They declined to make such offers to guard/center Darnell Stapleton and fullback Carey Davis, meaning the two are free to sign with any other team Friday without the Steelers getting compensation in return. The one-year deals offered to Gay, who started 14 games last season, and Spaeth are worth $1.101 million. If either signs with another team and the Steelers decline to match those offers, they would get a fifth-round draft choice in return for Gay and a third-rounder for Spaeth."
January 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton is waiting to hear from the University of Houston after interviewing with the school last Friday. Horton is a candidate for the opening the Cougars have at defensive coordinator. Horton, who has been with the Steelers since 2004, has 25 years of NFL experience as a coach and player."
January 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers today signed nine players to their offseason roster. Tight end Eugene Bright, wide receiver Jason Cherry, safety Tuff Harris, defensive tackle Steve McClendon, running backs Isaac Redman and Justin Vincent and cornerback Trae Williams all re-signed after spending part of all of the 2009 season on the Steelers' practice squad."
January 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers have fired special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky following a season in which breakdowns on the kickoff coverage team contributed to the defending Super Bowl champions missing the playoffs. Ligashesky is the second assistant coach Mike Tomlin has fired following a disappointing 9-7 season. Tomlin dismissed offensive line coach Larry Zierlein yesterday. The Steelers announced both firings today. Prior to this week Tomlin's staff had remained intact since he took over the Steelers in 2007."
January 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson retired earlier this week, and his position may not be the only one Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has to fill during the offseason. At a news conference Tuesday, Tomlin acknowledged he could make changes to a staff that has been intact since he took over as head coach three years ago. Tomlin was vague about what kind of turnover there may be, in part because he hasn't met one-on-one with his coaches - something he is doing this week with his players. Two names that have generated a lot of discussion among fans are Bob Ligashesky and Bruce Arians. Under Ligashesky, the special teams coordinator, the Steelers yielded four kickoff returns for touchdowns this ..."
January 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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After looking like the Willie Parker of old instead of an old Willie Parker in the Steelers' 30-24 win against the Dolphins, the free-agent-to-be running back offered mixed messages when it comes to his future. "Hopefully I'm here next season because it's a blessing, me coming here and being part of a great organization," Parker said. But the sixth-year veteran also said, "I want to thank the coaches and my teammates for embracing me and blessing me to be part of such a great organization." If I had to set odds on Parker donning a Steelers uniform again I'd put them at no better than 50/50 -- and that might be optimistic. He is clearly eyeing a bigger role than the one he had following ..."
December 26
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Willie Parker may well play his final home game in a Steelers' uniform Sunday. If Parker, who is in the final year of his contract, signs elsewhere after the season, he will leave Pittsburgh as one of the more distinguished running backs in Steelers history - though probably not on the terms he envisioned. Parker lost his starting job to Rashard Mendenhall earlier this season, and the sixth-year veteran has seen only spot duty since the middle of October. What he hasn't done since a toe injury and Mendenhall's emergence left him with a vastly reduced role is sound off or pout. That has earned the Steelers' third all-time leading rusher the admiration of his coaches and teammates. "Willie's ..."
December 25
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Joey Galloway has learned enough of the offense since signing with the Steelers that he could play Sunday against the visiting Ravens if needed. But Galloway is likely to be deactivated for the 1 p.m. game unless the Steelers dress five wide receivers or if Hines Ward or Mike Wallace suffer a setback before Sunday. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said Thursday that Tyler Grisham, an undrafted rookie, has a strong grip the Steelers' No. 4 wide receiver spot. Grisham, who spent most of the season on the Steelers' practice squad, has played in the last two games but he is still looking to make the first catch of his career."
December 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Troy Polamalu, who has missed the last five games with a strained PCL in his left knee, looks like a long shot at best to play Sunday against the visiting Ravens. The news is more encouraging for the Steelers' beat-up wide receiving corps as Hines Ward and Mike Wallace both said they will play in the 1 p.m. game. Polamalu recently had an MRI taken on the knee that he has injured twice this season and said the results were "encouraging." He didn't sound optimistic about returning to the field for the must-win game for the Steelers. Polamalu is not practicing today and he said he doesn't anticipate practicing this week. When asked if he needs to practice on the knee before playing a game, ..."
December 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers have signed wide receiver Joey Galloway and long snapper Jared Retkofsky to the 53-man roster, replacing Limas Sweed and Greg Warren, who were both lost for the season. Galloway, 38, is a 15-year veteran who had seven receptions for 67 yards in three games for New England this year. Galloway, who played with four different teams before joining the Steelers, has 689 career receptions for 10,777 yards and 77 touchdowns. Sweed, the Steelers' second-round draft pick in 2008, was sidelined against Green Bay with what coach Mike Tomlin today called a "non-football illness." He finished with one catch for five yards this season after recording six catches for 64 yards as a rookie."
December 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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If the reeling Steelers are going to right themselves Sunday against visiting Green Bay, they likely will do so without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. Polamalu said Monday that the knee injury he sustained Nov. 15 is worse than initially thought and that he might not be healthy enough to return until the regular-season finale Jan. 3. "Hopefully by the Miami game, I'll be ready to play," said Polamalu, who strained the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee in an 18-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. What seems clear is Polamalu can't be depended on to be a short-term fix for a team in the midst of its first five-game losing streak since 2003. The Steelers have been a different ..."
December 10
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Cornerback William Gay practiced Wednesday for the second consecutive day, and he could play tonight in Cleveland, even though the Steelers listed him as questionable on their injury report. Even if Gay, who got knocked out of last Sunday's game with a concussion, suits up for the 8:20 p.m. game, he may not start. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that he may make changes to the lineup and that could translate into rookie cornerback Joe Burnett making his first career start. Burnett played in place of Gay when the latter got hurt last Sunday, and he dropped an interception on the Raiders' final drive. The missed opportunity loomed large in the Steelers' 27-24 loss, but ..."
December 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A forced bystander during the four-game losing streak that has imperiled the Steelers' playoff chances, strong safety Troy Polamalu said he probably could have returned by now from the knee injury that has sidelined him since the middle of November. But, Polamalu added Tuesday, "I don't think I would be a help at all to our team with my current condition. I think if I really felt like I could help this team out, I would be out there playing." Polamalu didn't practice yesterday because of the strained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee, and he is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game Thursday night when the Steelers visit the Browns. With the extra rest the Steelers ..."
December 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin all but ruled out Hines Ward and William Gay from playing Thursday night in Cleveland. But both players aren't quite ready to trade in their helmet for a ballcap just yet. Ward and Gay are holding out hope they will be able to play in the key AFC North game. "You can never count me out," Ward said Wednesday. Ward suffered a low-grade hamstring strain on the second-to-last play of Sunday's loss to Oakland, and Gay went out with a concussion late in the game. Ward missed practice for the second consecutive day yesterday, but Gay was back on the field with a clean bill of health and a new concussion-friendly Revolution helmet. Gay underwent a series of ..."
December 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist John Harris
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This just in: Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is responsible for the spread of H1N1. Sit him. Taylor, everyone's favorite scapegoat around these parts, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar on two big pass plays during Sunday's 27-24 upset loss to the Oakland Raiders. The Steelers scored a total of three points in three red-zone possessions in the first half against the Raiders and didn't get untracked until the fourth quarter. It's Taylor's fault, of course. When Mike Tomlin said during Monday's press conference that he was considering lineup changes in all three phases -- offense, defense and special teams -- guess whose name was presented to the third-year coach? It's fashionable to ..."
December 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Major changes could be coming to the Steelers as they try to snap a four-game losing streak and salvage their season. Coach Mike Tomlin said today he will evaluate all aspects of his team and strongly hinted that changes will be made to the starting lineup and particularly at cornerback. "We can't stay status quo in terms of how we're approaching this thing and expect the pattern of behavior and outcomes to change," Tomlin said today at his weekly news conference. "That's unrealistic, that's hoping. I'm not a hope-mentality person." Asked how changes would go over on a veteran-laden team, Tomlin said, "I think they understand it and I think to a degree they'll agree with me." The 6-6 ..."
December 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward appears to be a longshot to play in the Steelers' 8:20 p.m. game Thursday at Cleveland. Ward sustained a mild hamstring pull near the end of Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders. The short week for the Steelers does not bode well for the 12th-year veteran playing against the Browns. "Not favorable for him," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. Strong safety Troy Polamalu (knee) will almost certainly miss his fourth consecutive game. Polamalu has missed the past three games with a strained posterior collateral ligament (PCL) in his left knee. Tomlin said, "I don't think he's going to be able to play in this football game.""
December 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who missed his first game of the season with a concussion, completed his third consecutive practice and will start in Sunday's 1 p.m. game against Oakland at Heinz Field. Meanwhile, safety Troy Polamalu (knee) missed another practice and isn't expected to play. The Steelers will also be without defensive end Travis Kirscke (calf), who didn't practice all week despite playing in last Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to Baltimore. Nick Eason will start at defensive end and share time with rookie Ziggy Hood."
December 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Strong safety Troy Polamalu (knee) didn't practice Thursday, and he is not expected to play Sunday against the visiting Oakland Raiders. The Steelers may also be without defensive end Travis Kirscke (calf) who has yet to practice this week despite playing in last Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Ravens. If Kirschke is unable to go Sunday, Nick Eason would likely start at left defensive end and share time with rookie Ziggy Hood. ยป Left guard Chris Kemoeatu again was a full participant in practice yesterday. He appears to be on track to play against the Raiders after missing the Steelers' last game with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear in his left knee."
November 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Despite practicing all week and saying that he planned to play against the Ravens, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will sit out a key game in Baltimore as a precaution. That means that Dennis Dixon, who was the Steelers' No. 3 quarterback at this time last week, will make his first NFL start tonight at M&T Bank Stadium. Roethlisberger sustained his third football-related concussion last Sunday in a 27-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He pulled Dixon aside Saturday morning at the team's practice facility and told the second-year man that he would get the call against the Ravens, whom the Steelers need to beat to avoid their first three-game losing streak under coach Mike ..."
November 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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For the second game in a row -- and sixth time this season -- Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will be sidelined because of a knee injury. Polamalu, quarterback Charlie Batch (wrist) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (knee) are out for Sunday's 8:20 p.m. game at Baltimore. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) is listed as questionable but is expected to start. Roethlisberger fully participated in each of the team's three practices this week. He was cleared by the medical staff and said he will play."
November 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Ben Roethlisberger practiced again Thursday and said he plans to play Sunday against the Ravens. Speaking for the first time since he got knocked out of the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs following a blow to the head, Roethlisberger said: "I've taken a thousand (neurological) tests and passed them all with flying colors." Coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that Roethlisberger sustained a mild concussion after getting kneed in the helmet by Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. Roethlisberger said he felt well enough following the hit that he would have lobbied to go back into the game had the Steelers gotten another possession in overtime. He hasn't missed any practice ..."
November 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Troy Polamalu didn't practice Thursday and is unlikely to play Sunday in Baltimore. Polamalu didn't play against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday because of a strained ligament in his left knee. Left guard Chris Kemoeatu (knee) and quarterback Charlie Batch (wrist) are already out for the 8:20 p.m. game against the Ravens. Defensive end Travis Kirschke's status for the game is uncertain as he again was a limited participant in practice. Kirschke has missed the Steelers' last three games because of a strained calf."