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Steelers sign 13 free agents

April 28, 2009 By: Admin Category: Draft/Free Agency

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but after that draft weekend marathon, I needed to take a little break.

Once the draft ended, that opened the doors for all of the players who went undrafted to sign with any team that they wanted to.  The Steelers used this opportunity to add 13 undrafted free agents to their roster.

The Steelers signed the following players:

Steven Black (6’2″, 200 lbs.), WR, Memphis

Jeff Bradley (6’3″, 280 lbs.), DT, Western Carolina

Mark Estermeyer (6’1″, 251 lbs.), LS, Pittsburgh

Ramon Foster (6’5″, 328 lbs.), OT, Tennessee

Cedric Goodman (6’2″, 189 lbs.), WR, Georgia

Tyler Grisham (5’10″, 184 lbs.), WR, Clemson

Tom Korte (6’0″, 239 lbs.), LB, Hillside

Kevin McCabe (6’2″, 209 lbs.), QB, California (PA)

Steve McClendon (6’3″, 305 lbs.), DT, Troy

Isaac Redman (5’10″, 228 lbs.), RB, Bowie State

Mike Reilly (6’3″, 214 lbs.), QB, Central Washington State

Derrick Richardson (5’11″, 201 lbs.), S, New Mexico State

Andrew Schantz (6’1″, 234 lbs.), LB, Portland State

With the Steelers signing 3 wide receivers, in addition to drafting one, and potentially bringing in Ashley Lelie, the Steelers’ receiving corps shouldn’t miss a beat.

I was glad to see them bring in a safety, since they didn’t draft one, and we are woefully short on safeties.  I do think that Deshea Townsend would be a very good candidate to convert to safety.  He is very disciplined, and would make a good backup free safety.  I also believe that Keenan Lewis would make a good safety, but the Steelers have not said that they plan to try him at the position.

Both of the defensive tackles that they drafted are too small to play nose tackle, so I assume that they plan to convert them both to 3-4 DE’s.

I was a bit surprised that they brought in two free agent quarterbacks.  I don’t think either of them has a chance to beat out Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon.  However, the Steelers are tight on cash, and if they think Dixon is ready to move up to #2, they may release Batch and keep one of these cheaper options as #3 quarterback.

I  am completely baffled by the long snapper signing.  Sure, Mark Estermeyer is from Pitt.  But Greg Warren will be back from injury, and Jared Retkofsky is still on the roster.  Do we really need that much competition for the long snapper position?  Maybe I’m missing something.  Wouldn’t we have been better served bringing another safety into camp?  Or perhaps a big, fat kid who can someday develop into a nose tackle?  Or how about a center.  All three of the long snappers are too small to ever play center.  I’m confused.

If you have any thoughts on the Steelers’ free agent signings, please leave a comment to let me know your reaction.

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11 Comments to “Steelers sign 13 free agents”


  1. Where is Piotr Czech? I thought he signed as a free agent?

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  2. Matt Priem says:

    What’s this about possibly picking up Lelie? Has there been a visit or talks I don’t know about? I’ve been praying for months that this would happen. Wallace has the tools to stretch the field as a 4th receiver and has plenty of upside, but Lelie is a known commodity who would fit perfectly in Nate washington’s role on the team, and can be had for a pittance at this point.

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  3. Matt,
    The Steelers had Lelie in for a visit earlier this week. Both sides said that it was a very good meeting. Keep your fingers crossed.

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  4. Col,
    As far as I am know, Czech signed with the Baltimore Ravens. You’ll have to check out the Ravens site to confirm that, but that was what I had heard.

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  5. no, he s not at the Ravens. I heard he is at the Steelers mini camp. Is this true? I thought there is two very good p/k on that team.

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  6. Since the punter tore his acl last year, is he ready to play,or is that why they have piotr czech signed for the team?

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  7. Czech was cut by the Ravens last year. Although I did not see any news of the Steelers signing him, he is now showing up on the official Steeler roster.

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  8. Hmmm, sounds like the Steelers did sign Czech. I haven’t checked their official roster, but I will take you guys’ word for it.

    I’ll look into this and see what I find.

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  9. Do you think Czech will bump Reed the kicker? Thats what they have him there for. Will they take twokickers? I hear he can kick 59 and 60 yards….

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  10. Don’t read too much into it. They always bring 2 kickers (and 2 punters) into camp. Neither Sepulveda nor Reed are in trouble of being replaced. Reed, especially, has shown his worth with his accuracy at Heinz field (the hardest kicking local in the league).

    They will take a look at Czech but his only chance of making the team is if Reed gets hurt.

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  11. Hopefully they will bring in any quarterback so they can get rid of our starting bum.35 year fan and “Big Ben” is a disgrace to the Black and Gold.I hope the Rooneys are as classy as I think they are. It’s not all about winning.

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