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AJHawkfan
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Obituary: Theo Bell / Former Steelers wide receiver
Dec. 21, 1953 - June 21, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
By Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Al Herrmann Jr., Post-Gazette
Theo Bell is tackled by two San Diego Chargers in a Dec. 23, 1980, game.
Theo Bell, who earned two Super Bowl rings as a reserve receiver with the Steelers, died Wednesday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., after a yearlong battle with kidney disease and scleroderma. He was 52.
His wife, Joan, said the cause of death was scleroderma, a disorder that causes hardening of the skin and damage to internal organs and blood vessels.
Mr. Bell was with the Steelers from 1976-80 and was on the Super Bowl teams in 1979 and 1980. He missed the 1977 season because of a foot injury. In his years with the Steelers, he had 41 catches for 905 yards and four touchdowns, with 29 of those receptions for 748 yards and two touchdowns in 1980.
Mr. Bell ranks second in Steelers history with 139 punt returns for 1,259 yards, behind Rod Woodson in both categories.
The Steelers drafted Mr. Bell in the fourth round in 1976 out of the University of Arizona. He was born and raised in Bakersfield, Calif.
Mr. Bell was involved in a high-profile criminal trial in Pittsburgh in 1981 during which several Steelers players testified as character witnesses.
The charges stemmed from an incident with a 21-year-old woman at a North Hills motel. A jury convicted him of simple assault but acquitted him of charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and unlawful restraint.
Mr. Bell was sentenced to a year's probation.
Mr. Bell, who was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 pounds, left the Steelers in 1981, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He caught 95 passes for 1,470 yards and four touchdowns in five seasons with them before retiring in 1985.
Mr. Bell then founded a program in Tampa that teaches the value of education and targeted middle-school children.
"Those kids are going to remember Theo for the rest of their lives," former Tampa Bay quarterback Doug Williams told the Tampa Tribune. "When things get tough for them, they will be able to look back at how Theo handled himself in tough times. He was the kind of guy you wanted to have in your locker room. Every time he caught the ball, he looked like a kid in the candy store."
That's how Joe Gordon, former public relations director of the Steelers, remembered Mr. Bell.
"You couldn't help but like Theo. He was always an upbeat guy with a bounce to his step and a lot of enthusiasm," Mr. Gordon said. "He was a real friendly guy who always had something to say. As a player, he was a valuable part of those Steeler teams as a punt returner. He was fearless."
Funeral services for Mr. Bell will be held in Tampa on Monday at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of College Hill.
(Phil Axelrod can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-1967. )
Dec. 21, 1953 - June 21, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
By Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Al Herrmann Jr., Post-Gazette
Theo Bell is tackled by two San Diego Chargers in a Dec. 23, 1980, game.
Theo Bell, who earned two Super Bowl rings as a reserve receiver with the Steelers, died Wednesday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., after a yearlong battle with kidney disease and scleroderma. He was 52.
His wife, Joan, said the cause of death was scleroderma, a disorder that causes hardening of the skin and damage to internal organs and blood vessels.
Mr. Bell was with the Steelers from 1976-80 and was on the Super Bowl teams in 1979 and 1980. He missed the 1977 season because of a foot injury. In his years with the Steelers, he had 41 catches for 905 yards and four touchdowns, with 29 of those receptions for 748 yards and two touchdowns in 1980.
Mr. Bell ranks second in Steelers history with 139 punt returns for 1,259 yards, behind Rod Woodson in both categories.
The Steelers drafted Mr. Bell in the fourth round in 1976 out of the University of Arizona. He was born and raised in Bakersfield, Calif.
Mr. Bell was involved in a high-profile criminal trial in Pittsburgh in 1981 during which several Steelers players testified as character witnesses.
The charges stemmed from an incident with a 21-year-old woman at a North Hills motel. A jury convicted him of simple assault but acquitted him of charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and unlawful restraint.
Mr. Bell was sentenced to a year's probation.
Mr. Bell, who was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 pounds, left the Steelers in 1981, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He caught 95 passes for 1,470 yards and four touchdowns in five seasons with them before retiring in 1985.
Mr. Bell then founded a program in Tampa that teaches the value of education and targeted middle-school children.
"Those kids are going to remember Theo for the rest of their lives," former Tampa Bay quarterback Doug Williams told the Tampa Tribune. "When things get tough for them, they will be able to look back at how Theo handled himself in tough times. He was the kind of guy you wanted to have in your locker room. Every time he caught the ball, he looked like a kid in the candy store."
That's how Joe Gordon, former public relations director of the Steelers, remembered Mr. Bell.
"You couldn't help but like Theo. He was always an upbeat guy with a bounce to his step and a lot of enthusiasm," Mr. Gordon said. "He was a real friendly guy who always had something to say. As a player, he was a valuable part of those Steeler teams as a punt returner. He was fearless."
Funeral services for Mr. Bell will be held in Tampa on Monday at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of College Hill.
(Phil Axelrod can be reached at [email protected] or 412-263-1967. )
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ver/06/23/open.mike/index.html?section=si_nfl
Steel resolve
Porter, Steelers ready to prove they're still hungry
Posted: Friday June 23, 2006 11:37AM; Updated: Friday June 23, 2006 4:14PM
Bill Frakes/SI
He watched Alonzo Mourning throw down on the big screen, a paragon of passion closing in on a maiden NBA title, and Joey Porter couldn't hold back. Spilling a Bud Light as he leaped from the couch last Tuesday night, Porter, who hadn't stopped squawking since the opening whistle of Game 6 of the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, shook his body and danced along with the jacked-up veteran center.
"Get your ring, 'Zo!" Porter screamed at the TV. Then, noticing the emotion on Mourning's face, the Pittsburgh Steelers' All-Pro linebacker added: "I want you to cry, 'Zo. I want you to cry! I want you to cry! I want you to cry!"
Enjoying the game from the guest house of his plush home in Bakersfield, Calif., with a dozen old friends, Porter could relate to the Heat's triumph, and especially to the fulfillment felt by the 36-year-old Mourning and 37-year-old guard Gary Payton as they finally closed in on a championship.
A little more than four months earlier, Porter and his Steelers teammates -- and, most poignantly, retiring running back Jerome Bettis -- had experienced a similar sensation in winning Super Bowl XL.
But while Bettis, who signed a sweet TV deal with NBC, is still reveling in the afterglow -- he's getting married early next month in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and will spend this coming weekend in Bakersfield at Porter's football camp and charity golf tournament -- Porter and his Pittsburgh teammates must soon turn defensive. Defending a title is a daunting task in a sport as emotionally charged as pro football, and when you've spent your seven-year career with a steel-plated chip on your shoulder, finding a way to retain that edge in the wake of success looms as a huge challenge.
"I've still got that chip," Porter insists. "With each team comes a different challenge, and the first one for us is that we can't expect to play as well as we did last year and think it's going to work. I've got to be even better; we all do. Last year, it wasn't until we got to a desperate mindset that we started going full speed all the time. That's where we need to start this year."
That all sounds good, but even the irrepressibly intense Porter concedes that the Steelers face some legitimate questions going into the season. Bettis was an enormous presence in the locker room, and his absence could create a leadership void that Porter is likely to try to help fill. Pittsburgh also must replace three starters -- safety Chris Hope, defensive end Kimo von Oehlhoffen and wideout Antwaan Randle El -- lost via free agency.
Then, of course, there is the Big Ben factor. When Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident earlier this month, there wasn't a player on the Pittsburgh roster who didn't wonder whether the team's 2006 fortunes were also spinning out of control.
A few days after Roethlisberger's release from the hospital last week, Porter placed a call to the young quarterback, expecting to leave a keep-your-head-up voicemail. But Roethlisberger answered the phone and, despite his broken jaw, seemed positively chatty, which caught Porter off guard.
"I was surprised he picked up his phone," Porter says. "He sounded way more upbeat than I expected. I thought he'd be sluggish and down, but he sounded good. He said he had to go in and see the dentist and was feeling pretty good in general."
Porter believes that Roethlisberger, who issued a contrite statement in which he vowed never again to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, will mature in a hurry as he confronts the inevitable increase in attention caused by the incident. "He'll have to," Porter says, "simply because of his position. If he thought he got scrutinized before, they'll be on him for sure now."
Bettis agrees. "No question," he said on Thursday. "Ben is going to have to be that guy who steps up and leads."
But even if Roethlisberger evolves into a locker-room leader, what he does on the field will be far more significant. Will be return with a champion's swagger, or will he be afraid to take a hit?
Until Roethlisberger proves he's the same guy who won 15 consecutive games as a rookie and helped spark Pittsburgh's unlikely title run after some choppy moments in his second year, there will be legitimate doubts about the Steelers in 2006 and beyond.
"Until I see Ben in person and see for myself that he's OK, I can't pass judgment on his situation," Porter says. "Right now we can all say, 'Yeah, he's gonna be back, he's gonna be fine,' but nobody really knows what to expect. Because, let's face it, nobody really knows what state Ben is going to be in when we take the field against the Dolphins [for the Sept. 7 opener in Pittsburgh]."
For now, Steelers fans can take solace in this: We have a pretty good idea what state Porter will be in on that night, even with a ring in his possession. Put it this way -- it'll be similar to the one he was in while watching Game 6 of the NBA Finals, only the "I want you to cry!" exhortations are likely to be directed at Miami's quarterback.
Steel resolve
Porter, Steelers ready to prove they're still hungry
Posted: Friday June 23, 2006 11:37AM; Updated: Friday June 23, 2006 4:14PM
Bill Frakes/SI
He watched Alonzo Mourning throw down on the big screen, a paragon of passion closing in on a maiden NBA title, and Joey Porter couldn't hold back. Spilling a Bud Light as he leaped from the couch last Tuesday night, Porter, who hadn't stopped squawking since the opening whistle of Game 6 of the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, shook his body and danced along with the jacked-up veteran center.
"Get your ring, 'Zo!" Porter screamed at the TV. Then, noticing the emotion on Mourning's face, the Pittsburgh Steelers' All-Pro linebacker added: "I want you to cry, 'Zo. I want you to cry! I want you to cry! I want you to cry!"
Enjoying the game from the guest house of his plush home in Bakersfield, Calif., with a dozen old friends, Porter could relate to the Heat's triumph, and especially to the fulfillment felt by the 36-year-old Mourning and 37-year-old guard Gary Payton as they finally closed in on a championship.
A little more than four months earlier, Porter and his Steelers teammates -- and, most poignantly, retiring running back Jerome Bettis -- had experienced a similar sensation in winning Super Bowl XL.
But while Bettis, who signed a sweet TV deal with NBC, is still reveling in the afterglow -- he's getting married early next month in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and will spend this coming weekend in Bakersfield at Porter's football camp and charity golf tournament -- Porter and his Pittsburgh teammates must soon turn defensive. Defending a title is a daunting task in a sport as emotionally charged as pro football, and when you've spent your seven-year career with a steel-plated chip on your shoulder, finding a way to retain that edge in the wake of success looms as a huge challenge.
"I've still got that chip," Porter insists. "With each team comes a different challenge, and the first one for us is that we can't expect to play as well as we did last year and think it's going to work. I've got to be even better; we all do. Last year, it wasn't until we got to a desperate mindset that we started going full speed all the time. That's where we need to start this year."
That all sounds good, but even the irrepressibly intense Porter concedes that the Steelers face some legitimate questions going into the season. Bettis was an enormous presence in the locker room, and his absence could create a leadership void that Porter is likely to try to help fill. Pittsburgh also must replace three starters -- safety Chris Hope, defensive end Kimo von Oehlhoffen and wideout Antwaan Randle El -- lost via free agency.
Then, of course, there is the Big Ben factor. When Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident earlier this month, there wasn't a player on the Pittsburgh roster who didn't wonder whether the team's 2006 fortunes were also spinning out of control.
A few days after Roethlisberger's release from the hospital last week, Porter placed a call to the young quarterback, expecting to leave a keep-your-head-up voicemail. But Roethlisberger answered the phone and, despite his broken jaw, seemed positively chatty, which caught Porter off guard.
"I was surprised he picked up his phone," Porter says. "He sounded way more upbeat than I expected. I thought he'd be sluggish and down, but he sounded good. He said he had to go in and see the dentist and was feeling pretty good in general."
Porter believes that Roethlisberger, who issued a contrite statement in which he vowed never again to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, will mature in a hurry as he confronts the inevitable increase in attention caused by the incident. "He'll have to," Porter says, "simply because of his position. If he thought he got scrutinized before, they'll be on him for sure now."
Bettis agrees. "No question," he said on Thursday. "Ben is going to have to be that guy who steps up and leads."
But even if Roethlisberger evolves into a locker-room leader, what he does on the field will be far more significant. Will be return with a champion's swagger, or will he be afraid to take a hit?
Until Roethlisberger proves he's the same guy who won 15 consecutive games as a rookie and helped spark Pittsburgh's unlikely title run after some choppy moments in his second year, there will be legitimate doubts about the Steelers in 2006 and beyond.
"Until I see Ben in person and see for myself that he's OK, I can't pass judgment on his situation," Porter says. "Right now we can all say, 'Yeah, he's gonna be back, he's gonna be fine,' but nobody really knows what to expect. Because, let's face it, nobody really knows what state Ben is going to be in when we take the field against the Dolphins [for the Sept. 7 opener in Pittsburgh]."
For now, Steelers fans can take solace in this: We have a pretty good idea what state Porter will be in on that night, even with a ring in his possession. Put it this way -- it'll be similar to the one he was in while watching Game 6 of the NBA Finals, only the "I want you to cry!" exhortations are likely to be directed at Miami's quarterback.
Upvote
0
AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://news.steelers.com/article/64608/
Re-living the Steelers’ 2005 season - Part I
Monday, June 26, 2006
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
Just as a total is made up of the sum of the individual parts, an NFL season is made up of a series of events that ultimately come together to define a team.
The 2005 season began for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the day after the 2004 AFC Championship Game, and it ended with a trophy presentation on the floor of Ford Field on the first Sunday of February 2006.
The Steelers won the fifth Super Bowl title in franchise history that day, and they did it by defeating the top three seeds in the AFC – all on the road – and then beating the No. 1 seed from the NFC in the Super Bowl. Their run was historic, and it stamped them as a deserving champion.
As the 2006 NFL season draws closer and the Steelers get closer to reporting to training camp to begin the process of defending their championship, there is an opportunity to re-live the events that came together to create their magical run to a championship.
The first part begins with the official end of the 2004 season and includes the highlights of the offseason:
Jan. 24: The morning after is always raw. A day after the loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game, there isn't a dry eye in the locker room at the team's practice facility. Most of it centers around the possibility that Jerome Bettis will retire, but it's also more than that. "We honestly love each other," said Jeff Hartings. "I honestly felt that I would rather lose a game like that with this team than win a Super Bowl with a team I didn't enjoy playing with."
Jan. 25: His postseason included five interceptions in two games, and Ben Roethlisberger finally acknowledges the toll his first NFL season took both physically and mentally. "No excuses. I think it'll help me be more prepared for next year."
Jan. 26: The disappointment over a 15-1 season that ended short of the Super Bowl just won't dissipate. "Sometimes we wonder why," said Coach Bill Cowher. "Ours is not to wonder why, ours is to continue to try."
March 17: Team president Art Rooney II tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "I think for the people who have been around for a while now, I think we all feel like it's time (to win another Super Bowl). We've been close, and we have to take that last step."
March 21: Cowher agrees with the boss. "I'm tired of coaching Pro Bowls," said Cowher about the job that falls to the losing staffs in the conference championship games.
April 22: On the day before the NFL Draft, the consensus of opinion is that the No. 1 pick will be tight end Heath Miller, or an offensive lineman. A tight end?
April 23: A tight end! The Steelers are weak there, and Miller is the best prospect at the position in the entire draft. "We want to put some good players around our young quarterback, and at the same time not get away from what we believe in," said Cowher. Obviously, Heath Miller is going to have to learn to block. The day's other picks are a cornerback and a left tackle, both good positions to choose to fortify.
May 5: Minicamp opens, everyone attends, and everyone's goal is the same. "We've been to two AFC Championship Games, been close on both occasions," said Hines Ward. "We just didn't show up in the big game."
June 13: The offseason program ends, and Cowher likes what he has seen. "Certainly what happens over the next six weeks before training camp is critical. There are no shortcuts, and it's not going to be easy, but that's what separates these guys from other players. If they want to be the best, they'll make those sacrifices."
June 21: The Steelers call an 11 a.m. news conference, and it's big. No, it's not that they signed their first-round pick _ bigger than that. No, Ward didn't sign a new contract _ bigger than that. Myron Cope retires after 35 years as the color analyst on the Steelers Radio Network. Cope may be short, but he's bigger news than just about any of the players he made his living talking about.
July 30: The Steelers will open camp in 24 hours, and the expectation level is high, very high. "I think there's a greater challenge this year coming back with that same look in our eye," says Cowher. Adds team president Art Rooney II, "In our business, the bottom line is, did you win a championship? So that's still the way you measure your success."
Re-living the Steelers’ 2005 season - Part I
Monday, June 26, 2006
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
Just as a total is made up of the sum of the individual parts, an NFL season is made up of a series of events that ultimately come together to define a team.
The 2005 season began for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the day after the 2004 AFC Championship Game, and it ended with a trophy presentation on the floor of Ford Field on the first Sunday of February 2006.
The Steelers won the fifth Super Bowl title in franchise history that day, and they did it by defeating the top three seeds in the AFC – all on the road – and then beating the No. 1 seed from the NFC in the Super Bowl. Their run was historic, and it stamped them as a deserving champion.
As the 2006 NFL season draws closer and the Steelers get closer to reporting to training camp to begin the process of defending their championship, there is an opportunity to re-live the events that came together to create their magical run to a championship.
The first part begins with the official end of the 2004 season and includes the highlights of the offseason:
Jan. 24: The morning after is always raw. A day after the loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game, there isn't a dry eye in the locker room at the team's practice facility. Most of it centers around the possibility that Jerome Bettis will retire, but it's also more than that. "We honestly love each other," said Jeff Hartings. "I honestly felt that I would rather lose a game like that with this team than win a Super Bowl with a team I didn't enjoy playing with."
Jan. 25: His postseason included five interceptions in two games, and Ben Roethlisberger finally acknowledges the toll his first NFL season took both physically and mentally. "No excuses. I think it'll help me be more prepared for next year."
Jan. 26: The disappointment over a 15-1 season that ended short of the Super Bowl just won't dissipate. "Sometimes we wonder why," said Coach Bill Cowher. "Ours is not to wonder why, ours is to continue to try."
March 17: Team president Art Rooney II tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "I think for the people who have been around for a while now, I think we all feel like it's time (to win another Super Bowl). We've been close, and we have to take that last step."
March 21: Cowher agrees with the boss. "I'm tired of coaching Pro Bowls," said Cowher about the job that falls to the losing staffs in the conference championship games.
April 22: On the day before the NFL Draft, the consensus of opinion is that the No. 1 pick will be tight end Heath Miller, or an offensive lineman. A tight end?
April 23: A tight end! The Steelers are weak there, and Miller is the best prospect at the position in the entire draft. "We want to put some good players around our young quarterback, and at the same time not get away from what we believe in," said Cowher. Obviously, Heath Miller is going to have to learn to block. The day's other picks are a cornerback and a left tackle, both good positions to choose to fortify.
May 5: Minicamp opens, everyone attends, and everyone's goal is the same. "We've been to two AFC Championship Games, been close on both occasions," said Hines Ward. "We just didn't show up in the big game."
June 13: The offseason program ends, and Cowher likes what he has seen. "Certainly what happens over the next six weeks before training camp is critical. There are no shortcuts, and it's not going to be easy, but that's what separates these guys from other players. If they want to be the best, they'll make those sacrifices."
June 21: The Steelers call an 11 a.m. news conference, and it's big. No, it's not that they signed their first-round pick _ bigger than that. No, Ward didn't sign a new contract _ bigger than that. Myron Cope retires after 35 years as the color analyst on the Steelers Radio Network. Cope may be short, but he's bigger news than just about any of the players he made his living talking about.
July 30: The Steelers will open camp in 24 hours, and the expectation level is high, very high. "I think there's a greater challenge this year coming back with that same look in our eye," says Cowher. Adds team president Art Rooney II, "In our business, the bottom line is, did you win a championship? So that's still the way you measure your success."
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Bob Saccamano
These pretzels are making me thirsty.
<TABLE cellSpacing=8 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wiretap_key_header>
RealGM
RealGM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Big Ben Expected To Throw Next Week
</TD></TR><TR><TD>2nd July, 2006 - 2:28 am</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is recovering ahead of schedule, and is expected to begin throwing next week for the first time since injuring himself in a motorcycle accident June 5.
He's expected to be ready for the start of training camp July 28, but the Steelers are going to take a slow approach because of the head and facial trauma he received from his accident. Another good sign for the 24-year-old is that he hasn't suffered from blurred or double vision. He's also been able to eat soft food and potatoes, despite five titanium plates holding his jaw in place, thereby allowing him to maintain his body weight of 242 pounds, almost exactly his playing weight from last year.
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://news.steelers.com/article/64756/
Ask The Steelers - Orien Harris Part 1
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
ASK THE STEELERS
Steelers.com will be bringing you the Ask the Steelers feature throughout the summer. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.
ORIEN HARRIS - PART 1
Frank Del Campo from Chino Hills, CA: Coming from a school that plays a 4-3 defense, how tough will it be for you to adapt and learn to play in a 3-4?
Orien Harris: Technique and learning the scheme of the defense. They are throwing a lot at me right now with the whole playbook. Basically you have to change the way you play technique-wise. It's still the same thing as pursing and all of the things we did at Miami. With some adjustment I will be okay.
Troy Woods from Brooklyn, NY: What are the biggest differences between the two?
Orien Harris: It's the alignment and technique. It's the little things. Things like responsibility. It's something you have to get used to.
Todd Reilly from Pittsburgh, PA: Are you working at defensive end or at nose tackle, and which do you prefer?
Orien Harris: I am working at end right now. I prefer it. I get more freedom there. I am picking it up pretty good right now. I am taking good steps and feeling real comfortable.
John Hubert from Oak Hill, VA: The Steelers have a legacy and tradition of strong defensive play in Pittsburgh. What does it mean to you?
Orien Harris: I was a big Steelers fan growing up. I had my Steelers jacket. To have the opportunity to play for the Steelers is great. They were one of the teams that believed in me in the draft. I am taking it real personal and holding my head up high. I want to help the team out as much as I can.
Bryan Donnfield from Ligonier, PA: Have the veteran defensive lineman helped you out at all so far?
Orien Harris: They have been real helpful. They have been showing that they really care. All of things you hear about they don't help out rookies in the NFL isn't true. They have been great. They are trying to help me pick up the defense as fast as I can. They are helping me with my alignments. They tell me what I am doing wrong. I am grateful for that.
Mario Jake from Mentor, OH: How much time do you spend studying the playbook these days?
Orien Harris: I spend a couple of hours on it every night before I go to bed. I review everything from that day. We also learn it during the meetings.
Brian Weaver from Green, OH: Dick LeBeau is a great defensive coordinator. What have you learned from him so far?
Orien Harris: I never knew who he was until I came here. He has been talking to the defense before every meeting. He shows that he really cares about the defense. He said some real personal things about life that I have been taking with me. I am happy to be around someone like that. I hope to build a relationship with him like he has with other players on the team because he seems real special.
Gary Johnston from Miami, FL: What kind of advice has your brother given you for your NFL adjustment?
Orien Harris: He has told me to stay positive and to work hard. When we talk we don't talk that much about football. He told me to work hard. He believes in me. It's been real helpful because he has been in the game a few years.
Leo Banks from Washington, PA: How much of an advantage is it to have him as a resource?
Orien Harris: I am real lucky. Plus I come from a good school and a lot of guys down in Miami have given me good advice too. I can call on them for help. It's like a family. Coming to the Steelers everybody seems close to. I am blessed to be in a good situation.
From Terry Kress from Laurel, MD: What was your first reaction when you got the call from the Steelers telling you that they were drafting you?
Orien Harris: It was amazing. I am from not that far from here so it's good. I am really excited about how much the fans love the team. I don't know what to expect. Hopefully everything will turn out good.
Ask The Steelers - Orien Harris Part 1
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
ASK THE STEELERS
Steelers.com will be bringing you the Ask the Steelers feature throughout the summer. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.
ORIEN HARRIS - PART 1
Frank Del Campo from Chino Hills, CA: Coming from a school that plays a 4-3 defense, how tough will it be for you to adapt and learn to play in a 3-4?
Orien Harris: Technique and learning the scheme of the defense. They are throwing a lot at me right now with the whole playbook. Basically you have to change the way you play technique-wise. It's still the same thing as pursing and all of the things we did at Miami. With some adjustment I will be okay.
Troy Woods from Brooklyn, NY: What are the biggest differences between the two?
Orien Harris: It's the alignment and technique. It's the little things. Things like responsibility. It's something you have to get used to.
Todd Reilly from Pittsburgh, PA: Are you working at defensive end or at nose tackle, and which do you prefer?
Orien Harris: I am working at end right now. I prefer it. I get more freedom there. I am picking it up pretty good right now. I am taking good steps and feeling real comfortable.
John Hubert from Oak Hill, VA: The Steelers have a legacy and tradition of strong defensive play in Pittsburgh. What does it mean to you?
Orien Harris: I was a big Steelers fan growing up. I had my Steelers jacket. To have the opportunity to play for the Steelers is great. They were one of the teams that believed in me in the draft. I am taking it real personal and holding my head up high. I want to help the team out as much as I can.
Bryan Donnfield from Ligonier, PA: Have the veteran defensive lineman helped you out at all so far?
Orien Harris: They have been real helpful. They have been showing that they really care. All of things you hear about they don't help out rookies in the NFL isn't true. They have been great. They are trying to help me pick up the defense as fast as I can. They are helping me with my alignments. They tell me what I am doing wrong. I am grateful for that.
Mario Jake from Mentor, OH: How much time do you spend studying the playbook these days?
Orien Harris: I spend a couple of hours on it every night before I go to bed. I review everything from that day. We also learn it during the meetings.
Brian Weaver from Green, OH: Dick LeBeau is a great defensive coordinator. What have you learned from him so far?
Orien Harris: I never knew who he was until I came here. He has been talking to the defense before every meeting. He shows that he really cares about the defense. He said some real personal things about life that I have been taking with me. I am happy to be around someone like that. I hope to build a relationship with him like he has with other players on the team because he seems real special.
Gary Johnston from Miami, FL: What kind of advice has your brother given you for your NFL adjustment?
Orien Harris: He has told me to stay positive and to work hard. When we talk we don't talk that much about football. He told me to work hard. He believes in me. It's been real helpful because he has been in the game a few years.
Leo Banks from Washington, PA: How much of an advantage is it to have him as a resource?
Orien Harris: I am real lucky. Plus I come from a good school and a lot of guys down in Miami have given me good advice too. I can call on them for help. It's like a family. Coming to the Steelers everybody seems close to. I am blessed to be in a good situation.
From Terry Kress from Laurel, MD: What was your first reaction when you got the call from the Steelers telling you that they were drafting you?
Orien Harris: It was amazing. I am from not that far from here so it's good. I am really excited about how much the fans love the team. I don't know what to expect. Hopefully everything will turn out good.
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
sounds promising...
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_462603.html
Steelers agree to terms with fifth-round pick
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Steelers came to terms with another draft choice Wednesday and continued to negotiate with representatives for first-round pick Santonio Holmes and free-agent-to-be Ike Taylor.
No. 5b selection Charles Davis, a tight end from Purdue, received a signing bonus of $104,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $350,000 and $445,000 on a three-year, $1.07 million deal.
No. 4a pick Willie Colon, an offensive lineman from Hofstra, was the first of the Steelers' draft choices to agree on a contract, accepting a three-year, $1.33 million package that included a signing bonus of $283,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $350,000 and $425,000.
The Steelers aren't close to a deal with Holmes, but they're making progress.
They're also committed to giving Holmes a chance to resurrect his reputation, despite multiple run-ins with the law since the draft.
"Definitely, he gets another chance," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said.
Holmes was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct over the Memorial Day weekend in Miami, a charge a Miami Beach police spokesman characterized, at the time, as "nothing."
Holmes also is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15 in Franklin County, Ohio, to face charges of assault and domestic violence by assault -- both first-degree misdemeanors.
"He has to realize this is a great opportunity to be a very good player on a very good team, but to do that, he has to make some sacrifices," Rooney said. "He's gotta be on the straight and narrow."
Holmes may be subject to discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy in the NFL's basic agreement with the players' association.
"What I've heard, as far as the league is concerned, he's done everything they've asked him to do," Rooney said. "He's said the right things. He has to mean it."
Taylor, a starting cornerback for the first time in 2005 and a star during the Steelers' playoff run, signed a one-year, $1.57 million tender as a restricted free agent in the offseason.
Taylor intercepted one pass in the regular season and two in the playoffs, including one in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.
"Coach (Bill Cowher) gave me the challenge to go against the (opponent's) No. 1 receiver, and I just tried to take care of the opportunity," Taylor said during minicamp in May. "They had a lot of faith in me as a coaching staff. I had to earn that and earn it from my teammates."
"We continue to work on the contract, and we continue to make progress," said Scott Smith, Taylor's agent.
Taylor has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain with the Steelers.
"I think I will be here," he said in May. "I don't want to leave. I'm thinking positive, that we'll definitely get something worked out. But, right now, I'm playing football, and that's none of my concern."
Smith said it's "too early to tell" whether a contract extension could be worked out prior to the start of the season, at which point the Steelers traditionally cease such negotiations unless a deal is imminent.
The Steelers are scheduled to report to St. Vincent College in Latrobe for the opening of training camp July 28.
Seven of the team's nine draft choices remain unsigned: Holmes; No. 3a Anthony Smith (safety, Syracuse); No. 3b Willie Reid (wide receiver, Florida State); No. 4b Orien Harris (defensive lineman, Miami); No. 5a Omar Jacobs (quarterback, Bowling Green); No. 6 Marvin Philip (center, California); and No. 7 Cedrick Humes (running back, Virginia Tech).
Notes: The Steelers will hold night practices Aug. 2 at Latrobe High School and Aug. 9 at Saint Vincent. The night practice at Latrobe High School will begin at 7:05 p.m. and will be preceded by a 15-minute autograph session. Admission will be $3 for adults and $1 for children (under 18) and senior citizens (over 65). The night practice Aug. 9 begins at 6 p.m., and admission is free. ... The Steelers also will host a Gatorade Junior Training Camp -- a non-contact football skills camp for boys and girls 7-14 -- from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 2 at Latrobe High School. Fans can register at www.steelers.com.
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_462603.html
Steelers agree to terms with fifth-round pick
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Steelers came to terms with another draft choice Wednesday and continued to negotiate with representatives for first-round pick Santonio Holmes and free-agent-to-be Ike Taylor.
No. 5b selection Charles Davis, a tight end from Purdue, received a signing bonus of $104,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $350,000 and $445,000 on a three-year, $1.07 million deal.
No. 4a pick Willie Colon, an offensive lineman from Hofstra, was the first of the Steelers' draft choices to agree on a contract, accepting a three-year, $1.33 million package that included a signing bonus of $283,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $350,000 and $425,000.
The Steelers aren't close to a deal with Holmes, but they're making progress.
They're also committed to giving Holmes a chance to resurrect his reputation, despite multiple run-ins with the law since the draft.
"Definitely, he gets another chance," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said.
Holmes was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct over the Memorial Day weekend in Miami, a charge a Miami Beach police spokesman characterized, at the time, as "nothing."
Holmes also is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15 in Franklin County, Ohio, to face charges of assault and domestic violence by assault -- both first-degree misdemeanors.
"He has to realize this is a great opportunity to be a very good player on a very good team, but to do that, he has to make some sacrifices," Rooney said. "He's gotta be on the straight and narrow."
Holmes may be subject to discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy in the NFL's basic agreement with the players' association.
"What I've heard, as far as the league is concerned, he's done everything they've asked him to do," Rooney said. "He's said the right things. He has to mean it."
Taylor, a starting cornerback for the first time in 2005 and a star during the Steelers' playoff run, signed a one-year, $1.57 million tender as a restricted free agent in the offseason.
Taylor intercepted one pass in the regular season and two in the playoffs, including one in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.
"Coach (Bill Cowher) gave me the challenge to go against the (opponent's) No. 1 receiver, and I just tried to take care of the opportunity," Taylor said during minicamp in May. "They had a lot of faith in me as a coaching staff. I had to earn that and earn it from my teammates."
"We continue to work on the contract, and we continue to make progress," said Scott Smith, Taylor's agent.
Taylor has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain with the Steelers.
"I think I will be here," he said in May. "I don't want to leave. I'm thinking positive, that we'll definitely get something worked out. But, right now, I'm playing football, and that's none of my concern."
Smith said it's "too early to tell" whether a contract extension could be worked out prior to the start of the season, at which point the Steelers traditionally cease such negotiations unless a deal is imminent.
The Steelers are scheduled to report to St. Vincent College in Latrobe for the opening of training camp July 28.
Seven of the team's nine draft choices remain unsigned: Holmes; No. 3a Anthony Smith (safety, Syracuse); No. 3b Willie Reid (wide receiver, Florida State); No. 4b Orien Harris (defensive lineman, Miami); No. 5a Omar Jacobs (quarterback, Bowling Green); No. 6 Marvin Philip (center, California); and No. 7 Cedrick Humes (running back, Virginia Tech).
Notes: The Steelers will hold night practices Aug. 2 at Latrobe High School and Aug. 9 at Saint Vincent. The night practice at Latrobe High School will begin at 7:05 p.m. and will be preceded by a 15-minute autograph session. Admission will be $3 for adults and $1 for children (under 18) and senior citizens (over 65). The night practice Aug. 9 begins at 6 p.m., and admission is free. ... The Steelers also will host a Gatorade Junior Training Camp -- a non-contact football skills camp for boys and girls 7-14 -- from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 2 at Latrobe High School. Fans can register at www.steelers.com.
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06201/707164-66.stm
NFL Notebook: Two more Steelers rookies agree to terms
Players from fourth, fifth rounds take three-year contracts
Thursday, July 20, 2006
From local and wire dispatches
Two more rookie draft choices came to terms with the Steelers, who open training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe in eight days.
Defensive end Orien Harris, a fourth-round draft choice from Miami and tight end Charles Davis, a fifth-rounder from Purdue, each agreed to three-year contracts. The Steelers have three of their nine draft picks under contract. Tackle Willie Colon, a fourth-round pick, signed in the spring.
Harris received a $278,000 signing bonus as part of his $1.358 million contract. Davis received a $104,000 signing bonus on his $1.184 million deal. Each will receive the NFL minimum annual salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000.
NFL Notebook: Two more Steelers rookies agree to terms
Players from fourth, fifth rounds take three-year contracts
Thursday, July 20, 2006
From local and wire dispatches
Two more rookie draft choices came to terms with the Steelers, who open training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe in eight days.
Defensive end Orien Harris, a fourth-round draft choice from Miami and tight end Charles Davis, a fifth-rounder from Purdue, each agreed to three-year contracts. The Steelers have three of their nine draft picks under contract. Tackle Willie Colon, a fourth-round pick, signed in the spring.
Harris received a $278,000 signing bonus as part of his $1.358 million contract. Davis received a $104,000 signing bonus on his $1.184 million deal. Each will receive the NFL minimum annual salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000.
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Steelers sign fourth-round pick
Harris
AP Photo file photo
By The Tribune-Review
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Steelers reached agreement on a contract with No. 4b draft pick Orien Harris, a defensive lineman from Miami (Fla.) on Thursday.
Harris became the third of the Steelers' nine draft picks to come to terms. He received a signing bonus of $278,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000 on a three-year deal.
Harris followed fellow draft choices Willie Colon (No. 4a) and Charles Davis (No. 5b) into the fold.
Colon, an offensive lineman from Hofstra, received a $283,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000 on a three-year deal.
Davis, a tight end from Purdue, was given a signing bonus of $104,000 and base salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000 on a three-year deal.
Six of the Steelers' draft choices are unsigned.
Training camp opens on July 28 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_462772.html
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/15078333.htm
Posted on Thu, Jul. 20, 2006
Steelers' Haynes prepared for big chance
By Sarah Meinecke
TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER
FORT VALLEY - Pittsburgh running back Verron Haynes was in Florida on June 12 when a news bulletin attracted his attention. The Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had been in a motorcycle accident.
Instead of flying back to his hometown of Atlanta, Haynes immediately switched his flights and flew to Pittsburgh to be near his teammate and roommate.
"Ben comes down to Atlanta and stays with me, so he is a friend above all," said Haynes, a 2001 University of Georgia graduate. "When something like that happens, you care about the person's well-being. It was an unfortunate accident. We're very fortunate it wasn't worse than it was."
Haynes said the 23-year-old quarterback is back to lifting weights, and yes, thinking about riding a motorcycle - although a helmet will be involved next time. Losing Roethlisberger would have been a huge hit for the Steelers, who lost longtime running back Jerome Bettis to retirement following their Super Bowl victory.
"He is doing well," said Haynes as he participated in former teammate Randy McMichael's football camp earlier this month. "He is back lifting weights and in good spirits."
The 5-foot-9, 222-pound Haynes has been working in the offseason in hopes of moving up from his role as the third-down running back to being a starter with the Steelers. He is currently second on the depth chart behind Willie Parker, who has 1,202 yards and four touchdowns last season.
For Haynes, the first four seasons in the league were frustrating as he waited for his opportunity to contribute. In that time span with the Steelers, Haynes has gained 660 yards on 159 attempts for three touchdowns. On March 27, he signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh, possibly setting up his anticipated upgraded role.
"I'm working hard in Atlanta for whenever the opportunity presents itself," Haynes said. "I'm going in there, preparing like I am the starter. This year may be an opportunity for me to showcase my talent as far as getting out there and showing I can take a pounding and carry the load."
In order to earn a starting position, Haynes has been working out at a gym in Atlanta, as well as waking up at 4 a.m. to go running on his own. He and his teammates report to camp in Latrobe, Pa. on July 28.
"As the old saying goes, you have to dress for the job you want, not the one you have," Haynes said. "I can see it and I want it, so I have been preparing harder."
Posted on Thu, Jul. 20, 2006
Steelers' Haynes prepared for big chance
By Sarah Meinecke
TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER
FORT VALLEY - Pittsburgh running back Verron Haynes was in Florida on June 12 when a news bulletin attracted his attention. The Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had been in a motorcycle accident.
Instead of flying back to his hometown of Atlanta, Haynes immediately switched his flights and flew to Pittsburgh to be near his teammate and roommate.
"Ben comes down to Atlanta and stays with me, so he is a friend above all," said Haynes, a 2001 University of Georgia graduate. "When something like that happens, you care about the person's well-being. It was an unfortunate accident. We're very fortunate it wasn't worse than it was."
Haynes said the 23-year-old quarterback is back to lifting weights, and yes, thinking about riding a motorcycle - although a helmet will be involved next time. Losing Roethlisberger would have been a huge hit for the Steelers, who lost longtime running back Jerome Bettis to retirement following their Super Bowl victory.
"He is doing well," said Haynes as he participated in former teammate Randy McMichael's football camp earlier this month. "He is back lifting weights and in good spirits."
The 5-foot-9, 222-pound Haynes has been working in the offseason in hopes of moving up from his role as the third-down running back to being a starter with the Steelers. He is currently second on the depth chart behind Willie Parker, who has 1,202 yards and four touchdowns last season.
For Haynes, the first four seasons in the league were frustrating as he waited for his opportunity to contribute. In that time span with the Steelers, Haynes has gained 660 yards on 159 attempts for three touchdowns. On March 27, he signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh, possibly setting up his anticipated upgraded role.
"I'm working hard in Atlanta for whenever the opportunity presents itself," Haynes said. "I'm going in there, preparing like I am the starter. This year may be an opportunity for me to showcase my talent as far as getting out there and showing I can take a pounding and carry the load."
In order to earn a starting position, Haynes has been working out at a gym in Atlanta, as well as waking up at 4 a.m. to go running on his own. He and his teammates report to camp in Latrobe, Pa. on July 28.
"As the old saying goes, you have to dress for the job you want, not the one you have," Haynes said. "I can see it and I want it, so I have been preparing harder."
Upvote
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AJHawkfan
Wanna make $14 the hard way?
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06206/708360-66.stm
NFL Notebook: Sixth-round pick signs with Steelers
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
From staff and wire dispatches
Bill Wade, Post-Gazette
Center Marvin Philip, a sixth-round draft choice, yesterday became the fourth of nine Steelers rookie picks to sign a contract.
Philip (6 feet 1, 307), a two-time All-American at California. signed a three-year contract that includes a signing bonus of $59,150 with the NFL minimum annual salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000.
The Steelers, who report to training camp in Latrobe Friday evening, are still negotiating contracts with their top three draft picks -- wide receiver Santonio Holmes, free safety Anthony Smith and wide receiver Willie Reid, along with quarterback Omar Jacobs (fifth round) and running back Cedric Humes (seventh).
NFL Notebook: Sixth-round pick signs with Steelers
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
From staff and wire dispatches
Bill Wade, Post-Gazette
Center Marvin Philip, a sixth-round draft choice, yesterday became the fourth of nine Steelers rookie picks to sign a contract.
Philip (6 feet 1, 307), a two-time All-American at California. signed a three-year contract that includes a signing bonus of $59,150 with the NFL minimum annual salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000.
The Steelers, who report to training camp in Latrobe Friday evening, are still negotiating contracts with their top three draft picks -- wide receiver Santonio Holmes, free safety Anthony Smith and wide receiver Willie Reid, along with quarterback Omar Jacobs (fifth round) and running back Cedric Humes (seventh).
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Steelers Sign Seventh-Round Draft Pick
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers announced they have agreed to terms with rookie running back Cedric Humes to a multi-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Humes (6-1, 233), who was chosen in the seventh round (240th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, gained 1,805 yards rushing during his career at Virginia Tech and scored 21 touchdowns. He started nine games as a senior for the Hokies and led the team in rushing with a career-high 752 yards and 11 touchdowns. Humes rushed for over 100 yards in three of his final four contests, including a game-high 119 yards in Virginia Tech's Gator Bowl victory.
Following the signing of Humes, the Steelers have inked five of their nine draft picks.
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http://news.steelers.com/article/66127/
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