Sweed & Mendenhall ready to sign

[GBMelBlount]

Rumor Mill: Sweed and Mendenhall to sign before camp

By James Pete | July 22nd, 2008

Several sources are reporting that the Pittsburgh Steelers are about to come to terms with Limas Sweed and Rashard Mendenhall. According to the reports, Limas Sweed could sign as early as tomorrow, with Mendenhall not getting the deal completed until the weekend. It’s possible that the Steelers will announce both signings together, either over the weekend, or on Sunday. If the Sweed deal gets done soon, look for the Steelers to get it out there to help put the press on Mendenhall.

The Steelers, creatures of habit, seem to follow this standard of practice year after year. In general, the Steelers don’t sign their first round draft picks before the week leading up to the start of training camp, or the first week of camp. Of course, we here at Steel Tradition have been all over the story all summer.

The Steelers have been very good at avoiding hold-outs, and that looks to continue this week. There has been speculation that the Steelers have leaked the information to help press the issue, which they have also been known to do in the past. Either way, Mendenhall and Sweed are about to become millionaires. Expect a four or five year deal for Sweed, and a five or six year deal for Mendenhall.

What’s even more curious is the cap issue. It’s believed that the Steelers are trying to sign a couple of veteran players to a long-term deal to help with cap space. More on that tomorrow.
http://mvn.com/nfl-steelers/2008/07/22/rumor-mill-sweed-and-mendenhall-to-sign-before-camp/

[Elvis]

I sure hope that they are right mr.Blount. It is VERY Important to have those 2 in there learning from the very get go so they can learn and get rythym with our starters..
:tt02:

[GBMelBlount]

Steelers don't expect holdouts

Colbert confident top two picks will be signed, in camp

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Rashard Mendenhall -- Steelers' No. 1 draft pick

The Steelers have not had a significant rookie contract holdout in a decade and it appears they will not have one this summer either.

Signing any veterans to contract extensions, however, is another matter.

Kevin Colbert, the team's director of football operations, predicted yesterday that the top two draft choices will come to terms by the time the Steelers report to training camp Sunday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers' top pick, and wide receiver Limas Sweed, drafted in the second round, are the last unsigned of their seven draft choices.

"We feel confident that everybody will be signed by training camp," Colbert said.

The Steelers are negotiating a five-year contract for Mendenhall and a four-year deal with Sweed.

Colbert said the signings of second-round draft choices around the league were down because both sides awaited a ruling by a special master on a dispute between management and the players union over complicated guarantees in the uncapped year of 2010.
Steelers dates

• Sunday: Players report.

• July 28: First practice open to the public, 2:55 p.m.

• Aug. 8: First preseason game vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Heinz Field.

• Aug. 26: Rosters must be reduced to 75 players.

• Aug. 30: Rosters must be reduced to 53 players.

• Sept. 7: Regular season opens vs. Houston Texans.

The master ruled in favor of the union over the weekend and Colbert believes more picks will sign soon because of it.

Colbert was not as confident about signing any veterans to contract extensions anytime soon, but indicated they will work on doing so before the season begins.

"We're going to try to get something done as we go through training camp, like we always do, and maybe even before, but with only a week to go it's unlikely we'll be able to sign anybody before camp."

The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating contracts once the regular season begins. Colbert would not name individual veterans they want to sign but noted that anyone entering their final contract year before they could become an unrestricted free agent is possible.

Those in that category include offensive tackle Marvel Smith, linebacker James Farrior, guard Chris Kemoeatu, quarterback Charlie Batch, cornerback Bryant McFadden, and offensive tackle Max Starks.

"We're not down the road with anybody at this point, I mean in heavy negotiations," Colbert said.

The Steelers' last three first-round draft choices all signed by the team's first reporting day to training camp -- Lawrence Timmons, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger signed four days after camp opened in 2004. Guard Alan Faneca was the last first-round pick to miss more than a week of camp when he signed nine days after it opened in 1998. However, third-round pick Hank Poteat did miss more than a week in 2000 as their last rookie holdout.

No other first-round pick other than Faneca missed as much as a week of training camp before he signed since 1992, when tackle Leon Searcy missed the first 2 1/2 weeks.

The longest holdout in modern Steelers history came in 1987 when Rod Woodson did not sign until Oct. 28, after the NFL players returned to work from a monthlong strike.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08204/898550-66.stm

[HometownGal]

This is indeed good news. Get these two signed and we're all set! :thumbsup:

I have a feeling this is going to be one very exciting season! :tt03::tt02:

[19ward86]

Sign= 2 big play makers

Dont sign= 2 lawrence timmons

[Galax Steeler]

I hope they sign before long the sooner the better.

[SteelMember]

Even though Arians slimmed down the playbook last year, they are going to need every minute they can to get focus on this seasson.

No distractions.....pleeeeeese.

SIGN HERE X .................................................. .........................