Priced Out of the Citi

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expressed “gratitude” Monday that he was not charged with sexual assault in Georgia and sorrow for causing “disappointment and negative attention.” But his troubles might not be over. Sources have told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers are considering a suspension of their 28-year-old quarterback — if National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell does not beat them to the punch — even though prosecutors in Georgia announced the investigation and case against him have been dropped. Steelers President Art Rooney II was described as “furious” by some.

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Stephen F. Austin defensive end Tim Knicky is one of the small school diamonds in the rough for the 2010 NFL Draft. Some fans might not know about him, but NFL scouts sure do. Those scouts showed up for Knicky’s pro day, where he measured in at 6’4”, 252 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63-to-4.67 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.12 seconds, and the three-cone drill in 6.91 seconds. He measured a 33.5” vertical jump, a 9’8” broad jump and benched 225 pounds 17 times.

“I am glad that the pro day stuff is over. Now I can get back to being a football player, not a track guy,” Knicky said.

Knicky showed NFL scouts that he can be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense with his pro day workout.

“Most teams are looking at me as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but there are

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Stephen F. Austin defensive end Tim Knicky is one of the small school diamonds in the rough for the 2010 NFL Draft. Some fans might not know about him, but NFL scouts sure do. Those scouts showed up for Knicky’s pro day, where he measured in at 6’4”, 252 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63-to-4.67 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.12 seconds, and the three-cone drill in 6.91 seconds. He measured a 33.5” vertical jump, a 9’8” broad jump and benched 225 pounds 17 times.

“I am glad that the pro day stuff is over. Now I can get back to being a football player, not a track guy,” Knicky said.

Knicky showed NFL scouts that he can be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense with his pro day workout.

“Most teams are looking at me as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but there are

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Rams sale suddenly in limbo … Don’t know what it means for the #1 pick at the 2010 draft, but the ownership situation of St. Louis, which holds the top pick this year, was thrown into a state of confusion when minority owner Stan Kroenke opted to exercise his right match the 60% share of the team that current owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez agreed to sell to Shahid Khan has entered into a sales agreement with Rosenbloom and Rodriquez to buy. Kroenke already owns 40% so if he’s successful he will own 100% of the club. However, NFL ownership rules currently prevent a majority owner to own another major-league team in another market and Kroenke currently owns teams in both the NBA (Denver) and the NHL (Colorado). What does tend to happen though when there is an ownership issue, and its hard not to see this one ending

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to add a wide receiver in the NFL Draft, according to Michael C. Wright, of The Florida Times Union, but it isn’t likely to happen with their 10th overall pick in the draft. The Jaguars have had several bust wide receivers taken in the first round previously. According to multiple NFL sources, the Jaguars have eliminated Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant from their draft board because of character concerns.

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Sixteen players are now confirmed to attend the 2010 NFL Draft festivities at Radio City Music Hall in New York next week, including Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, according to a league source.

Eight more players have accepted their invitation to attend in the past week or so, bringing the total number to 16.

Those new players are:

Bradford, Florida CB Joe Haden, Clemson RB C.J. Spiller, Wake Forest CB Brandon Ghee, Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga, Texas DT Lamarr Houston, Georgia Tech WR Demaryius Thomas, Cal RB Jahvid Best.

Those players join a list that already included: Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung, Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan, Oklahoma OT Trent Williams, Tennessee DT Dan Williams, Tennessee S Eric Berry, and Penn State DT Jared Odrick.

Invites remain out to the other three top quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen, Tim

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The NFL Draft is becoming as popular as chicken wings. The draftniks’ days of sitting around all day Saturday and Sunday are now a thing of the past; this first round of year’s draft will be shown during prime time on Thursday night. Perhaps it will take over for Leno next year.

NBC made Thursday nights famous for “must-see TV” several years ago. Back then, I would have never imagined that the possibility of watching the Cosby Show or the NFL Draft would be a choice I would have to make. With no TiVo back then, Dr. Cliff Huxtable would have taken a back seat to Pete Rozelle walking to the podium and announcing, “With the first selection…”. Those were words that brought you to the very edge of your seat every time.

Since NFL Draft publications and mock drafts have as much exposure as gossip

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Santonio Holmes was shipped out of Pittsburgh late last night, sent to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. Steeler fans wonder how their team got so little for the former Super Bowl MVP. The facts are these: Holmes has been in trouble—all of it his own doing—and has shown nothing but child-like behavior since he’s entered the league. He was not respected in the locker room and the Steelers organization decided enough was enough. Good for them. While it may hurt the team in the coming season, it will help them down the road. Mike Wallace showed flashes of brilliance in 2009 and he’ll now have his chance to step up in Holmes’ absence. New acquisitions Arnaz Battle and Antwaan Randle El, as well as former second round pick Limas Sweed, will help pick up the

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Sixteen players are now confirmed to attend the 2010 NFL Draft festivities at Radio City Music Hall in New York next week, including Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, according to a league source.

Late last night news broke that Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for a fifth round pick. Moves like this make one wonder what the value of a draft pick is…and how trades of this nature actually get finalized.

Waking up to the news this morning, I had a text from New York saying “Santonio Baby!” I also had one from the city of Pittsburgh which, for obvious reason, cannot be printed here.

When I heard the news, my biggest question was: Was this the most the Steelers could get for a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver?

Curious, I went back to 1992 to see which receivers had been taken in the fifth round of the draft and how they panned out.