Steelers Talk

[BuckNutty]

Steelers Notebook: Okobi, Townsend recover from injuries, rejoin practice
Tuesday, August 29, 2006

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Peter Diana, Post-Gazette
Chukky Okobi, who was just a bystander through most of training camp at Saint Vincent College because of a neck injury, returns to practice and could play in the preseason finale Thursday against Carolina.
Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers welcomed two injured players back to full-time practice yesterday. Backup Chukky Okobi, who had neck surgery the second week of training camp, and cornerback Deshea Townsend, whose right thumb was broken two weeks ago, could each play in the final exhibition game Thursday night against Carolina at Heinz Field.

"If I practice, I'm ready to play," Townsend said. "Even if it's Carolina, if they want me to play I'll play."

Okobi downplayed talk of making a miracle comeback. The day before Dr. Joseph Maroon performed a diskectomy on his neck, coach Bill Cowher warned it could be career-threatening.

"I don't anticipate any problems," Okobi said. "Dr. Maroon told me everything should be fine. It's probably a 2, 3 percent chance of happening in the first place. It's not a typical injury. The chance of reinjuring it is about the same. So if I reinjure it, that just means I'm cursed."

Okobi does not expect any of his defensive linemen to go easy on him as he returns to practice.

"They might be, but they'll see very quickly that's a mistake."


Ward healing


Hines Ward did not practice again but he had some good news. An MRI Saturday on the hamstring injury that has kept him out most of the summer and each of the three preseason games showed more healing.

Still, he won't play in the game Thursday.

"I am getting better, but I'm not going to force it for one series," Ward said. "We don't need to do that, but it is getting better. I'm encouraged. It just takes time but it felt better."

Ward ran again yesterday and said he will use this week to get his leg better so he can play against Miami in the opener Sept. 7.


Tough decision on Staley


Cowher said halfback Duce Staley did "fine" in the preseason game Friday at Philadelphia, but would not say if Staley is fighting for a roster spot.

"I'm not ready to sit here and say that he isn't or he is," Cowher said. "The bottom line is that we have some tough decisions coming Thursday. I like the experience that he brings and what he's done. He's gotten better each week."

Staley has carried 23 times for 46 yards in three preseason games. He also caught two passes for 7 yards.


Holmes progressing

Rookie receiver Santonio Holmes has progressed rapidly the past few weeks.

"He has gotten better and better, he really has," Cowher said. "The other night he did a lot of really good things. I'm very encouraged by where he's at. Being around his demeanor on game day, I really like it. I think he's going to be fine.

"I can just see the comfort he's getting within this offense. The kid missed all the coaching sessions and came into camp. He fought through some things in camp and I liked that. He had a little bit of a groin issue. I know a couple of days out there, there was a little birdie inside and was probably saying to shut it down but he kept working through it. I respect that."


Eight players released


The Steelers released eight players yesterday and placed one on injured reserve to reach their 75-man roster limit. They will have to make 22 moves by Saturday to get down to 53.

"Going to 75 wasn't a tough cut," Cowher said. "The next one will be. There will be a lot of tough decisions to make."

The team released four rookies -- safety Zach Baker, kicker Mark Brubaker, offensive tackle Nick Hagemann and offensive guard Grayling Love.

Linebacker Malcom Postell of Pitt was released for the second time in 21/2 months. Also released were fullback Doug Easlilck, long snapper Kyle Andrews and wide receiver Isaac West.

Offensive tackle Ulish Booker was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL in his knee.

After all NFL teams trim their rosters to 53 by 6 p.m. Saturday, each may sign eight players to their practice squad. The Steelers will have nine on that squad, including UK wide receiver Marvin Allen as part of the league's international development program.


Quick hits

Linebacker Joey Porter had tonsillitis and stayed home yesterday. Cowher said he should return today. ... Tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring) did not practice again. ... Guard Kendall Simmons received a positive report from the head coach on his play at center in Philadelphia and may get another series there Thursday night. ... The first teams are not likely to play much Thursday and some starters may not play at all. ... Cowher said he's not ready to announce his starting free safety.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06241/717142-66.stm

[BuckNutty]

Okobi back in the mix
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

There was a welcome sight at Steelers practice on Monday as center Chukky Okobi returned to the field full-strength for the first-time since undergoing neck surgery during training camp.

"I didn't know how long I'd be out," said Okobi, "but I knew at some point I'd be back playing."

Okobi is actually hoping to play against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night in the team's final preseason game, but knows that the decision is one that is going to be made by head coach Bill Cowher, not by him.

"Hopefully he'll get a chance to play this week," said Cowher. "He's a little rusty, but the fact that he's been able to go in there, go live and hit some people, hopefully he'll be able to do that again Thursday. We'll work closely with the doctors to make sure we're not taking any unnecessary risks. I'm encouraged just talking with him about how he feels, particularly after going in the 9-on-7 today."

Okobi doesn't expect his teammates on the defensive line to go easy on him over the next few days because of the injury.

"They might be (going easy), but they'll see very quickly that's a mistake," said Okobi. "Chris (Hoke) and Casey (Hampton) and I came in together. They know what I'm going to do and I know exactly what they're going to do and we should just do what we've been doing since we got here."

* * *

The Steelers released eight players on Monday, getting the roster down to 75 players. It will be the next cut, when the team has to get to 53 players, that will be the tough one.

"Going to 75 wasn't a tough cut," said Cowher. "The next one will be. There will be a lot of tough decisions to make."

http://news.steelers.com/article/68439/

[BuckNutty]

Cowher Talks About Final Preseason Game
Steelers Face Carolina On Thursday

POSTED: 3:48 pm EDT August 29, 2006
UPDATED: 4:02 pm EDT August 29, 2006

PITTSBURGH -- On Tuesday, Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher talked about Thursday's final preseason game Thursday against Carolina.

One player who won't be on the field is wide receiver Hines Ward.

He has missed all of the team's preseason games because of a hamstring injury.

Ward said his focus is on the opener on Sept. 7 against Miami.

"I want to be smart about it. I don't want to aggravate it. I'm not going to rush back like I did. I'm not going to come back and try to give it a go and trigger it again," said Ward.

Deshea Townsend and Chukky Okobi were both at practice.

This was Okobi's first practice since his surgery on a herniated disc.

Townsend practiced with a cast on his broken thumb.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/9756846/detail.html

[BuckNutty]

Coach Cowher Could Comment On Cuts

(KDKA/AP) PITTSBURGH Steelers Coach Bill Cowher hasn't said much about whether Duce Staley's job is in jeopardy so far, but he could comment on that and yesterday's cuts at a news conference this morning.

The Steelers released eight players on Monday – including four rookies, including Safety Zach Baker, Kicker Mark Brubaker, Offensive Tackle Nick Hagemann and Offensive Guard Grayling Love.

The team also released Fullback Doug Easlick, Center Kyle Andrews, Linebacker Malcolm Postell and Wide Receiver Isaac West to bring the roster down to 75 players.

NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 by Saturday.

As for whether or not Staley will be among the cuts in the days ahead, Cowher told reporters yesterday, "I'm not ready to sit here and say that he isn't or he is. The bottom line is that we have some tough decisions coming Thursday."

Cowher went on to add, "I like the experience that he brings and what he's done. He's gotten better each week."

While Staley was on pace a couple of years ago for one of the best seasons by a Steelers running back, the former starter has looked slow during training camp and the team's first preseason games with only 46 yards on 23 carries.

The Steelers kick off their final game of the preseason on Thursday night at Heinz Field against the Carolina Panthers.

Coach Cowher will hold his pre-game news conference at 11am at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the Southside. Watch it LIVE on KDKA.com!

http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_241085733.html

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Steelers lock up Parker through 2009 season

ALAN ROBINSON

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->PITTSBURGH - Willie Parker, the former college backup who was an undrafted rookie before becoming a Super Bowl star with the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed a $13.6 million, four-year contract Thursday that runs through the 2009 season.
Parker, who rushed for 1,202 yards in his first season as an NFL starter last year, was an exclusive rights free agent who was effectively bound to the Steelers for at least two more seasons. He would have become a restricted rights free agent next year, with the Steelers able to match any offer to him.
The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating contracts once a season begins, so any new deal for Parker this year needed to be done by Thursday.
"You can see it in him - the kid has some confidence now," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said during training camp. "You can see it the way he's running, the way he's catching the ball, the way he's blocking."
By signing Parker now, the Steelers get a proven runner with exceptional speed at a price below what the league's top backs get. He gets a $3.75 million signing bonus besides $425,000 base salary this year, plus $3.6 million in base salary in 2009. The middle two years of the deal are worth a combined $5,825,000.
In two years with the Steelers, Parker has fulfilled the dream of every NFL scout: signing an undrafted player passed over by every other team who turns into a star.
The 5-foot-10, 209-pound Parker was a reserve running back during his final season at North Carolina in 2003, ranking only fifth on the team in rushing with 213 yards in nine games. The Steelers signed him mostly because of his speed - he is the fastest running back in team history - and he played his way onto their roster in 2004 even though they already had proven backs Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley.
When Bettis moved into a reduced role in his final season last year, and Staley was hurt during training camp, Parker became a starter. He ran for 272 yards in his first two games and ended the season with five 100-yard games and 1,202 yards - the sixth-best total in team history.
He also ran for 225 yards in four playoff games and caught 10 passes with one touchdown. During the season, he had 18 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown.
Parker's 75-yard touchdown run early in the second half against Seattle was the longest in Super Bowl history and was the key play as the Steelers won 21-10 for their first NFL title in 26 years.
With Bettis retired, Parker may play a greater role in the Steelers offense this season. Previously, he almost always came off the field on third downs and in short-yardage and goal line situations, but will be given a chance to run the ball when the Steelers are in scoring range this season.
"He's really shown, especially in this camp, that he's a strong inside runner," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said.
Parker was recommended to the Steelers by Dan Rooney, the son of the team's Hall of Fame owner and a North Carolina-based scout. He recalled seeing Parker play in high school.
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