The story on the South Side, after four weeks of training camp practices in Latrobe, was about a player not even on the roster.
Mike Tomlin fielded exactly zero questions Tuesday about the practice the Steelers had just completed, about the upcoming preseason game against the Bills, about the progression of his team’s defense or anything of the kind. Instead, he spoke for approximately 10 minutes about the guy who would work out “after I’m done with you guys.”
Michael Vick, who arrived at team headquarters Tuesday afternoon, worked out for Tomlin and presumably others after reporters cleared the field and headed into the locker room.
Bruce Gradkowski had surgery on his injured left hand, an ailment that may require an additional surgery, Tomlin said. That, along with the extensive time missed by Gradkowski this preseason, led to his placement on injured reserve, ending his season.
It could end Gradkowski’s time with the Steelers as well. He’s a free agent after this season, and, at age 33 next season coming off an injury-plagued 2015, he may not be brought back.
Age didn’t prevent the Steelers from signing the 35-year-old Vick. Tomlin said he likes Vick’s combination of speed and experience:
There might be concerns about Vick’s performance on the field, but umbrage taken by fans for Vick’s decisions off it — namely a 21-month prison sentence issued to Vick in 2007 for his role in running a dogfighting ring in Virginia — is enormous, based on social media reactions to the report of Vick’s arrival to Pittsburgh.
“Obviously you’re sensitive to those potential things, but we’re going to do our due diligence, and rest assured, we’ve done that,” Tomlin said in response to a question regarding the negative publicity the signing, if it happens, may bring. “But also rest assured, he’s done a lot since going through the things he’s gone through, and I think his track record in that regard speaks for itself.”
Tomlin acknowledged the fact they’re both from the same area in Virginia, but said he does not “have a close and personal relationship” with him.
“As a professional, obviously, I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s capable of,” Tomlin said. “I spent a lot of time in the NFC South against him when I was the secondary coach of the Bucs and he was with the Atlanta Falcons, a lot of sleepless nights in preparation for those matchups.”
• Cody Wallace is expected to be the proverbial Next Man Up at center, replacing Maurkice Pouncey.
The affable Wallace spoke humbly regarding his opportunity. Such a pleasant demeanor demands a nickname, and Tomlin already took care of that, apparently. Cat-calls of “Neighbor!” rang out as Wallace spoke to the media, and Wallace confirmed Tomlin started it a few years ago.
“He was saying I just look like a nice guy,” Wallace said. “But I turn into kind of a little jerk out there.”
Wallace picked up one of the more memorable personal foul penalties against the Dolphins in 2013.
Not very neighborly, but that’s part of the joke.
He’s extending the olive branch to his new teammate, although the new guy may not need one. Doug Legursky signed Tuesday, but he hasn’t played since Week 2 of last season — he suffered a knee injury while he was playing for the Chargers and was placed on injured reserve.
The job appears to be Wallace’s until further notice. And he’s ok with that.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Wallace said of his opportunity. “I’ve had a few chances here and there, but it’ll be fun to stretch a few games together.”
Wallace has been a journeyman most of his NFL career. A fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2008, Wallace spent time with the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Texans and Buccaneers before winding up with the Steelers in 2013. He made the team out of training camp, and, after ACL and MCL tears in Pouncey’s left knee, he became the backup center behind Fernando Velasco.
When Velasco went down, Wallace took over for the final three games of the season, and he performed well.
The quiet connection between Wallace and Legursky is Wallace essentially replaced Legursky as a utility interior lineman with the Steelers. Legursky left via free agency the offseason before the 2013 season, signing with the Bills as a free agent.
Ben Roethlisberger spoke earlier Monday about the task in front of Wallace and Legursky.
“They have some pretty big shoes to fill,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not easy to do and they know that. They’re not going to try to go out there and be Maurkice Pouncey, they’re just going to be the best Cody and Doug they can be.”
• Tomlin confirmed Mike Adams will remain on the PUP list. He has been out since back surgery on July 20, and it doesn’t appear he’s coming back any time soon.
He also said Cam Clear, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Ryan Shazier missed practice with minor injuries Tuesday. Stephon Tuitt is expected out of Saturday’s game against the Bills with the ankle injury he sustained against the Packers. Lawrence Timmons didn’t practice, he’s been out the last two weeks with a turf toe injury that Tomlin didn’t categorize as serious in the past. He’s being held out for precautionary reasons, but Tomlin didn’t say whether he was out for Saturday’s game.
If Vick signs, and it looks like he will,fans have a decision to make. You can either stop watching or listening to Steelers games or reading about them or you can accept that Mike Vick is the Steelers backup QB, if he is. He was imprisoned served his time and is allowed t work.
I'm not going to stop paying attention to the Steelers so I'm compartmentalizing Vick as a Steeler and hopefully the Steelers won't HAVE to use him but he'll add a wrinkle to the offense when he's on the field. Just Sayin'
August 25, 2015
Gradkowski might need second surgery
6by Neal Coolong • Coverage • Steelers
The story on the South Side, after four weeks of training camp practices in Latrobe, was about a player not even on the roster.
Mike Tomlin fielded exactly zero questions Tuesday about the practice the Steelers had just completed, about the upcoming preseason game against the Bills, about the progression of his team’s defense or anything of the kind. Instead, he spoke for approximately 10 minutes about the guy who would work out “after I’m done with you guys.”
Michael Vick, who arrived at team headquarters Tuesday afternoon, worked out for Tomlin and presumably others after reporters cleared the field and headed into the locker room.
He ended up signing after that workout.
Bruce Gradkowski had surgery on his injured left hand, an ailment that may require an additional surgery, Tomlin said. That, along with the extensive time missed by Gradkowski this preseason, led to his placement on injured reserve, ending his season.
It could end Gradkowski’s time with the Steelers as well. He’s a free agent after this season, and, at age 33 next season coming off an injury-plagued 2015, he may not be brought back.
Age didn’t prevent the Steelers from signing the 35-year-old Vick. Tomlin said he likes Vick’s combination of speed and experience:
There might be concerns about Vick’s performance on the field, but umbrage taken by fans for Vick’s decisions off it — namely a 21-month prison sentence issued to Vick in 2007 for his role in running a dogfighting ring in Virginia — is enormous, based on social media reactions to the report of Vick’s arrival to Pittsburgh.
“Obviously you’re sensitive to those potential things, but we’re going to do our due diligence, and rest assured, we’ve done that,” Tomlin said in response to a question regarding the negative publicity the signing, if it happens, may bring. “But also rest assured, he’s done a lot since going through the things he’s gone through, and I think his track record in that regard speaks for itself.”
Tomlin acknowledged the fact they’re both from the same area in Virginia, but said he does not “have a close and personal relationship” with him.
“As a professional, obviously, I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s capable of,” Tomlin said. “I spent a lot of time in the NFC South against him when I was the secondary coach of the Bucs and he was with the Atlanta Falcons, a lot of sleepless nights in preparation for those matchups.”
• Cody Wallace is expected to be the proverbial Next Man Up at center, replacing Maurkice Pouncey.
The affable Wallace spoke humbly regarding his opportunity. Such a pleasant demeanor demands a nickname, and Tomlin already took care of that, apparently. Cat-calls of “Neighbor!” rang out as Wallace spoke to the media, and Wallace confirmed Tomlin started it a few years ago.
“He was saying I just look like a nice guy,” Wallace said. “But I turn into kind of a little jerk out there.”
Wallace picked up one of the more memorable personal foul penalties against the Dolphins in 2013.
Not very neighborly, but that’s part of the joke.
He’s extending the olive branch to his new teammate, although the new guy may not need one. Doug Legursky signed Tuesday, but he hasn’t played since Week 2 of last season — he suffered a knee injury while he was playing for the Chargers and was placed on injured reserve.
The job appears to be Wallace’s until further notice. And he’s ok with that.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Wallace said of his opportunity. “I’ve had a few chances here and there, but it’ll be fun to stretch a few games together.”
Wallace has been a journeyman most of his NFL career. A fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2008, Wallace spent time with the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Texans and Buccaneers before winding up with the Steelers in 2013. He made the team out of training camp, and, after ACL and MCL tears in Pouncey’s left knee, he became the backup center behind Fernando Velasco.
When Velasco went down, Wallace took over for the final three games of the season, and he performed well.
The quiet connection between Wallace and Legursky is Wallace essentially replaced Legursky as a utility interior lineman with the Steelers. Legursky left via free agency the offseason before the 2013 season, signing with the Bills as a free agent.
Ben Roethlisberger spoke earlier Monday about the task in front of Wallace and Legursky.
“They have some pretty big shoes to fill,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not easy to do and they know that. They’re not going to try to go out there and be Maurkice Pouncey, they’re just going to be the best Cody and Doug they can be.”
• Tomlin confirmed Mike Adams will remain on the PUP list. He has been out since back surgery on July 20, and it doesn’t appear he’s coming back any time soon.
He also said Cam Clear, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Ryan Shazier missed practice with minor injuries Tuesday. Stephon Tuitt is expected out of Saturday’s game against the Bills with the ankle injury he sustained against the Packers. Lawrence Timmons didn’t practice, he’s been out the last two weeks with a turf toe injury that Tomlin didn’t categorize as serious in the past. He’s being held out for precautionary reasons, but Tomlin didn’t say whether he was out for Saturday’s game.