Steelers

NFL Notes The NFL and NFLPA is preparing to push the start of league year back to May. (NFLTR) Free Agents QB Charlie Batch has no plans to retire. (Alan Robinson) CB Quentin Jammer would “love” to have a return to the Chargers. (NFLTR) WR Chad Johnson has been arrested for violating his probation. (TMZ) [...]

Bills Bills name Doug Whaley general manager. Browns RB Brandon Jackson has been re-signed to a one-year contract. (Albert Breer) QB Brian Hoyer has been signed to a two-year contract. (Adam Caplan) Chargers DE Dwight Freeney is still visiting with the Chargers on Thursday. (Michael Gehlken) LB Thomas Keiser has been signed Cowboys DL Anthony [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signing of veteran OT Guy Whimper on Monday. Whimper, 30, was released by the Jaguars back in February as the new regime began overhauling their roster. In 2012, Whimper started six games for Jacksonville, but still managed to appear in all 16 games. Pro Football Focus actually had him rated as one of [...]

Bears OL Kyle Long’s measurables were one of the main reasons the Bears selected him in round one. (Chicago Tribune) Bills Chris Hairston is projected to be the Bills starting right tackle. (WGR 550 Buffalo) Broncos DE Quanterus Smith is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. (Denver Post) Browns Leon McFadden may end up [...]

NFL Free agent Ahmad Bradshaw has received full medical clearance for football activities. (Pro Football Talk) “More than one team asked” Tim Tebow if he was willing to play TE after being placed on the trading block, but he reportedly refused. (Adam Schefter) RT Eric Winston is believed to be holding out for guaranteed money [...]

Steelers LBs coach Keith Butler mentioned that it would be “miraculous” if last year’s third-round pick Sean Spence was able to continue his career in the NFL, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Spence, 22, suffered a terrible knee injury last season. He torn both his ACL and LCL while dislocating the knee, so there are some legitimate questions as to whether or not [...]

Daniel Jeremiah has “heard” that the Steelers are trying to trade a running back now that they’ve drafted Le’Veon Bell and Jonathan Dwyer could be available. Dwyer, 23, received a late-round restricted tender worth $1.323 million from the Steelers, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent following the 2013 season. Pittsburgh would probably take a late-round pick in return [...]

Ian Rapoport reports that the Cardinals are open to trading backup QB Brian Hoyer. Rapoport specifically mentions that the Cleveland Browns could have interest in Hoyer, as they’re believed to be looking for another quarterback. Hoyer, 27, received a second-round restricted tender from the Cardinals, but he could be available for a late-round pick. The Steelers were believed to have [...]

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an agreement with RB LaRod Stephens-Howling on a one-year deal. Stephens-Howling, 26, visited with the Steelers a few weeks, but the team was believed to have more interest in Ahmad Bradshaw. Stephens-Howling should be able to help them as a third-round back and in passing [...]

Pro Football Talk reports that the a league source has informed them that free agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw has received full medical clearance and can now resume all football activities. Bradshaw, 27, underwent surgery on his foot earlier this offseason, which has limited his ability to work out for NFL teams since free agency opened. Steelers GM Kevin [...]

Here’s a collection of rumors regarding the NFL Draft. NFL Tavon Austin could be gone before the Jets are on the board at No. 9 overall. (Jason Cole)  A guard will be taken in the Top 10. (Adam Schefter) 49ers There’s “increasing chatter” that the 49ers are trying to trade up in the Top 15 [...]

49ers Matt Maiocco of the CSN Bay Area lists: SMU DE Margus Hunt, Florida State DE/OLB Tank Carradine, FIU S Jonathan Cyprien, and Stanford TE Zach Ertz as four players to watch regarding the 49ers‘ No. 31 overall pick. Previous speculation mentioned that San Francisco could try to trade up to secure a potential replace for DE Justin Smith. Carradine’s [...]

With just days to go until the NFL Draft begins, the Steelers are one of many teams with veteran quarterbacks facing the age old dilemma of whether to consider drafting the quarterback of the future now and letting him develop or delaying the inevitable for one more season. It’s unknown if Pittsburgh will select a gunslinger in [...]

49ers Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports reports that the 49ers are “believed” to be interested in possibly trading up to either No. 13 or No. 14 depending on what happens at the top of the draft. San Francisco would reportedly like to get a defensive lineman that could eventually replace veteran DE Justin Smith. Cole mentions that there’s “no way” the 49ers [...]

Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net reports that “a number of teams” have UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin ranked as the No. 1 running back in this year’s draft class. Pauline adds that Franklin is drawing comparisons to Frank Gore and Doug Martin from NFL evaluators. Jason La Canfora also mentioned that he believes Franklin will be the first running back to come off the board next week, so there are [...]

NFL Free agent S James Sanders has been suspended four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. (Howard Balzer) NFL Draft Alabama RB Eddie Lacy pointed to the limited amount of time he had to prepare for his Pro Day as the reason why he was unable to finish. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) Tennessee Tech WR [...]

Geoff Hobson reports that Bill Parise, the agent for OLB James Harrison, has informed him that the Bengals have reached a deal with his client. “Any time you can get James Harrison on your team, it’s a great day,” said Parise, per Hobson. Ian Rapoport reports that Harrison will receive a two-year deal.  Hobson expects Harrison to play SAM linebacker in [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced that they have signed restricted free agent NT Steve McLendon to a three-year deal. Ian Rapoport reports that McClendon’s new contract is worth a max value of $7.25 million and includes a $1.675 million signing bonus. Adam Schefter adds that he will receive $5 million in first two years of this contract. This news comes less than [...]

Here are some draft notes provided by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports: Chiefs Citing numerous league sources, La Canfora sounds convinced that Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel will be taken by the Chiefs at No. 1 overall. Kansas City is reportedly “locked in on him,” but have also given strong consideration to Central Michigan LT Eric Fisher as well. [...]

Update: Emmanuel Sanders‘ agent, Jordan Woy, mentioned that the Patriots weren’t the only team to make his client an offer this offseason. “We had several teams make offers in free agency so we know there are teams who really like Emmanuel,” said Woy, via the Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Woy mentioned that they’re open to discussing a long-term [...]

NFL Free Agents OL Bryant McKinnie‘s agent has spoken to many teams. (Alex Marvez) NFL Draft DB Tyrann Mathieu admitted to failing 10 drug tests and “quit counting” after that. (Jarrett Bell) Bears Bears have “genuine” interest in TE Zach Ertz for the No. 20 pick in the Draft. (Michael C. Wright) Bengals Bengals agreed [...]

Update Ian Rapoport reports that the Steelers are expected to meet with free agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw before the upcoming NFL Draft. Pro Football Talk reports that the Bengals have also expressed interest in Bradshaw and a visit could be scheduled in the next week or two.  The Steelers are believed to have serious interest in signing Bradshaw and [...]