Business has been harsh to the reigning AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who began the week about $10 million over the cap. The latest cap casualty is offensive tackle Flozell Adams, who reportedly refused to take a pay cut from his $5 million salary.
Pittsburgh needed cap relief and was expected to release or renegotiate with Adams, who signed a two-year deal last season. Adams played admirably last year and became a locker-room favorite. The Steelers even made it a point during Super Bowl week in Dallas to “win one for Flozell,” who played most of his career with the Cowboys.

But the team simply couldn’t afford the 36-year-old at his current salary. Now the Steelers have gaping holes on the offensive line.

The signing of Willie Colon should help. He could play one of the tackle spots. But spots for the other tackle and for one guard are wide open in Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin dodged questions Thursday about which linemen would suit up with the first team in training camp.

Pittsburgh will hold its first practice of camp this afternoon, and we will have more of an indication of what the offensive line will look like. But right now, it’s a thin unit.

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.