Tomlin's mantra: Youth must be served

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Tomlin's mantra: Youth must be served"

Jade Gwendoline Randall
6 years ago
Views:

1 Harris: Steelers' Tomlin appeals for youth - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Tomlin's mantra: Youth must be served By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, January 21, 2008 The Steelers enjoyed tremendous success with a core group of veteran players. But the same experience that made the Steelers a consistent playoff team could finally work against them. Coach Mike Tomlin said it best at the final news conference of his first season in charge. The Steelers need an infusion of young legs to complement their veteran talent. "We could use young people, young developing people in a lot of areas,'' Tomlin said. "If I could identify anything at this point, I would say we need young, big people.'' Some of the players on the Steelers' wish-list will be on display this week in Mobile, Ala., when the nation's top college seniors prepare for Saturday's Senior Bowl. Expect Tomlin and his coaching staff to target those players matching two of the Steelers' primary areas of need: the offensive and defensive lines. "Because you need big, strong men in the interior on the rise,'' Tomlin said. "We're older in those positions.'' The Steelers haven't drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since They haven't selected an offensive tackle in the first round since Among the returning starters, left tackle Marvel Smith will be 30, right guard Kendall Simmons will be 29 and center Sean Mahan will be 28 at the start of next season. Left guard Alan Faneca, who's a free agent and isn't expected to return, is 31. Tackle Max Starks, another free agent whose return to the Steelers is also uncertain, is 26. Defensively, the need to get younger, especially up front, is even more pronounced. Was 2001 really the last year that the team took a defensive lineman in the first round? The numbers don't lie. Defensive end Aaron Smith will be 32 at the start of next season. Nose tackle Casey Hampton will be 31, defensive end Brett Keisel will be 30 and backup nose tackle Chris Hoke will be 32 when the Steelers open

2 Harris: Steelers' Tomlin appeals for youth - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 the 2008 season. Fourth-round draft pick Ryan McBean, the youngest and least experienced member of the defensive line, is 24. That's not old, as in ancient. That's old, as in time to reload. Individually, the key members of the defensive line have impressive credentials. Analyzed separately, however, they struggled to generate a consistent pass rush and weren't as stout against the run. All of which means there's no sense delaying the inevitable any longer. Tomlin's Steelers must get younger on the defensive and offensive lines, or prepare to face the consequences. Last year, the Steelers selected linebackers with their first two picks in an obvious attempt to address a position the team has traditionally overlooked in the early rounds of the draft. Lawrence Timmons was the first linebacker selected in the first round since Experience is great, but too much experience is no longer an alternative for a Steelers team whose goal is to become younger in the trenches. John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

3 Steelers' Ward finalist for NFL Man of the Year - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Steelers' Ward finalist for NFL Man of the Year By The Associated Press Monday, January 21, 2008 Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was recognized Sunday as one of four finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, Chiefs guard Brian Waters and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten also are finalists for the award, named for the legendary Chicago Bears running back who died in The Payton Award is the only NFL award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service and his playing excellence. For the first time in the award's 37-year history, the winner of the Payton Award will be announced live before Super Bowl XLII, on FOX on Feb. 3. Ward, Taylor, Waters and Witten will be in the Phoenix area during Super Bowl week and participate in a news conference on Feb. 1 with Payton's wife, Connie. The four finalists were chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from the 32 team nominees for the award, all of whom receive a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. The four finalists will receive an additional $5,000 donation in their name. "Being selected as a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year is a tremendous honor for me and for my foundation," Ward said in a statement. "My charitable efforts dually represent the values that my mother instilled in me as a young child and my desire to make the world a better place for all children, in particular those of mixed race who face discrimination in Korea. I hope my nomination raises even more awareness of this cause that is so near and dear to my heart." Steelers players won the award in 2001 (Jerome Bettis), 1981 (Lynn Swann), '79 (Joe Greene) and '76 (Franco Harris). The Associated Press can be reached at or. Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

4 Pine standoff at home of Steelers WR debated - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Pine standoff at home of Steelers WR debated By Mike Cronin TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, January 21, 2008 The day after a police-ordered evacuation of the neighborhood, residents of Blue Heron Drive in Pine debated whether law enforcement officials appropriately handled a standoff that occurred in the home of Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson. Police said they arrested Wilson's girlfriend, Lindsey Paulat, 26, of Fawn at 12:48 a.m. Sunday and charged her with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. Police said Paulat fired two shots from a.38- caliber weapon and threatened to hurt herself. Wilson was not at home during the shooting, police said. No one was injured. Evacuating 70 or so people from the area was the right thing to do, even though many had to spend the night elsewhere, said Janice Kost, 35, who lives on the same side of the street as Wilson. "I was a little shocked at the manpower," said Kost, a stay-at-home mother who, with her husband and three young children, spent the night at her mother's house in McCandless. "I don't know police protocol in these situations. Maybe it's because of our area. Maybe it's because of the high-profile nature of who was involved. But they handled it well because everyone came out OK." Chief Robert Amann of the Northern Regional Police Department could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon. During an interview shortly after Paulat was taken into custody, Amann said 50 to 60 officers responded. That seemed too many to Gretchen Dunn, 35, who lives in the first house on Blue Heron. Because of her home's location, Dunn said she could watch the action from her front window. "I was taken aback," Dunn said. "The situation did not seem to warrant the kind of response that occurred. I thought somebody was being held hostage there. But that obviously wasn't the case." Police said the situation escalated Saturday afternoon after Wilson and Paulat argued about 7 a.m. Paulat fired two shots into a wall about 1 p.m., police said. Wilson left his home to avoid any further confrontation, police said. Wilson returned to his home at the request of the police about 5 p.m. and learned then of the situation, Amann said in the interview. Wilson could not be reached for comment. A call to Wilson's agent, Jonathan

5 Pine standoff at home of Steelers WR debated - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 Blue, was not returned. Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said Wilson was fine. A woman who answered the phone at Paulat's residence said the media have misreported the facts, but would not elaborate. She said Paulat's well-being was "not an issue." The woman said the situation "should not be sensationalized" and declined further comment. Other Blue Heron Drive residents applauded the police for ordering the evacuation. "They handled it correctly," said Dr. Prashanti Rajagopalan, 34, an occupational physician. She, her husband and their son, 9 months, stayed with relatives in Cranberry. "You didn't know what was going on. I wanted to get out. I don't want someone to enter my house." Despite having to stay at a Holiday Inn in Cranberry, Mohammad Shahzad, 37, a computer consultant who lives on Blue Heron Drive, said the police were right in being extra careful. "But it was a very unexpected thing," said Shahzad, who was joined by his wife and daughter at the hotel. "I thought it'd take one or two hours -- not 12. We saw one or two other families at the hotel. So we weren't the only ones." Michael Dennehy Jr., president of the Pine Board of Supervisors, said he expected to receive a report on the incident by this afternoon. Mike Cronin can be reached at mcronin@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

6 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 It's lack of business as usual for Steelers By Mark Madden When Ben Roethlisberger announced his off-season wish list, he officially became one of you. Rather, one of yinz. Roethlisberger can wish all he wants, but the Steelers are not going to re-sign Alan Faneca. They re not going to add a big wide receiver of any pedigree unless he s available in the draft. Yinzer Nation can wish all it wants, but the Steelers are not going to alter the way they do things. That s with one notable exception: Big Ben will get a contract extension that includes $32 million or so in guaranteed money. Much as they would like to, the Steelers can t escape that facet of NFL reality. To keep the big-time quarterback, you ve got to splash the big-time cash. I just hope a defibrillator is handy when Dan Rooney is handed the pen. Otherwise, it will be lack of business as usual. The Steelers will build through the draft, and any free agents they sign will be marginal. Kevin Colbert is a good general manager within the context of what the Steelers want him to do. Colbert shops at the dollar store. He gets an occasional good buy, like safety Ryan Clark. The talk-show crowd is clamoring for the Steelers to yank 6-foot-4 Jacksonville receiver Ernest Wilford out of the free-agent pool. Despite a modest career and a modest 45 catches this season, however, Wilford will draw a fair amount of interest, and the Steelers won t compete for him. Adding a receiver would be a good idea. To maximize the investment in Roethlisberger, the Steelers need to maximize his weaponry, or at least upgrade it to average. Hines Ward is 32 and sidelined by wear-and-tear a bit more every year. Nate Washington drops darn near as many as he catches. But if the Steelers get a receiver through free agency, it will be someone on Cedrick Wilson s level. So why bother? They ve already got Cedrick Wilson. Also, adding a receiver with tangible talent would just cause Ward the self-proclaimed leader of the wideouts to pop off about lack of respect, and how many times does he have to prove himself... I just can t go through that again. Fact is, the logical thing for the Steelers to do would be to reinforce and realign their receiving corps with an eye toward Ward sliding to the No. 3 spot, to the slot. That role might prolong his career. At this point, less would be more for Ward. But why accept reasonable thinking when you can get what you want through whining, or the threat thereof? Ask any spoiled seventh-grade girl. To maximize the investment in Roethlisberger, the Steelers also have to make sure he doesn t die. Since Ben has cut down on motorcycle accidents, that leaves the offensive line to consider. Colbert was recently quoted as saying that the offensive line is not necessarily a glaring need. That sounds absurd, but what else is Colbert supposed to say? If Colbert says, Boy, our line stinks what then? The Steelers aren t going to replace the whole offensive line. Some of this season s line is going to have to play next season, so perhaps it s best to not drain them of the little bit of confidence they might yet happen to have. Colbert says what s best for the team. If you ever bothered to think it through, you d be happy about that. That said, that line really does stink, and is losing its best player and leader besides. The Steelers broke their usual do-little free-agent policy by signing center Jeff Hartings in If an offensive lineman of Hartings ilk is available... wait a minute, one is. But the Steelers are letting Faneca go. That said, I don t blame the Steelers. Giving a guard big money just doesn t make sense. Cleveland did that last off-season, giving Eric Steinbach a deal that included $17 million in guarantees. I analyze the NFL via one basic tenet: If the Browns did it, it must be wrong.

7 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 There s already a clamor for Roethlisberger to help the Steelers retain Faneca by giving the wayward guard some of his money. That clamor is exactly why Ben shouldn t have opened his yap regarding the Faneca situation. At any rate, it s Roethlisberger s responsibility to get his. Period. The Steelers are currently projected to be $18.61 million under the NFL salary cap next season. They have the money to keep Faneca with no help from Roethlisberger. So, with this column mercifully wrapping up, it s time to bunker in for the Steelers off-season. Aside from the necessities the draft and Roethlisberger s contract extension absolutely nothing of any interest will occur. But that won t stop the Steelers from being featured in some manufactured way on the front page of every local sports page, and in the opening moments of every local newscast.

8 Girlfriend of Steelers' Wilson Arrested - New York Times Page 1 of 1 January 21, 2008 Girlfriend of Steelers' Wilson Arrested By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 4:43 a.m. ET WEXFORD, Pa. (AP) -- The girlfriend of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson was arrested Sunday after a nearly 12-hour standoff at Wilson's home that led to the evacuation of about 70 neighbors, police said. Lindsey Paulat, 26, of Tarentum, was charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, KDKA-TV reported. Robert Amman of the Northern Regional Police Department told the television station that the standoff began a few hours after an argument Saturday morning between Wilson and Paulat. Wilson left his Pine Township home about noon and Paulat's mother came to talk to her. While her mother was there, Paulat fired two shots from Wilson's handgun into a wall, police said. No one was injured. Paulat's mother left and police were called around 1 p.m.; neighbors were later evacuated as a precaution. The standoff ended when Paulat threw the gun from the front door, police said. She was taken into custody about 12:45 a.m. Sunday. Amman said that Paulat initially only wanted to talk to Wilson. Wilson returned about 5 p.m., but did not speak to Paulat. ''She was extremely upset and not being forthcoming with us initially, so it took some time to get through to her,'' Amman said. Wilson, 29, was not available for comment, but Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said Wilson was fine. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

9 Funeral Arrangements Tentatively Set for Ernie Holmes Page 1 of 1 Funeral Arrangements Tentatively Set for Ernie Holmes Nicole Murray January 20, :58PM Tentative funeral arrangements have been set for two time Super Bowl champ and Newton County native Ernie Holmes. Thursday, the former pro football star and Pittsburgh Steeler was thrown from his SUV after it left Highway 69 in Hardin County and rolled over. He was 59. Holmes' family tells KFDM his funeral will be held at Jasper High School at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 26. A memorial service is scheduled for this Friday, January 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Temple of God and Christ in Jasper. The family is asking everyone who plans to send flowers or cards to contact Coleman's Mortuary in Jasper. Coleman's phone number (409)

Seizing the Day Summer Series: Living Beyond The Limits: How Jesus Saves Us From Excuses Matthew 8:18-22, Excuse III, (I'm just not ready)

Seizing the Day Summer Series: Living Beyond The Limits: How Jesus Saves Us From Excuses Matthew 8:18-22, Excuse III, (I'm just not ready) Investors who are serious about their returns will tell you the