Roethlisberger suffered a broken thumb in the Steelers win against Cincinnati last Sunday. He has already announced the thumb won’t hamper his ability to play this week against Kansas City.

Roethlisberger wore a splint on his right thumb in practice with a glove on top and likely will play with a glove on his throwing hand the rest of the season or until his thumb is fully healed. He took snaps in the shotgun and participated in individual drills.

Woodley appears a bit of a long shot to play Sunday night against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. He participated only in solo drills. Woodley has been out since the second half of Pittsburgh’s 25-17 win against New England Oct. 30.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is expected to address both players and their statuses today in his weekly press conference, along with any other injury news. He’ll also preview the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tomlin’s press conference can be hears live on Sports Radio 93-7 The FAN.

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Filed under: Football, Sports, Steelers Tagged: Ben Roethlisberger, Broken Thumb, Injury Report, LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers

“Emmanuel Sanders had his knee scoped,” Tomlin said. “He should be a couple weeks. That was deemed a success.”

Sanders had been away from the team for much of last week as he had a death in the family. There is not yet a concrete time line of when he might return.

Tomlin also said that punter Daniel Sepulveda had successful surgery. He was placed on injured reserve before the Baltimore game, ending his season. The Steelers have since signed Jeremy Kapinos.

Tomlin went on to say that wide receiver Hines Ward, who left Sunday night’s game with concussion-like symptoms, is doing well. Ward said on the 93-7 The Fan morning show that he expects to play Sunday at Cincinnati, and Tomlin alluded that Ward should be just fine.

“Hines appears to be doing well with his concussion-like symptoms,” Tomlin said. “It shouldn’t prohibit him or slow him down in any form or fashion this week. We’ll assess him again (Wednesday) as we get started with our work week.”

Linebackers James Farrior and Lamarr Woodley are both a risk to miss Sunday’s game with injuries. Farrior has a calf injury that has kept him out the last two weeks, and Woodley missed last week with a pulled hamstring.

Participation for both in practice will determine their ability to play Sunday.

“We’ll take a look at Lamarr Woodley and see where he is with his hamstring,” Tomlin said. “Just like last week, participation over the course of the week will dictate his availability.”

Other injury news:

• Both wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester are dealing with swelling issues that could keep them out of practice this week.
• Wide receiver and special teams ace Arnaz Battle is dealing with a hamstring injury and he will be monitored this week.

Filed under: Football, Sports, Steelers Tagged: Arnaz Battle, Emmanuel Sanders, Hines Ward, Injury Report, James Farrior, Jerricho Cotchery, LaMarr Woodley, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers, Stevenson Sylvester

Let's break it down. The Steelers have 2 young stars that will be unrestricted free agents at the end of this year. The first one we'll cover is Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker (ILB) Lawrence Timmons. Even though Timmons' has yet to make a pro bowl, he was probably the second best ILB in the league last year behind only Patrick Willis from the San Francisco 49ers. Timmons skill set is unique for someone his size. He is a tackling machine and can cover any tight end (TE) in the league. His coverage skills are what makes him so valuable to the Steelers. Timmons could likely have increased sack numbers if he wasn't asked to drop back into coverage on many 3rd down plays. Timmons can play the hybrid role like Troy Polamalu and needs to be the staple of this defense for many years to come. My best guess would indicate that he'll demand contract numbers similar to LaMarr Woddley. Timmons' agent is Drew Rosenhaus.

Let's take a look at Lawrence Timmons' stats for the 2010-2011 season:

Games Played: 16
Tackles: 135
Sacks: 3
Interceptions: 3
Forced Fumbles: 2
Passed Defensed: 9

Ike Taylor - The Pittsburgh Steelers biggest need was cornerback due to the youth and uncertainty at the position.  The Steelers signed Taylor to a long term deal.

Max Starks - The Steelers made a surprise move and cut starting left tackle Max Starks.  Starks had neck surgery this offseason which may have just ended his career.  There is also reports that Starks weighed in at nearly 4o0 pounds.

Shaun Suisham - Even though he had a very poor FG attempt in the Super Bowl, Suisham was 14 for 15 for nearly a 94%  success rate last season.

Antwaan Randel El - A long time Steeler (before his short stay in Washington) was cut.  This was likely due to the Steelers being 10+ million over the cap and amount of young talent at the WR position.  Randel El will always be remembered for his diversified play and his performance in Super Bowl XL.

Other Signings:

Rookies:
Chris Dieker, QB, Southern Illinois
Aaron Bates, Punter
Eric Greenwood, Idaho, WR
Ty Boyle,  North Dakota, DE
Joshua Harrison, South Carolina State, T
Derek Chard, LS, Connecticut

Rumors:

LaMarr Woodley - This is breaking news!  The Pittsburgh Steelers have come to a long term agreement with the pro bowl linebacker

Willie Colon - The Steelers have said that resigning Colon is now the #1 priority.

Woodley earned approximately $580,000 last year which is considerably lower than players with similar on the field statistics.  The franchise tag will earn Woodley 10.1 million dollars which is the average of the top 5 highest paid outside linebackers.  The Steelers will likely want to lower that number by signing Woodley to a long term deal.

Woodley's agent, Doug Hendrickson, said he and the Steelers will work toward signing Woodley to a long-term contract after the NFL's labor situation is settled.

"They made it very, very clear that they want him to be a Steeler for life," Hendrickson said.

LaMarr Woodley Stats:

• 10 sacks, 2 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 2010
• A second round pick in the 2007
• Woodley is the second player in franchise history to record double digit sacks in his first three seasons as a starter
• Woodley has 39 sacks in 4 seasons which is a team record

Purchase LaMarr Woodley Jerseys at SteelersApparel.com

Finalists Include Denver’s Brandon Lloyd, Cleveland’s Peyton Hillis, Buffalo’s Steve Johnson, New York’s Ahmad Bradshaw, and Pittsburgh’s LaMarr Woodley

IRVINE, CA, January 10, 2011 – For the past three seasons, VIZIO, America’s #1 LCD HDTV Company, has recognized the professional football player whose on-field performance most significantly exceeded expectations and the value of their salary with the VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.

VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER finalists are evaluated based on their regular season performances and statistics and the role they played in the success of their teams. These factors are then measured against their base salaries to come up with the following finalists:

·         Brandon Lloyd– Wide Receiver, Denver

A 2003 fourth-round draft pick out of Illinois, Lloyd had his breakout year many were waiting for in 2010 earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The 6’0” 195-pound receiver led the league with 1,448 yards receiving, had a career high 11 receiving touchdowns and pulled in 23 balls for 20 or more yards. Lloyd earned $755,000 in 2010, making him an outstanding candidate for the 2010 TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.

·         Peyton Hillis– Running Back, Cleveland

Drafted in the seventh round by Denver in 2008, Hillis spent two seasons under the radar prior to arriving in Cleveland in a 2010 off-season trade. Hillis rewarded Cleveland by putting up career-high numbers across the board running for 1,177 yards and  11 rushing touchdowns—all while earning a mere $470,000 in 2010.

·         Steve Johnson – Wide Receiver, Buffalo

Johnson, a third-year receiver out of Kentucky, racked up only 12 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns during his first two seasons in Buffalo. In 2010, earning just $470,000, Johnson hauled in 82 balls for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him one of the most underpaid receivers to reach 1,000 yards receiving this season.

·         Ahmad Bradshaw – Running Back, New York

Bradshaw, a 2007 seventh-round draft pick out of Marshall, registered approximately 1,300 total yards rushing during his first three seasons. In 2010, earning just $1,001,000, he racked up the ninth-most rushing yards in the league with 1,235 while scoring nine TDs.

·         LaMarr Woodley, Outside Linebacker, Pittsburgh

The only defensive player among the five finalists, Woodley, recorded 50 tackles, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and returned one of his two interceptions in for a touchdown. At 6’2” 225 pounds, the Pittsburgh outside linebacker earned just $550,000 in an outstanding 2010 season.

At the conclusion of the 2007 season, the inaugural VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER hardware went to Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard, who went from back-up QB to All-PRO that season and parlayed his success and the award into a new contract.  In 2008, then-New England and now Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel stepped in for an injured QB legend despite not having started a game since high school. Cassel led the team to eleven victories, taking home VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER honors.  Last year, New York wide receiver Steve Smith was thrust into the starting line-up after the team suffered key losses at wide receiver. Smith answered the challenge by setting a new team record for receptions with 107. His breakout performance on-the-field, in conjunction with his social media work off-the-field, helped him earn the 2009 VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.

With the finalists established, VIZIO is calling upon fans across the country to choose the winner by voting online between January 10^th and January 23rd at www.TopValuePerformer.com. Voting will close on Midnight on January 23rd, with the winning player announced later that same week.

Players of note include:

Lawrence Timmons - Back to back games with 15  tackles.  Timmons also compiled 12 solo tackles including 3 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble.  This is the second week in a row that Timmons has compiled double digit tackles.

Troy Polamalu - The ultimate Dick Lebeau chess piece.  Polamalu had 6 tackles and was key in containing the Titans running and passing offense.  Polamalu compiled 6 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.  Polamalu showcased his instincts and athleticism by leaping over the Titan's offensive line for a 2-yard Kerry Collins' sack.

LaMarr Woodley - Woodley again showcased why he is one of the leagues best outside linebacker by compiling 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception.

James Harrison - Harrison is simply a beast and showed why he was the leagues defensive MVP just 2 years ago.  Harrison's hits were fierce on several occasions.  Harrison is on pace for his 3rd straight pro bowl by compiling 11 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

Hartwig has been an adequate plug but its only a matter of time until Pouncey takes over.

With that being said, why not make Woodley happy and give him a 2 million dollar pay increase this year and release Hartwig. Hartwig is due to make 2 mil this year and that's too muh for a backup center. Release Hartwig and give Woodley the 2 mil.

Both players are respectively one of the youngest "up and coming" stars in the National Football League (NFL) and both will be commanding huge, long-term contracts.  This begs the question that if the Steelers can afford extending Woodley then can't they afford to sign Revis instead?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a history of developing great outside linebackers.  However, they haven't been as lucky in developing top tier cornerbacks.  Revis is a gem and quite possible one of the best all around defensive players in the league.  Revis is being compared to a young Champ Bailey, a true lock down which many "experts" say cannot exist in today's pass happy NFL.

With that being said, which player would you rather have?  If the Steelers could sign either player based on their current status and contract demands, would you choose Revis or Woodley?

Heath Miller

Browns today at 1pm at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.  The Steelers have the opportunity to win its 3^rd straight game against a struggling Cleveland Browns team.  Last week, the Browns somehow pulled out a 6-3 victory against the Buffalo Bills which was one of the most painful games I had to watch in a long time.  Starting Browns quarterback, Derek Anderson went a miserable 2-17 in passing, but somehow the Browns were victorious.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 28-20 win against the Detroit Lions.  The Steelers offense looked impressive again with Rashard Mendenhall averaging over 5 yards a carry and Ben Roethlisberger distributing the ball nicely to a wide range of his weapons including Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Heath Miller and rookie, Mike Wallace.

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Not so impressive was the Steelers defense.  Again, the defense allowed an inferior team to come back in the first quarter until a streak of sacks by LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison ended the game.  From the defensivie perspective, the good news is that all-pro safety, Troy Polamalu is returning to action for the first time since the season opener against the Tennessee Titans.  The bad news is standout defensive end, Aaron Smith, who is critical to the Steelers 3-4 is out for the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff.

And now for our Predictions:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger - Big Ben is off to one of his best starts in his already very successful career from a statistical perspective.  Roethlisberger is 1^st in the league in completion percentage and second in total yards only behind Peyton Manning. Roethlisberger is being considered a league Most Valuable Player (MVP) by most and I expect his numbers to only get better especially against a struggling Browns team.  Big Ben is a strong pickup this week amongst fantasy owners.

Heath Miller - Miller is on pace for his first Pro Bowl appearance and has been exceptional for the Steelers passing game so far this season.  Miller is second on the team with 29 receptions and 235 yards. He also leads the receiving corps with 3 TD's.  Expect about 60 yards receiving and another touchdown for Heath Miller this week.

Hines Ward - Ward is the Steelers leading receiver thus far this season with 33 receptions and 440 yards receiving.  With Holmes wrist injury continuing to be a nagging problem, Ward will see more balls thrown his way.  However, it's concerning to fantasy owners that Ward only has 1 touchdown so far this season.  With all things considering Ward is still a good play this week against the Browns.

Rashard Mendenhall - Mendenall has looked real impressive the past couple of weeks with Willie Parker being out due to a turf toe injury.  In two games, Mendenhall is averaging over 5 yards a carry and has 3 touchdowns.  Against the league's worst running defense Mendenhall is expected to start and will see the majority of all carries with Fast Willie being the change of pace back as he recovers from his injury.

Ben Roethlisberger Jersey
Hines Ward Jersey
Rashard Mendenhall Jersey
Heath Miller Jersey
Santonio Holmes Jersey

Cleveland Browns

Joshua Cribbs - Unfortunately for the Browns, based on their play thus far this season, Cribbs is the only guy I would consider as a fantasy owner this week.  With Braylon Edwards being traded to the Jets, Cribbs should see some increased action as a 3^rd WR.  Aside from that, Cribbs is well known to be an extremely dangerous kick-off returner and has had prior success against the Steelers special teams unit.