Darrius Heyward-Bey reportedly to visit Steelers

[Slapstick]

I think this signing eliminates a receiver in Round 1. Looking more and more like Taylor Lewan.

I don't agree with you at all on this...

If a WR is the best player on the board in round 1, having Heyward-Bey on a one year deal isn't going to stop them from picking the best player...

[sick beats]

They signed this guy? He is Mike Wallace with worse hands. But he does have burning speed. And then drops the ball, so, whatever that gets you. In 2011 he had 64 rec, 975 yrds, his best season. If he returned to that level he would be worth having on the roster. If all he is is a body to compete and let the chips fall where they may, then I guess I am OK with it. The one exciting thing about this year is it looks like there will be actual competition with a lot of positions, so guys will have to play hungry. I think part of the last two years was there were too many guys who knew they had the starting position locked up. Other than Ben, Bell, A. Brown, DD, Miller, Troy, Ike, Timmons, probably Pouncey (which I don't agree with; both replacement players played better than MP), Worilds, JJ.....everyone else has to earn it. Maybe even JJ, but he will be given every chance to start.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I don't agree with you at all on this...

If a WR is the best player on the board in round 1, having Heyward-Bey on a one year deal isn't going to stop them from picking the best player...

i'm with you... getting a guy on a cheap contract that will be peanuts to cut... slight of hand.. i think it indicates that they are REALLY concerned about WR, but, to someone not paying attention, it could appear they feel secure...

IMo, it means if the CBs are gone, they're going to reach for Benjamin... who scares the crap outta me

[Sugar]

I think this signing eliminates a receiver in Round 1. Looking more and more like Taylor Lewan.

First, I don't think they need to take any OL at all this year. They seem to have all the starters and backups under contract right now. They might get a late round guy if there is a bargain, but I don't see them going after anyone early with the depth in other positions available.

Additionally, DHB has just been signed as a guy trying to compete for his football life, not start.

[K Train]

There is a report on Twitter he didn't sign yet. He dropped the pen.

i read it took sanders 3 days to officially sign with the broncos because he kept dropping the pen and he broke his foot

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

i read it took sanders 3 days to officially sign with the broncos because he kept dropping the pen and he broke his foot

That ones even better!

[feltdizz]

But this also plays to Ben's worst instincts of going off the reservation and playing "gunslinger"

Ben was great last year when he played within the system. That was when our offense was most successful.

Ben has been great most years and he plays great when Miller is healthy, Bell is healthy and the OL gives him some time.

[hausparty]

If Bey can improve his hands imagine what will happen when BEN extends a play. OH MY I can't wait for this season.

[ikestops85]

Moye has had 2 years in the league to make an impression. He caught & TD & dropped one. Hence...The visit to the Bench. While sitting on the Bench Brown couldn't do enough in practice on the Scout team to make his way to the 53. Players like this don't get game snaps to get their chance. They have to earn it in practice & take someones spot. Just because we see them in street clothes on the sideline doesn't mean they weren't given a chance. Its a business...A career...Not Pee wee football where you get to play cuase Mommy asked the coach. You have to come to work...That means practice.

No, it's not pee wee football. DHB got to play because he was drafted 7th overall by the Raiders. He didn't earn anything. He didn't "come to work". He got to play based on his position in the draft. You say Moye dropped a pass and it was a visit to the bench. If that were the case with DHB his arse would have grown into the bench with all the passes he dropped. Last year alone DHB had 29 catches and 9 drops. Really? He drops 1 out of 4 passes you would rather have him instead of giving Moye or Brown a shot?

The only thing you are pointing out is the difference between a 1st rounder (DHB) and an UFA (Moye) and a 6th rounder (Brown).

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

No, it's not pee wee football. DHB got to play because he was drafted 7th overall by the Raiders. He didn't earn anything. He didn't "come to work". He got to play based on his position in the draft. You say Moye dropped a pass and it was a visit to the bench. If that were the case with DHB his arse would have grown into the bench with all the passes he dropped. Last year alone DHB had 29 catches and 9 drops. Really? He drops 1 out of 4 passes you would rather have him instead of giving Moye or Brown a shot?

The only thing you are pointing out is the difference between a 1st rounder (DHB) and an UFA (Moye) and a 6th rounder (Brown).

So you automatically get to play based on where you are drafted? Interesting. How about you have to show you could do your job & you play...This is the NFL. Do you really think DHB was stuck out on the field for 56 games over 4 years just because he was drafted #7? What kind of morons do you think work on the staff in the NFL? This is a career..Everyone has a boss...Biggest team sport there is. Do you really think coaches & GMs over that span jeopardized the well being of their players & their own job just because they HAD to play a kid that was drafted #7?

So every UDFA or draft choice that ends up being a bust because they never saw the field could have turned into a football player if they just saw the field. People who work on the staff or in the FO don't need players to get regular season game snaps to see if they are NFL material. Here's a shocker...Some of them just aren't NFL material. There is a reason why they didn't get drafted. There is a reason why the are in street clothes on Sunday. And there is a reason they never see a snap in the regular season. Moye hasn't seized his opportunity yet. He may never. Brown isn't going to go from PS player to HOF candidate if he could just get a helmet on game day. If he shows what he could do in practice...He will earn a helmet.

To answer your question....Absolutely YES. I would not want to go into a season with 2 WRs with 7 games played & 2 receptions. Give me the guy that has 169 catches for 2,380 yards & 14 tds. Give me the guy who has played in 72 NFL games & started 64. He has drops. He's not a starter for us. But he has caught the ball 167 times more than the 2 WRs on the roster & gets on the field on Sundays. I don't care if he was drafted...Or where he was drafted. Where he was drafted has absolutely nothing to do with him being here now. He has a pedigree & experience. Brown & Moye have neither. Players sitting on the sideline in sweat pants have to show me something before I rely on them for anything but running the scout team.

[ikestops85]

So you automatically get to play based on where you are drafted? Interesting. How about you have to show you could do your job & you play...This is the NFL. Do you really think DHB was stuck out on the field for 56 games over 4 years just because he was drafted #7? What kind of morons do you think work on the staff in the NFL? This is a career..Everyone has a boss...Biggest team sport there is. Do you really think coaches & GMs over that span jeopardized the well being of their players & their own job just because they HAD to play a kid that was drafted #7?

So every UDFA or draft choice that ends up being a bust because they never saw the field could have turned into a football player if they just saw the field. People who work on the staff or in the FO don't need players to get regular season game snaps to see if they are NFL material. Here's a shocker...Some of them just aren't NFL material. There is a reason why they didn't get drafted. There is a reason why the are in street clothes on Sunday. And there is a reason they never see a snap in the regular season. Moye hasn't seized his opportunity yet. He may never. Brown isn't going to go from PS player to HOF candidate if he could just get a helmet on game day. If he shows what he could do in practice...He will earn a helmet.

To answer your question....Absolutely YES. I would not want to go into a season with 2 WRs with 7 games played & 2 receptions. Give me the guy that has 169 catches for 2,380 yards & 14 tds. Give me the guy who has played in 72 NFL games & started 64. He has drops. He's not a starter for us. But he has caught the ball 167 times more than the 2 WRs on the roster & gets on the field on Sundays. I don't care if he was drafted...Or where he was drafted. Where he was drafted has absolutely nothing to do with him being here now. He has a pedigree & experience. Brown & Moye have neither. Players sitting on the sideline in sweat pants have to show me something before I rely on them for anything but running the scout team.

Yes, where you are drafted has a lot to do with making the team and playing time. How many first round draft picks are cut before their first season? I can't think of any. Now, can you think of some who should have been cut? How about the Steelers Jamain Stephens and Huey Richardson? It happens all the time where the owner says I'm not paying this guy money to sit on the bench even though he hasn't earned his playing time. You'd have to have your head in the sand not to realize that happens.

Now back to the topic at hand. I would much rather take a chance on guys who show enough promise to be on the team than I would on a guy whose had many chances, only had 1 decent year and is coming off his worst year with the best QB he's ever had throwing him the ball. I'm not saying that either of those receivers will make it but I'd rather let them try than settle for a guy whose proven he can't make it.

Now, if we would have signed someone like Sidney Rice I'd love it. He's a guy who has had success in this league. Caught many more passes than DHB, scored many more TDs than DHB. Then you would get no argument from me.

[feltdizz]

Let me get this straight....

We signed DHB to make sure he finally doesn't see the field.

[Eich]

But this also plays to Ben's worst instincts of going off the reservation and playing "gunslinger"

Ben was great last year when he played within the system. That was when our offense was most successful.

Don't agree. Ben was great last year when the keys were turned over to him and we finally saw a lot more of a fast passed game with Ben calling many of the plays. Prior to that, Ben was forced to try playing outside of a system that wasn't working to begin with.

[NJ-STEELER]

But this also plays to Ben's worst instincts of going off the reservation and playing "gunslinger"

Ben was great last year when he played within the system. That was when our offense was most successful.

he still went deep though. a lot of those times manny didnt even get seperation.

hopefully bey can get that and also keep defenders from 'creeping in" on the offense. something i saw last year with al lthe bubble screens we ran

[NorthCoast]

Don't agree. Ben was great last year when the keys were turned over to him and we finally saw a lot more of a fast passed game with Ben calling many of the plays. Prior to that, Ben was forced to try playing outside of a system that wasn't working to begin with.

You are both correct. BR's air yards/att was his lowest in the last 5 yrs (3.5) ranking him 31st in the league. The pace of the game increased but the passes shortened significantly. It ended up being a very effective combination.