LATROBE, Pa. (AP)—The Pittsburgh Steelers cut versatile wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El(notes) and tackle Max Starks(notes) on Thursday, the start of what could be
a significant roster overhaul.

Players arrived for the start of training camp Thursday with the team more
than $10 million over the $120.4 million salary cap.

Randle El, a college quarterback at Indiana who became a receiver in the
NFL, threw a touchdown pass to Hines Ward(notes) to clinch Pittsburgh’s win over
Seattle in the 2006 Super Bowl. He parlayed his Super Bowl success into a
lucrative contract with the Redskins, but struggled in four seasons in
Washington before returning to Pittsburgh in 2010.

He failed to make a significant impact, posting career lows in receptions
(22) and yards (253) as his playing time diminished following the rise of wide
receiver Mike Wallace(notes).

Starks was drafted by the Steelers in the third round (75th overall) in
2004. He started 68 games in his seven seasons in Pittsburgh, including seven in
2010 before being placed on injured reserve with a neck problem. Starks started
two Super Bowls for the Steelers but underwent neck surgery last year, leaving
his future cloudy.

Starks’ departure leaves the Steelers thin—at least for the moment—at
offensive tackle. The team is looking to re-sign veteran Willie Colon(notes), who
missed the 2010 season due to injury. The Steelers are also looking at Jonathan
Scott(notes), who played well when Starks went down.

The Steelers have 36-year-old Flozell Adams(notes) on the roster, but his age and
$5 million salary could be an issue for a team trying to get under the cap.

Players were trickling into their dorm rooms at St. Vincent College on
Thursday in preparation for a conditioning test in the afternoon. The team’s
first practice is scheduled for Friday and the Steelers open the preseason on
Aug. 12 at Washington.

LATROBE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers cut versatile wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and tackle Max Starks on Thursday, the start of what could be a significant roster overhaul.

Players arrived for the start of training camp Thursday with the team more than $10 million over the $120.4 million salary cap.

Randle El, a college quarterback at Indiana who became a receiver in the NFL, threw a touchdown pass to Hines Ward to clinch Pittsburgh’s win over Seattle in the 2006 Super Bowl. He parlayed his Super Bowl success into a lucrative contract with the Redskins, but struggled in four seasons in Washington before returning to Pittsburgh in 2010.

He failed to make a significant impact, posting career lows in receptions (22) and yards (253) as his playing time diminished following the rise of wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Starks was drafted by the Steelers in the third round (75th overall) in 2004. He started 68 games in his seven seasons in Pittsburgh, including seven in 2010 before being placed on injured reserve with a neck problem. Starks started two Super Bowls for the Steelers but underwent neck surgery last year, leaving his future cloudy.

Starks’ departure leaves the Steelers thin — at least for the moment — at offensive tackle. The team is looking to re-sign veteran Willie Colon, who missed the 2010 season due to injury. The Steelers are also looking at Jonathan Scott, who played well when Starks went down.

The Steelers have 36-year-old Flozell Adams on the roster, but his age and $5 million salary could be an issue for a team trying to get under the cap.

Players were trickling into their dorm rooms at St. Vincent College on Thursday in preparation for a conditioning test in the afternoon. The team’s first practice is scheduled for Friday and the Steelers open the preseason on Aug. 12 at Washington.

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LATROBE, Pa. (AP)—The Pittsburgh Steelers cut versatile wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El(notes) and tackle Max Starks(notes) on Thursday, the start of what could be
a significant roster overhaul.

Players arrived for the start of training camp Thursday with the team more
than $10 million over the $120.4 million salary cap.

Randle El, a college quarterback at Indiana who became a receiver in the
NFL, threw a touchdown pass to Hines Ward(notes) to clinch Pittsburgh’s win over
Seattle in the 2006 Super Bowl. He parlayed his Super Bowl success into a
lucrative contract with the Redskins, but struggled in four seasons in
Washington before returning to Pittsburgh in 2010.

He failed to make a significant impact, posting career lows in receptions
(22) and yards (253) as his playing time diminished following the rise of wide
receiver Mike Wallace(notes).

Starks was drafted by the Steelers in the third round (75th overall) in
2004. He started 68 games in his seven seasons in Pittsburgh, including seven in
2010 before being placed on injured reserve with a neck problem. Starks started
two Super Bowls for the Steelers but underwent neck surgery last year, leaving
his future cloudy.

Starks’ departure leaves the Steelers thin—at least for the moment—at
offensive tackle. The team is looking to re-sign veteran Willie Colon(notes), who
missed the 2010 season due to injury. The Steelers are also looking at Jonathan
Scott(notes), who played well when Starks went down.

The Steelers have 36-year-old Flozell Adams(notes) on the roster, but his age and
$5 million salary could be an issue for a team trying to get under the cap.

Players were trickling into their dorm rooms at St. Vincent College on
Thursday in preparation for a conditioning test in the afternoon. The team’s
first practice is scheduled for Friday and the Steelers open the preseason on
Aug. 12 at Washington.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Former Southern Illinois quarterback Chris Dieker agreed Wednesday to a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dieker, who is one of three quarterbacks in SIU history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a career, is flying to Pittsburgh Wednesday evening and will meet with team officials Thursday to sign a contract. He will receive a physical and then report with the rest of the team for training camp at 3 p.m. ET.

“It feels great just to get an opportunity,” Dieker said. “To be able to compete with players at that level is really exciting.”

Dieker led the Salukis to a 20-9 record in his three years as a starter. He ranks in the top five of 13 different offensive categories in the school record books, including third with 5,237 career passing yards.

The 6-5, 230-pound gunslinger out of Topeka, Kan. completed 446-of-757 passes in his career with 41 touchdowns. In his final game as a Saluki, Dieker threw for a career-high 279 yards and accounted for six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) in a win over Indiana State. Dieker was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards for his game against the Sycamores.

He led the Salukis to the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship in both 2008 and 2009. Dieker also ran for 498 yards in his career, with 272 of that coming his senior season, and 12 touchdowns.

He will be one of five quarterback for the Steelers in training camp. The team’s other quarterbacks are Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon.

Dieker is the second Saluki to sign a rookie free agent contract in as many days, as linebackerStephen Franklin signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.
Other Salukis in NFL training camps this year include running backs Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) and Deji Karim (Jacksonville Jaguars), linebacker Bart Scott (New York Jets) and cornerback Korey Lindsey, who was a 2011 draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.

(Sports Network) -

REPORT DATE: July 28th

SITE: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA

CAMP OBJECTIVES: After having to withstand a media firestorm surrounding the
Ben Roethlisberger controversy during last year’s camp, the Steelers will have
far less drama to deal with when they make their annual pilgrimage to Latrobe
this summer. With valued cornerback Ike Taylor likely to be re-signed, the
primary area to watch regarding the reigning AFC champions during the training
period will be an offensive line that was hit hard by injuries all throughout
the 2010 Super Bowl run. Starting tackles Max Starks and Willie Colon (an
unrestricted free agent) are coming off neck surgery and an Achilles’ tear,
respectively, while outstanding young center Maurkice Pouncey fractured an
ankle during the playoffs. With veteran defensive mainstays such as safety Troy
Polamalu, outside linebacker James Harrison and end Aaron Smith also battling
various ailments throughout last season, look for most of Pittsburgh’s starters
to see only sporadic action during the preseason. That should give ample
opportunity for defensive end Cameron Heyward, the club’s 2011 first-round
draft choice, and other rookies such as offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert,
cornerbacks Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen and running back Baron Batch to make
strong first impressions. Batch in particular may be offered a long look, as
the Steelers have a need for a third-down running back with previous title-
holder Mewelde Moore uncertain to return.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):

Aug. 11 – at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 18 – vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
Aug. 27 – vs. Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 1 – at Carolina, 8 p.m.

The Sports Network

PITTSBURGH — It’s back to business for the Pittsburgh Steelers after the NFL lockout officially ended on Monday.Channel 11 News was there as some players arrived at Steelers headquarters in Pittsburgh’s South Side on Tuesday.James Harrison and Emanual Sanders were seen going into the building before the start of training camp on Thursday.Also on Tuesday, the Steelers have agreed to contracts with 15 undrafted free agents, including Wisconsin running back John Clay and South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders.Joining them in the Steelers` free agent rookie class are Temple tight end Vaughn Charlton, Ohio wide receiver Terrence McCrae, Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Armand Robinson, Furman wide receiver Adam Mims, Central Michigan center Colin Miller, Abilene Christian offensive tackle Trevis Turner, Iowa safety Brent Greenwood, Wisconsin cornerback Niles Brinkley, Citadel outside linebacker Eric Clanton, Marshall inside linebacker Mario Harvey, Clemson defensive end Miguel Chavis, Southern Mississippi defensive tackle Anthony Gray and Idaho wide receiver Eric Greenwood.While players may be getting in a workout before camp begins, crews at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe are busy getting ready for camp as well. The groundskeepers began marking lines on the field to prepare for the team’s arrival.Players will report to Saint Vincent College by 3 p.m. on Thursday.Fans are permitted to visit training camp on Friday. Afternoon practices are open to the public starting at 2:55 p.m.Video cameras, alcohol and pets are not allowed.The Steelers’ first preseason game is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 12 at Washington. The regular season opener is scheduled for Sept. 11 at Baltimore.

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Steelers’ Training Schedule:


July 28: Rookies and veterans report by 3 p.m.
July 29: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
July 30: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
July 31: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug.1: Players’ day off – campus closed to public
Aug. 2: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 3: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 4: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 5: 7 p.m. Night practice at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium— (No UPMC Steelers Experience)
Aug. 6: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 7: Players’ day off – campus closed to public
Aug. 8: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 9: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 10: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 11: Travel to Washington – campus closed to public
Aug. 12: First preseason game at Washington *7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 13: Players’ day off – campus closed to public
Aug. 14: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 15: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 16: 2:55 p.m. and open to public (UPMC Steelers Experience, 1:30-6 p.m.)
Aug. 17: Break camp; closed to public
Aug. 18: Second preseason game vs. Philadelphia Eagles (8 p.m., FOX – WPGH)
Aug. 27: Third preseason game vs. Atlanta (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 1: Fourth preseason game at Carolina (8 p.m.)

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially set to kick off their 2011 training camp at Saint Vincent College this week.The team confirmed Monday that players will report to camp on Thursday, with the first practice that will be open to the public beginning Friday.
(Complete Training Camp Practice Schedule)
Steelers President Art Rooney II was asked during a Monday press conference if he thought the team’s veteran roster would give it an advantage heading into camp.”I think that having a veteran team can be an advantage in a lot of different circumstances, but it’s hard to predict. It really is up to our players and coaches to make sure that’s an advantage and prepare in a way that they can take advantage of that if that occurs,” said Rooney.Several Steelers took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the end of the lockout.Wider receiver Hines Ward wrote, “Just got off the Bat Phone…Football is back in business baby!!!! Here we go!”Safety Ryan Clark tweeted, “I just want to say thank you to all the fans that stayed true. Especially the ones who understood we hadn’t missed a thing yet.”
LIVE WIRE: Follow the latest tweets from NFL leaders, Steelers players, national media and fans

During the ongoing lockout, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe has been preparing to host the Steelers’ training camp as it does every year.Several NFL teams have already canceled plans to hold their camps at off-site locations, but the Steelers have been holding off on doing that and they want their camp to be in Latrobe if a labor deal gets done in time.

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