Daily Super Bowls, Coach Ward, and Ordinary People

Tuesday - Steelers Training Camp Report

Tuesday morning's abbreviated practice saw the special teams get their first work of the camp. Most of the older veterans, not playing on special teams, were out there in the morning, but only to break a sweat. The three rotating on kickoff return are former CFL player Stefan Logan - recently activated from the PUP list - and two rookies, wideout Mike Wallace and corner Joe Burnett. Wallace started with the first team. The sun caused some balls to be dropped, but for the most part these guys were solid. These guys are also being looked at to take some or possibly all of the punt returning duties away from Santonio Holmes.

After the practice I talked with Joe Burnett, who was a 5th round draft pick this year out of Central Florida. He has really impressed coaches by being a quick study, and constantly being in the correct position as part of Dick Lebeau's difficult to grasp defense. His only problem so far is that he has trouble catching the ball (which is probably why he's a corner and not a wideout). However, the thing I like most about Joe is his approach to playing for the Steelers. Coming onto the reigning Super Bowl champions, who only lost two starters from last year's club, it's hard to guarantee yourself a job. But Joe told me he looks at himself as an "undrafted free agent" because of being picked in the 5th round, and "everyday is like the Super Bowl." And he's played like it. He just hasn't been able to mimic James Harrison's return, but holding onto the ball will come with time.

The major storyline in camp right now is the injury to Darnell Stapleton. No matter how many times he gets his knee drained, it continues to swell up and be a bother. He hobbled around the cafeteria during lunch, and didn't practice in the afternoon. He had an MRI, but they are doing more tests. So hold your breath fans. The only good news is that on the entire line, Stapleton is the guy most expendable. Also with injuries to him and Justin Hartwig, it's given opportunites for guys like Trai Essex, Kraig Urbik, and A. Q. Shipley to possibly crack at least the rotation, if not the starting lineup if the injuries continue into the season.

The Steelers are taking a very cautious approach with all of their players. Troy Polamolu and Willie Parker both sat out the afternoon, and Hines Ward could now be called Coach Ward. After practicing the first day, Hines hasn't practiced since. Now he's not injured. Both he and Coach Tomlin confirmed after practice that he is not injured whatsoever. Tomlin's explanation was that Hines has "a lot of money in my emotional bank...I take care of Hines." Ward has even enjoyed his time off, allowing him to coach some of the younger receivers like Limas Sweed, Martin Nance, Dallas Baker, and rookie Mike Wallace. There's no timeline on when he'll be back in practice, but Hines said "Hopefully, this week."

One final note of interest, Grammy award winning artist John Legend was in attendance of the camp today. He was with his nephew, who got to throw the ball around with Hines Ward and even Ben Roethlisberger and got pictures. Some of the Steelers staff was at his show in Greensburg the night before and invited him to take in his first camp. John was a cool guy to talk to. He said he doesn't have a favorite NFL team. He was just there as a fan of football. Being from Ohio, the only team he has a loyalty to is the Ohio State Buckeyes. When I first asked what he was doing there, he joked that he was "scouting for the Bengals." We both had a laugh at that. But he really enjoyed being at practice and even though he still doesn't have a team, being at Steelers camp has definitely given him more of an interest in the black and gold.

More updates tomorrow when the team will have their third full double day of the camp.