– The Steelers brought back free agent OL Guy Whimper on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract. Whimper’s cap hit will be $635,000.
– Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that the Steelers and OLB Jason Worilds have not begun talks yet on a long-term contract extension. Worilds signed a one-year transition deal on March 4 that puts his salary cap hit at $9.7 million. The plan is to sign Worilds to a multiyear deal, thus lowering his 2014 salary to help with cap issues.
– As speculated here at Pittsburgh Sporting News yesterday, the Steelers are making a play for former Saints WR Lance Moore. The 30-year-old veteran is meeting with the team today in Pittsburgh. Moore had a breakout season in 2012, when he caught 65 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns. His 2013 season was cut short due to injury, and the Saints released him in early March.
– If his current visit with the Panthers is any indication, WR Jerricho Cotchery appears to be headed to Carolina. Cotchery arrived Monday night and had dinner with the Panthers brass, and he has extended his stay into Tuesday. Cotchery has ties to the North Carolina area, having been a star receiver for North Carolina State. The news on Cotchery has now upped the Steelers interest in remaining free agent wide receivers, including Moore.
– Pittsburgh was interested in RB James Starks, and the veteran was supposed to visit the Steelers on Monday. However, Starks cancelled that meeting and instead re-signed with the Green Bay Packers today. The new deal is for two years, with financial terms yet to be released.
– Reports have come out that the Steelers still have intentions of retaining free agent OL Fernando Velasco, despite already having resigned C Cody Wallace and Whimper. The team is waiting to see how the Achilles injury Velasco sustained last season heals, and they will revisit signing him closer to the start of training camp.
– DE Alex Carrington, who visited with the Steelers last week, met with the Oakland Raiders on Monday but did not sign. Carrington will meet with the St. Louis Rams today or tomorrow, according to San Francisco Chronicle writer Vic Tafur. Pittsburgh is said to have great interest in signing Carrington.
– NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport reported via Twitter last night that WR James Jones had serious interest in coming to Pittsburgh prior to signing a three-year, $11.3 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. Jones was considered one of the top free agent WR available.
– Appearing on NFL Network with CB Ike Taylor on Monday, former Steelers OLB James Harrison was asked where he would like to play in 2014. Taylor immediately responded “Pittsburgh,” to which Harrison then said “Everybody knows that.” While the Steelers have not made any public contact with Harrison, it could be interesting to re-visit the option once the 2014 NFL Draft takes place. If the Steelers are still thin at OLB post-Draft, perhaps they take an interest in bringing back Harrison. The 35-year-old former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was used sparingly last season by the Cincinnati Bengals.
– Free agent FS Ryan Clark stated yesterday that he has heard from the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, in addition to reports that the Washington Redskins were interested in his services. Clark is apparently only interested in talking to teams who can offer him a starting position, at full-market value. The Steelers moved on from Clark earlier this month with the signing of FS Mike Mitchell.
– The Arizona Cardinals – always a soft landing spot for the Steelers cast-offs – are reportedly interested in former Pittsburgh ILB Larry Foote. The Cardinals have already signed RB Jonathan Dwyer this offseason, and current head coach Bruce Arians appears to be following the same script as former head coach Ken Whisenhunt – sign as many ex-Steelers as possible. With that said, here’s hoping that Foote does indeed get a deal. He is a stand-up guy and one of the friendliest professional athletes in Pittsburgh history.
AFC North Update
– New Cleveland Browns RB Ben Tate replied to a Twitter question with an interesting answer yesterday morning. When asked for his opinion on the Steelers, Tate responded “Don’t like them or their little towels.”
– Former Browns starting QB Brandon Weeden signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday. Weeden lasted all of two seasons in Cleveland, following in the footsteps of former Cleveland quarterbacks Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Charlie Frye and Colt McCoy. He now becomes the newest insurance policy for Dallas and QB Tony Romo.
– The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed FS Taylor Mays to a one-year deal on Monday. Mays, a former second-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, transitioned to a hybrid linebacker position last season.
– The Bengals will host former Denver Broncos DE Robert Ayers today. After losing DE Michael Johnson to Tampa Bay via free agency, Cincinnati has a major hole in its pass rush. Ayers was a first-round pick of Denver in 2009.
– Former Baltimore Ravens WR Tandon Doss signed a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars today. Terms were not disclosed. The Ravens drafted Doss in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Indiana.
– The contract that former Ravens CB Corey Graham signed with the Buffalo Bills earlier this week is for four-years, $20 million.
– The Ravens appear to be losing SS James Ihedigbo to the Detroit Lions via free agency, according to profootballtalk.com.
