Steelers sign RB LaRod Stephens-Howling

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers sign LaRod Stephens-Howling

April 26, 2013 by Paul Jackiewicz

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent running back LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Steelers agreed to terms on 1yr deal with RB LaRod Stephens-Howling

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 26, 2013

I wonder if this will keep the Steelers from signing Ahmad Bradshaw, who’s been cleared to resume football activity.

http://profootballzone.com/nfl/steelers-sign-larod-stephens-howling/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ProFootballZone+(Pro+Football +Zone)

[phillyesq]

Odd. Why now? Why not wait until the draft is complete?

[hawaiiansteel]

Odd. Why now? Why not wait until the draft is complete?

maybe the Steelers used the draft as leverage by telling Howlings he needed to accept their offer before they drafted today or they would pull their offer off the table?

[SteelerOfDeVille]

dammit... was hoping to see this announcement about Ahmad Bradshaw

Then again, different roles.... howlings is there to replace Rainey...

I could see LeVeon Bell being seriously considered in the 3rd... (hopefully not 2nd)

[phillyesq]

maybe the Steelers used the draft as leverage by telling Howlings he needed to accept their offer before they drafted today or they would pull their offer off the table?

As I think about it a bit more, there could be a ton of reasons why they did it. Very interesting though. Cannot remember the Steelers doing anything like this in the past.

[supersteeler]

He'll be used more in the return game, and as a change up for Haley's committee I suppose

[hawaiiansteel]

dammit... was hoping to see this announcement about Ahmad Bradshaw

Steelers agree to deal with La’Rod Stephens-Howling

Posted by Darin Gantt on April 26, 2013

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/350x-1151.jpg?w=250

The Steelers have brought another local product home.

According to Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com, the Steelers have agreed to a one-year deal with former Cardinals running back La’Rod Stephens-Howling.

Stephens-Howling is a capable third-down back and return man, who adds a different element to the Steelers current stable of big backs.

The University of Pittsburgh product, who visited earlier this month, joins Pittsburgh-native Bruce Gradkowski, who signed earlier this offseason to back up Ben Roethlisberger.

They’re also still talking to Ahmad Bradshaw, who was just cleared medically.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/26/steelers-agree-to-deal-with-larod-stephens-howling/

[SteelBucks]

This will change nothing in regards to the Steelers need at RB.

[Vindrow]

See ya later, Batch.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

They’re also still talking to Ahmad Bradshaw, who was just cleared medically.
Suh-weet!!

This morning when I saw he was cleared, I thought, "it'd be pretty sweet if they signed him TODAY and made this draft a LOT easier. That's one position that could be removed from the need list."

I think Bradshaw's demand goes UP after the draft... when teams figure which of them got a RB they like.. the ones that didn't willl be willing to pay more.

[flippy]

This is odd. Guess we may not be drafting a RB.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

This is odd. Guess we may not be drafting a RB.

we may... if the right one is there in the right place... LaRod's a little guy... I think it means we won't draft a replacement for Chris Rainey... We still need a Replacement for Rashard Mendenhall.... just sayin'

If that's how it's playing out, I wouldn't have opposed a longer deal

[steelz09]

Wow.

This could mean only one thing! It's an insurance policy until Marcus Lattimore is 100%! Lattimore in the B&G.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Wow.

This could mean only one thing! It's an insurance policy until Marcus Lattimore is 100%! Lattimore in the B&G.

LMAO!!!! I wish!

[thor75]

I still have reservations on Bradshaw even if he is cleared. I would stay away, just an injury waiting to happen imo. Jonathan Franklin's chances of being drafted prob. just went down, but who knows. I still would like Stepfan Taylor in the 3rd or 4th and get rid of Dwyer and/or Redman.

[Adam Powell]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/26/steelers-agree-to-deal-with-larod-stephens-howling/

[Rara]

Not bad of a signing, just hope we don't skip out on a running back now.

[Rara]

Like I said in the other signing thread..I'm alright with this signing, just hope that we don't skip out on a running back in this draft.

[thor75]

Could be a good battle between him and Wheaton for return duties.

[D Rock]

Bell
Dwyer
Redman
Stephens-Howling
Batch


that's looking like the top 5 right now, and they offer up a little bit of everything as a group

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers OTAs: LaRod Stephens-Howling working to become Steelers versatile mis-matchmaker

By Neal Coolong on May 28 2013

http://cdn3.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13750599/20121230_mjr_su5_487.0_standard_500.0.jpg

The Steelers signed RB LaRod Stephens-Howling hoping he could find a spot in their multi-faceted offense. His value will come in situational football, where the Steelers will need the most help.

In the Swiss Army Knife that is Todd Haley's offense, LaRod Stephens-Howling is the corkscrew.

Or maybe the file.

Whichever seldom-utilized tool he best represents, the Cardinals cast-off running back is the paradigm of spontaneous versatility.

You don't know what you got ‘til it's gone, injured or otherwise not participating.

It's rare one player can seemingly be on the fringe of a roster spot, having just signed a contract with the Steelers, yet, seem to be the grout between so many cracks in an emerging offense. His ability to fill in a variety of roles is his biggest weapon, and situational offense is becoming more standard with each year.

The Steelers released running back/kick returner Chris Rainey after another run-in with the law (he had incidents dating back to college, and clearly was on a no-tolerance situation with the Steelers). Stephens-Howling has the ability to fill in Rainey's return role as well as situational running back duties. He also is likely to land behind rookie Le'Veon Bell and veterans Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer on the depth chart, and may battle a variety of veterans, including wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown for return duties.

The delta between Stephens-Howling's high and low is dizzying. He could be the multi-purpose weapon the team desperately needs on the offensive side of the ball to help fill multiple spots, saving precious roster space for other positions. He could also be the proverbial jack of all trades, master of none, rendering him digging for another job.

The higher end seems more likely, as the Steelers begin the second session of OTAs. Under offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the Steelers threw short often, utilizing tight end Heath Miller, both as a receiver and a lead blocker. The wide receiver screen produced outstanding results (and a few nearly broken defensive backs who got in Miller's way). Stephens-Howling has the shiftiness to work well in short space, and the variety of Haley's offense can find seamless ways for him - or Bell, for that matter - to motion to the flat and catch short throws wide of the box.

If anyone is going to feel pressure to make an impact in offseason workouts, it's Stephens-Howling. He would have a role, but only if he's better than the players he'd be behind on the depth chart. Odd as it is, that's Stephens-Howling's reality.

You don't need the corkscrew until you need it. And when you do, it's the most important tool you have.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2013/5/28/4372512/pittsburgh-steelers-larod-stephens-howling-mismatch

[Notleadpoisoned]

I wish I could locate that highlight video of Stephens-Howling taking a short pass against the Steelers a few years ago and turning it into a 70 TD for the Cards because it sort of exemplifies what he is capable of.

[costanza2k1]

I wish I could locate that highlight video of Stephens-Howling taking a short pass against the Steelers a few years ago and turning it into a 70 TD for the Cards because it sort of exemplifies what he is capable of.


http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d823680e0/QB-Kolb-to-RB-Stephens-Howling-73-yd-pass-TD

[hawaiiansteel]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d823680e0/QB-Kolb-to-RB-Stephens-Howling-73-yd-pass-TD

thank you! :Cheers

[costanza2k1]

thank you! :Cheers

no problem bro....I like this one much better:


http://www.nfl.com/videos/arizona-cardinals/09000d5d824c556b/LaRod-Stephens-leaves-announcer-howling

[Notleadpoisoned]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d823680e0/QB-Kolb-to-RB-Stephens-Howling-73-yd-pass-TD
Greatly appreciated!