In the ongoing saga of “will they or won’t they reunite”  the Pittsburgh Steelers front office recently took a big step back.  As reported by Gerry Dulac in the Post-Gazette, the team told James Harrison that they were no longer interested in bringing back the recently released linebacker, who is currently a free agent.

Will Harrison and the Steelers every kiss and make up?

But is this really it?  Steelers fans cling to a shred of hope that the intimidating 5-time Pro Bowler will remain in the Black & Gold.  It’s not looking good right now, but in the NFL, you can never say never.  As Taylor Swift sings in “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”:

I remember when we broke up, the first time

Saying this is it, I’ve had enough, ’cause like

We haven’t seen each other in a month

When you, said you, needed space, what?

Then you come around again and say

Baby, I miss you and I swear I’m gonna change

Trust me, remember how that lasted for a day

I say, I hate you, we break up, you call me, I love you

Harrison was due to make $6.57 million in 2013 and $7.575 million in 2014.  With their limited cap space, there was no way the Steelers could keep the linebacker unless he took a significant pay cut.  Although the team and his agent met to negotiate, a new deal was never struck, and the team released Harrison on March 9th.  Harrison thanked his fans and said it was time to move on.

Harrison didn’t get much interest as a free agent, most likely due to his age and injury history (although he’s probably his healthiest in years right now).  He seemed on the verge of signing with the Ravens, but then they gave their money to ex-Bronco Elvis Dumervil instead.

Later that day, Harrison’s agent Bill Parise told the media that  he “has not closed the door on his client returning to Pittsburgh and would welcome a call from Steelers”.  Which translates as that he was now open to the pay cut he refused a few weeks ago.  Funny how things change when no one else wants a spot on your dance card, right Taylor?:

Oooh you called me up again tonight
But oooh, this time I’m telling you, I’m telling you
We are never ever ever getting back together
We are never ever ever getting back together
You go talk to your friends talk
To my friends talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4iX5D9Z64

We are living in an age in which the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense is becoming more well-known for iconic hair as opposed to intimidating play on the field. Troy Polamalu has his flowing locks. Brett Keisel? Well, his Yukon Cornelius beard is no more.

Keisel’s beard was sacrificed in the name of charity Thursday night in his annual Sheard Da Beard event. Members of the Steelers organization, including Dan Rooney, were on hand to help Keisel rediscover the face behind the beard.

Who is that man?

“I’ve got to admit it’s pretty unique,” said Tomlin of the event. “After six years here I can’t tell you that it surprises me.

“I like him with the beard. I think it’s his natural state. I think this thing has taken off and given him the opportunity to do what he probably likes to do anyway, which is not shave. He is a larger than life character and I think the beard fits his personality.”

Keisel’s annual event benefits cancer programs at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh at UPMC.

“Brett’s beard really has taken on a life of it’s own and Shear Da Beard has become a great annual event to support cancer programs and research at Children’s Hospital,” said Christopher Gessner, president, Children’s Hospital. “We’re extremely grateful to Brett, and more importantly to his wife Sarah for letting him grow the beard back each season.”

Is It Bigger News When A Coach Leaves To Coach Somewhere That Is Not Arizona?

The Steelers’ offense is down another coach. Wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery has left the Steelers to become a co-offensive coordinator at Duke.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin has had a busy off season hiring new coaches, so what’s one more? I don’t pretend to know everything there is about coaching wide receivers, but I hope whoever gets the job stresses the “catch the damn ball” technique that is all the rage these days.

HEEEEEEEEAAAAAAATH

Heath Miller’s season is over.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one game left to play this season, and they will be doing so without Heath, who will undergo surgery to repair his ACL. Miller left Sunday’s game against the Bengals after suffering a knee injury.

“Unfortunately, his season comes to an end,” Tomlin said. “He has been rock solid for us, and we really appreciate his efforts.”

Coming into this season, new offensive coordinator Todd Haley promised to utilize Miller more. As a result, Heath has had a career year with 71 catches, 816 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Miller was the lone bright spot in an offense that failed to take advantage of opportunities.

Here’s hoping Heath has a speedy recovery!

December is here, and that means two things: I really should start my Christmas shopping, and I can’t start my Christmas shopping because the Steelers are making their final push for the playoffs.  Coming off a huge upset win in Baltimore against their division rival the Ravens with 3rd string QB Charlie Batch, the team received excellent news when HC Mike Tomlin announced on Thursday that Ben Roethlisberger would resume his role as starting QB when the San Diego Chargers come to Heinz Field for the week 14 matchup.

The 4-8 Chargers season is all but over, having lost 7 of the last 8 games.  Just this week President Dean Spanos was doing damage control when it was reported that he had already decided to fire HC Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith at the season’s end…although he never directly said it wasn’t true.  The Chargers are 0-14 when playing at Heinz Field, and it’s likely the Steelers will make it 0-15.  Then again, we all know the Steelers have a tendency to let weaker teams hang around and struggle to put the game away early. » Continue reading “Steelers Eve: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers”

Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Kansas City 13, OT

The Steelers managed to eek out a win over Kansas City in overtime thanks in part to the great play by the Steelers’ defense and the bone-headed penalties of Kansas City. After spotting Kansas City a 10-0 lead, Pittsburgh actually decided to show up. Ben Roethlisberger tied things up at 10-all when he hit Mike Wallace in the end-zone for a touchdown. I have to give Wallace credit, it was not an easy catch to make, as he ended up controlling the ball between his knees.

Things took a turn for the worst in the second half when Big Ben left the game with a shoulder injury. Byron Leftwich came into the game and things got boring and the offense went nowhere. The only real drive of the second half for the Steelers came as a result of a personal foul penalty on Kansas City for a touchdown that didn’t even count. This eventually set up a Shaun Suisham field goal that gave the Steelers their first lead of the game.

» Continue reading “Steelers Win Despite Playing Like Jerks”

The Pittsburgh Steelers are thrilled to have Rashard Mendenhall back on the field. (from the team’s Google + page)

When I watch the Steelers play, I’m an emotional fan, just a member of Steeler Nation.  It doesn’t matter if I’m on my couch, at a bar, or in the stands at Heinz Field, as I was this past Sunday.  Without the options of reviewing each play myself, I don’t always know if the penalties were legitimate or bogus, how an injury occurred, or what went right on that fantastic splash play…I’m just caught up in the thrill of competition, with no idea how it will end.  Sure, I leave the game with a feeling of how it went, but it’s just a first impression.

Thanks to the magic of DirecTV and NFL Game Rewind, I can go through the game in a more objective matter after the joy of victory or the agony of defeat has dulled a bit. » Continue reading “Second Thoughts: Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers”

Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Carolina Panthers 16

The knee gods giveth, and the knee gods taketh away. Again.

Last week we saw the return of Max Starks, who came back from injuring his ACL in January’s playoff game. The warm tingly feeling of Starks rejoining the Steelers once again had barley worn off before top draft pick David DeCastro went down with a severe knee injury of his own.

This week, Casey Hampton made his first start since that fateful game in January in which he too injured his ACL. This time third round draft pick Sean Spence went down with what Head Coach Mike Tomlin calls a “significant” knee injury. You hate to see so many young players go down with injuries right before the start of the season.

As for the rest of the game, it wasn’t a pretty affair, but the Steelers held on for the win. Fifth round draft pick Chris Rainey had punt return touchdowns of 78 and 90 yards called back due to penalties. He didn’t have much in the way of official yards on the night, but this should catch some attention on special teams.

The Steelers wrap up the preseason by going 3-1. They very well could have been 4-0 or 2-2, but who’s counting? Heading into the regular season they have a few issues with injuries and depth. Losing two top rookies to knee injuries doesn’t help. But the standard is the standard and the Steelers must move on and focus on the regular season and the Denver Broncos.

Ah, training camp. It’s a wonderful time of year. A new football season is just around the corner. Steeler Nation will make the trek out to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA just to catch a glimpse of Steelers football. It just makes you want to sing “Kumbayah.”

But alas, we’ve lost that Kumbayah feeling.

Mike Wallace remains unsigned, and the Steelers have suspended negotiations with the young receiver. If Wallace wants a long term deal, he must first sign the $2.472 million tender offered by the team. Once he signs, then negotiations are back on the table.

» Continue reading “Wallace Watch 2012: Steelers Suspend Negotiations”

• Now that it’s officially summer we’re inching ever so closer to the best season of all: football season. But since it’s not quite time for training camp, I guess there’s nothing better to do than host a youth football camp. All the cool kids are doing it. Like Mike Tomlin. Or Ben Roethlisberger with special guest stars Brett Keisel and Brett Keisel’s beard.
• Speaking of training camp, the Steelers have announced the training camp schedule for this summer. Training camp will once again take place at Sain Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. Several practices will be open to the public.

The deadline for Mike Wallace to sign his tender has come and gone. Wallace, a restricted free agent, had until today to accept the offer from the Steelers. Since he did not sign, the Steelers have the option of reducing the tender to 110% of 2011′s base salary of $525,000, which could amount to $577,500.

However, the Steelers don’t plan on reducing Wallace’s tender.

“That’s never been an intention of ours,” Colbert told WXDX-FM’s Mark Madden on Thursday, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “When we tendered Mike at the amount we did, the compensation through that tender, we really had no issue with that whatsoever because he is deserving of that.”

» Continue reading “Steelers Won’t Reduce Wallace’s Tender”