As reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger went under the knife yesterday to clean up some cartilage in his right knee.  The information from HC Mike Tomlin on the team website was slightly less informative than the Post-Gazette but straight to the point (typical Tomlin):

Earlier today, Ben had minor surgery on his right knee that was the result of slight discomfort this offseason. We advised him to get the surgery done to ensure he will be completely healthy for the start of training camp. This surgery will have no long-term effects on his health.

Basically, Roethlisberger had arthroscopic surgery (little incisions with a telescope) to trim some tissue from his meniscus.  He had been having some minor pain during the offseason, but it obviously didn’t limit his activity — he participated in the first two team OTAs.

Big Ben runs through OTAs with no problem pre-op (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)

The surgery was performed by Dr. James Bradley, who did a similar procedure on Big Ben’s left knee during the 2005 season.  The QB missed one game and went on to lead his team to a Superbowl victory.  If the Steelers bring home Lombardi #7, maybe Roethlisberger will start a trend, and other QBs will find excuses to get their knees scoped…

Second-year Steelers OT Mike Adams is recovering from stab wounds received in an apparent robbery attempt.

Mike Adams

“We are aware of the situation regarding Mike Adams being stabbed earlier this morning,” Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said. “We are in direct communication with both Mike and his family. Mike is expected to make a full recovery.”

Now that the Draft is firmly in the past, the long wait until training camp or any kind of glimmer that football season is around the corner seems unending.

Fear not. Organized team activities (OTAs) kicked off on Tuesday. Players will gather for workouts or tell scary stories around campfires or something.

“It’s a chance for the guys to get back together and start working as a group,” said linebacker Larry Foote. “It really benefits the younger guys, second and third year guys. It’s easy to forget things during the time off. Getting out there and running around and playing football, it’s a good thing. We need it. I think it is needed for the game to have the OTAs.”

[snip]

“OTAs are a time when we all start to gel, the quarterbacks and the receivers and running backs all start to mesh,” said running back Isaac Redman. “We get back to work on everything and refresh everything.

“It’s a good chance for everyone to be together. You miss it. You enjoy being around everyone, being in the locker room.”

OTAs also give the Steelers a chance to take the first steps towards bettering the disappointing 8-8 record from last season.

“The mindset of Pittsburgh, the organization, 8-8 is not good enough especially with the success we have had,” said Foote. “For the older guys we know it’s now. We have some guys left and if we want to make a few more runs at the Super Bowl, we have to do it now. You never know when it’s going to be your last play. You have to have the mindset that this is it.”

The 2013 NFL Draft picks are all in, so now it’s time to get to know that newest members of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  We’ll be posting more on the rookies over the next few days.  In the meantime, you can follow them all on twitter:

Jarvis Jones, OLB, University of Georgia: https://twitter.com/SacManJones_29

LeVeon Bell, RB, Michigan State: https://twitter.com/l_bell24

Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon: https://twitter.com/twheat002

Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse University: https://twitter.com/shamarko21ya

Landry Jones, QB, University of Oklahoma: https://twitter.com/LandryJones12

Terry Hawthorne, CB, University of Illinois: https://twitter.com/TerryHawthorne1

Justin Brown, WR, University of Oklahoma: https://twitter.com/justinbrown19

Vince Williams, ILB, Florida State University: https://twitter.com/JohnnyBrovo11

NickWilliams, DE, Samford University: https://twitter.com/NickWilliams_94

It was a treat to see the enthusiasm that most of these rookies displayed on their timelines in response to getting drafted by the Steelers.  Jarvis Jones tweeted a pic of himself and LeVeon Bell at the Steelers Fan Blitz.  Jones also proved that he is embracing Pittsburgh culture:

Jarvis Jones sampling the local fare at Primanti Brothers (Don’t tell Subway!)

About to smash this Black Angus Top Sirloin Steak & Cheese with the good ppl @primantibros

— Jarvis Jones (@SacManJones_29) April 27, 2013

Shamarko Thomas already posted an instagram photo of himself with the Steelers logo in the background.  And Bell got some love from Steelers legendary RB Jerome Bettis:

RT @jeromebettis36: Congrats @l_bell24welcome to the @steelers!! The steel city loves big backs!! Believe me! — thanks big dawgg!

— LeVeon Bell (@L_Bell24) April 27, 2013

Hopefully, these young players will spend more time on their playbooks (once they get them) then their twitter feeds, but for now, it’s their time to bask in the glow of their newly minted status as NFL players.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to reload in the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting Le’Veon Bell, a running back from Michigan State.

Le’veon Bell

There has been a large question mark over the Steelers running game for quite some time now. Former number one round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall began the season recovering from an injury, and his many replacements could never really find any rhythm. The million fumble game against the Browns also didn’t help.

Bell will look to compete with Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman (whenever he signs his tender), and the newly-signed LaRod Stephens-Howling. 

Running back has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the Steelers. Pittsburgh has been looking for a durable back since the great Jerome Bettis retired. So no pressure, or anything, Le’Veon.

Welcome to Steeler Nation, Jarvis Jones.

With the 17th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the outside linebacker from Georgia. The Steelers’ linebacking corp has been under construction over the past couple of years with James Farrior and James Harrison being the salary cap casualties.

Jarvis Jones

It will be interesting to see how Jones fits in with this defensive unit. Unlike the offense, defensive rookies don’t typically see much playing time. Defensive rookies spend much of their first year learning the system. I’d imagine that Jason Worilds is still the front runner to replace James Harrison.

However, this is a defense in transition. While they have been one of the top-ranked defenses, they’ve done so despite their ability to make the big plays. Sacks and turnovers have been on decline to say the least. Time will tell if Jarvis Jones will be that kind of playmaker the Steelers have been missing, but if couldn’t hurt if he could manage to knock Joe Flacco on his butt.

There has been a ton (I measured it) of speculation about where Jarvis Jones would go in this year’s NFL Draft.  Almost as much speculation as there was about his potential for spine problems.  After USC decided not to gamble on the talented linebacker, he finished his NCAA career as a Bulldog at the University of Georgia.  He may be the best player in this draft, but teams must know that they could be taking a chance that his spinal stenosis will result in injuries that could then lead to missed games.

Jarvis Jones celebrates his QB hit that caused a fumble (Bob Self/The Times-Union)

A sampling of the mock drafts of 50 NFL reporters and analysts (note that I didn’t call them experts) had 16 votes for Jarvis being the 15th pick of the draft, going to the New Orleans Saints. As we now know, that didn’t happen.  Jones himself predicted that he wouldn’t drop lower than 17, considering the Pittsburgh Steelers his last possible stop in the first round.  Although Jones’s draft stock took a hit after a fairly unimpressive pro day, he feels that the film speaks for itself:

“Then you got the people that do the mock drafts, they say I’m way down here, I talk to the coaches, all the coaches don’t think I’m gonna get past a certain point, so, coaches — for me personally — the coaches are on something different than all the analysts on TV at home.  So, for me, I’m listening to the coaches because they’re the ones that have the draft picks.”

The Steelers will look to Jason Worilds to fill the starting position made available when James Harrison declined a paycut and hit the free agent market (eventually taking less money to sign with the Bengals).  Jones comes with a” tremendous motor” according to Mike Mayock and “gets under blocks to fly to the quarterback”.  By his own admission, he needs more experience dropping back into coverage.  At 6’2 3/8″ and 245 lbs, he is the typical size — although he could stand to put on a little muscle mass —  that the Steelers look for in a pass rusher and will add much-needed depth behind Worilds and LaMarr Woodley.  Time will tell if Jones is right about his unlimited potential, but for tonight, he knows where he’s going so that he can start proving the skeptics wrong.  And we all know how the Steelers love a player with a chip on his shoulder.

Oh, and did I mention that Jones has been training with Steelers CB Ike Taylor?  I like this kid already.

It’s official. Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is now a Cincinnati Bengal.

It’s been a weird off-season for the Steelers, and now Steeler Nation is faced with seeing the long-time Steeler in black and orange every Sunday. Weird.

We’ll remember the good times we had, James. Like that time you met Mary Poppins.

Of course, it doesn’t help that Harrison will now have a go at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line twice a year. In recent years, Ben Roethlisberger has suffered major injuries at the hands of the vaunted defenses from Cleveland and Kansas City. Cincinnati’s defense is tough as it is, and adding a former Defensive Player of the Year to the mix will make them tougher. Not good news for Big Ben and company.

On the bright side, we will still have two chances to see Harrison chase after Joe Flacco this coming season. So there is a bright side to all of this.

The 2013 schedule has been released. And, spoiler alert: the Steelers close out the season against the Cleveland Browns. Because it’s one of the laws of the universe.

The Steelers’ 2013 schedule looks a little something like this:

Highlights include:

• No games on the NFL Network.
• Only one game on Fox.
• Another ridiculously early bye week.
• The obligatory Ravens/Steelers game on NBC will take place Thanksgiving night.
• Mike Wallace will make his return to Heinz Field in Week 14. I’m sure he’ll receive a warm reception from Steeler Nation.

Sanders Watch 2013 is finally over!

u mad, New England?

The Pittsburgh Steelers matched the offer from the New England Patriots, meaning that Emmanuel Sanders will remain a Steeler for the time being.

The Steelers had until 11:59 PM tonight to match the contract offer Sanders signed with the Patriots. Had Pittsburgh declined to match the offer, they would have received the Patriots’ third round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

But all of that is moot now that Sanders is staying put.