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Thread: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

  1. #1
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    Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured
    Steelers Minicamp
    Monday, May 03, 2010
    By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10123/1055141-66.stm"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10123/1055141-66.stm[/url]

    As three quarterbacks jockeyed in Steelers minicamp to take his place for at least the first four games of the season, Ben Roethlisberger spent the weekend in a clinic being evaluated per order of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

    Roethlisberger's behavioral evaluation will take "days" according to a Steelers source rather than weeks. Depending on how that evaluation by specialists goes, he either could return to the team or be asked to return to the clinic for further evaluation.

    Goodell, as part of the suspension he levied two weeks ago, ordered Roethlisberger to stay away from the Steelers' South Side facility until his mandated evaluation is complete. Once done, he may rejoin the team for its spring training and through training camp before the suspension starts.

    The Steelers do not know when Roethlisberger might rejoin them for workouts. Coach Mike Tomlin ended a three-day required minicamp with a short workout Sunday, although it proved costly when star-crossed wide receiver Limas Sweed crumpled with an Achilles tendon injury to his left foot that appears serious.

    Players will resume lifting weights and working out, but Tomlin has scheduled the next practice for May 18 as part of the allowed 14 organized team activities. If Roethlisberger's evaluation is completed, he could return to practice then.

    "I have talked to him," Tomlin said. "I will continue to talk to him, and I don't have a crystal ball in regards to when he's going to be back in the facility. A lot of that has to do with the things he needs to do and of course the judgment of the commissioner."

    Either way, Tomlin must select one of three quarterbacks to start the season in place of Roethlisberger. Byron Leftwich took snaps with the first team for all five minicamp practices, with Dennis Dixon second and Charlie Batch third.

    Tomlin said all three are in the running but added he started with Leftwich because it was his first practices back with them after spending the past season with Tampa Bay.

    "I wanted to give him as many opportunities to reacquaint him to this environment, some of the people that he works with in that group and so forth," Tomlin said. "The other guys will be given opportunities, no question.

    "Byron is a sharp guy. He has reacquainted himself to our environment rather quickly, interacting with teammates, understanding the offensive concepts, being able to communicate those things. He's doing a nice job, as are the other guys. We got a long process here for the rest of the offseason. We're looking forward to watching those guys work and find rhythm with receivers and so forth, and just continuing to grow."

    At some point, Tomlin will name a quarterback to start the season.

    "There will be a time, but it won't be a time in the near future," he said "There's no need for it to be. The purpose of the offseason is to instruct. Organized team activity days are just that. They're for teaching."
    Another setback

    The bad luck continued for Sweed, who left the final minicamp practice with the foot injury.

    Sweed, the team's second-round draft pick in 2008, was mounting a comeback from some emotional issues that caused the Steelers to place him on injured reserve for the final two games of last season.

    He was taken to a hospital on crutches after practice.

    The Steelers drafted the 6-foot-4 Sweed from Texas. He caught eight passes as a rookie, including two in the playoffs, but he dropped too many passes, including a potential long touchdown pass when he was wide open against Baltimore in the AFC championship game.

    Last season, rookie Mike Wallace surpassed Sweed to establish himself as the No. 3 receiver. Sweed rarely played; he did not dress for four of the first seven games and caught one pass all season. Again, he dropped what would have been a 34-yard touchdown pass, standing alone in the end zone, in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati.

    As part of his fresh start, Sweed had changed uniform numbers, taking 80 this spring.
    Quick hits

    Linebacker James Harrison returned for the final minicamp practice after attending an uncle's funeral in Akron, Ohio. ... Receiver Hines Ward did not practice after Friday morning because of a strained hamstring. ... Center Justin Hartwig had limited practice after having "cleanup" surgery on a shoulder this year. "He's done a nice job with the rehabilitation," Tomlin said. "He's starting to get his weight back; he's really doing well."

    For more on the Steelers, read the blog, Ed Bouchette On the Steelers at [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/plus"]http://www.post-gazette.com/plus[/url]. Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email="ebouchette@post-gazette.com"]ebouchette@post-gazette.com[/email].

    Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10123/1055141-66.stm#ixzz0mq1KsBia"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10123/10 ... z0mq1KsBia[/url]

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  2. #2
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Definitely bad luck for Sweed, and I can't imagine if hes put on IR he gets a legitimate shot to make the team next year.
    Some people subscribe to a permanent stasis of wishful thinking. They like to believe the world is made of marshmallows and filled with butterflies. I don't.

  3. #3
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Quote Originally Posted by Pahn711
    Definitely bad luck for Sweed, and I can't imagine if hes put on IR he gets a legitimate shot to make the team next year.
    Why not? What would it hurt?

    Pappy


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  4. #4
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Quote Originally Posted by Pahn711
    Definitely bad luck for Sweed, and I can't imagine if hes put on IR he gets a legitimate shot to make the team next year.
    I don't see how being put on IR would affect his chances of making the team next year.

  5. #5
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    We have serious issues on offense. Next season is not shaping up to be one of our best.

    1. Our starting QB is watching from the stands for at least the first four games of the season. Who knows what he will be able to do when he comes back.

    2. Our WR corps has gone from strng to weak in the matter of two months. Hines is broke. Sweed is likely lost for the season. Mike Wallace is trying to take the jump from a #3 to a #1 WR with absolutley no help with another deep threat because all the other WR on the roster are slot type receivers. Sweed having a solid season was Wallace's best chance to avoid constant double coverages. CJ Spiller would look awfully nice in a Steelers uniform right now, Dez Bryant too
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

  6. #6
    Legend

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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Bummer. Sounds like he is done for the season.

    Limas Sweed suffers Achilles tendon injury
    Posted by Michael David Smith on May 2, 2010 1:24 PM ET
    Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed left Sunday's final minicamp practice with an injury that could keep him out for the entire season.

    Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that coach Mike Tomlin said it looks like a serious Achilles tendon injury.

    A ruptured Achilles tendon would likely prevent Sweed from playing at all in 2010.

    The Steelers' second-round draft pick in 2008, Sweed has caught just seven passes in two years in Pittsburgh. The Steelers released a statement last month in which Sweed said he's been dealing with "personal issues."

  7. #7
    Pro Bowler

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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo
    We have serious issues on offense. Next season is not shaping up to be one of our best.

    1. Our starting QB is watching from the stands for at least the first four games of the season. Who knows what he will be able to do when he comes back.

    2. Our WR corps has gone from strng to weak in the matter of two months. Hines is broke. Sweed is likely lost for the season. Mike Wallace is trying to take the jump from a #3 to a #1 WR with absolutley no help with another deep threat because all the other WR on the roster are slot type receivers. Sweed having a solid season was Wallace's best chance to avoid constant double coverages. CJ Spiller would look awfully nice in a Steelers uniform right now, Dez Bryant too
    Isn't T.O. still available

  8. #8
    Legend

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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Quote Originally Posted by Steelgal
    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo
    We have serious issues on offense. Next season is not shaping up to be one of our best.

    1. Our starting QB is watching from the stands for at least the first four games of the season. Who knows what he will be able to do when he comes back.

    2. Our WR corps has gone from strng to weak in the matter of two months. Hines is broke. Sweed is likely lost for the season. Mike Wallace is trying to take the jump from a #3 to a #1 WR with absolutley no help with another deep threat because all the other WR on the roster are slot type receivers. Sweed having a solid season was Wallace's best chance to avoid constant double coverages. CJ Spiller would look awfully nice in a Steelers uniform right now, Dez Bryant too
    Isn't T.O. still available
    As fightening a thought as it could be that may be what we need. No sure he and Hines could coexist though.
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

  9. #9
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Quote Originally Posted by papillon
    Quote Originally Posted by Pahn711
    Definitely bad luck for Sweed, and I can't imagine if hes put on IR he gets a legitimate shot to make the team next year.
    Why not? What would it hurt?

    Pappy
    Plenty of things can happen in a season, meaning plenty of opportunities for new recievers to prove their worth to the team. Don't you think its gonna hurt his chances next year when his competition has proven more than he has? I can think of plenty of situations where guys lose out on jobs with teams because of injuries, just common sense. Also, theres another round of free agency and the draft to add reciever depth next year.
    Some people subscribe to a permanent stasis of wishful thinking. They like to believe the world is made of marshmallows and filled with butterflies. I don't.

  10. #10
    HeHateMe
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    Re: Steelers fill-in QB derby gets started; Sweed injured

    Most Steeler fans will say NO to T.O. they can tolerate Ben and his sexual allegations but cant tolerate the guy with the big mouth. Oh the irony.

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