Jason La Canfora speculates that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could have a sit down type interview with Oprah Winfrey or Larry King to get all of the laundry aired out before training camp. I think the Winfrey or King angle is a bit over the top myself, but perhaps a Jim Gray or Jeremy Schaap taped interview would be more in line. Roethlisberger only took two of the many questions the media had on Thursday.
Ed Bouchette says that quarterback Dennis Dixon has not practiced with the first team much of any and it has become obvious that Byron Leftwich will open the season as the starting quarterback. The Steelers have three spring practices left on the schedule, but one day is a bowling outing and another is the Tomlin-era tradition of “hat day”.
Kicker Jeff Reed disclosed on Thursday that like Roethlisberger, he too underwent an NFL-mandated psychological evaluation after police charged him with four misdemeanors last October. Reed did not reveal details of the process or his evaluation. Kicking wise, Reed says he is limiting his reps and will now take a week off and then get back into a routine and be ready for training camp.
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Former Steelers running back Merrill Hoge is helping players at all levels get ahead of curve on head injuries. Hoge has become quite educated on brain injuries and spoke this past week at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington at an all-day symposium on head injuries. Hoge continues to also work with USA Football to inform players at all levels about the severity of these types of injuries. Good to see Hoge get on with his “lifes work” as Chuck Noll use to call it.
Yesterday on NFL Total Access, Warren Sapp analyzed Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and his technique in this edition of Sapp Hunters. During the introduction of the segment, Jason La Canfora stated he believes a new deal gets done with Woodley to keep him in Pittsburgh after this season. Woodley is in his final year of his contract and facing the 30% rule as the biggest obstacle in getting a deal done before training camp. Rest assured the Steelers and Omar Khan will get this worked out.
Inside linebacker Larry Foote joined 93.7 the Fans Vinnie and Cook for an interview on Thursday and stated how happy he is to be back in Pittsburgh and also gave his reaction to Ben’s comments after practice on Thursday.
