Sweed's size is sweet
By Mike Bires
Times Sports Staff
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
* Limas Sweed is already playing “big.”
The 6-foot-4 rookie wide receiver made two impressive catches at training camp Tuesday that had his teammates and coaches buzzing.
Sweed, the Steelers’ No. 2 draft pick, caught a deep pass early in the afternoon practice in a drill pitting wide receivers against defensive backs.
Later in a two-minute drill, he caught a short touchdown pass on a fade route. Backup quarterback Charlie Batch threw both TD passes that Sweed caught.
After his first impressive catch, coach Mike Tomlin ran up to Sweed and congratulated him by saying, “Hey 14! That’s why we brought you here … to be big!”
On Sunday, Sweed signed a four-year contract worth $3.3 million including a $1.56 million signing bonus.
* As expected, cornerback Bryant McFadden and free safety Anthony Smith sat out practice after suffering minor groins pulls Monday. Their status is day-to-day.
Meanwhile, Tomlin didn’t have any timetable for the return of three players — nose tackle Casey Hampton (overweight), strong safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring pull) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (bruised triceps) — who are on the PUP list.
* With punter Daniel Sepulveda now lost for the season with a knee injury, Batch will become the holder on extra points and field goals. Last year as a rookie, Sepulveda held for kicker Jeff Reed.
“I haven’t done it since college, but I don’t think I’ll have any problems,” said Batch, an 11th-yar pro who held for Reed and backup kicker Julian Rauch at Tuesday’s practices.
* To make room for newly signed punter Paul Ernster, the Steelers released wide receiver Kevin Marion, an undrafted free agent.
* The Steelers practice twice today. The morning practice, closed to the public, starts at 9 a.m. The afternoon practice, which is open to the public, starts at 2:55 p.m.
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