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HOT TOPIC
After winning a Super Bowl, the Steelers knew their offseason would not be quiet but they never envisioned anything like this.
Rookie Santonio Holmes' second arrest -- this one on domestic violence and assault -- within three weeks last week added to the circus atmosphere that has dogged the Steelers since their victory over Seattle in Detroit 41/2 months ago. That news broke the same day in which police issued two summary offenses to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that will cost him $388 in fines for driving without a motorcycle license and riding without a helmet following the accident that left him with a broken jaw, broken nose and broken orbital bone but otherwise very lucky.
Those were the most serious issues but not the only dustups for the Steelers this spring. Linebacker Joey Porter joked about wanting to show President Bush his swagger when the team visited the White House, then issued a statement that said his words were taken out of context. Porter, upset over a contract that has two years to run, skipped the first week of voluntary workouts and then suddenly had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee that kept him out of the rest.
Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward, during his celebrated trip to his native South Korea, took a swipe at coach Bill Cowher in a magazine story that he later insisted was taken out of context.
Much of this has been greeted mostly by silence from the Steelers, especially Cowher. He steadfastly refused all interviews in Pittsburgh following the accident by Roethlisberger - who was warned by his coach about riding motorcycles without a helmet - and also did not comment to the media there about Holmes' two arrests, including one over the Memorial Day weekend for disorderly conduct in Miami Beach.
Finally Cowher went on a national radio show to respond to those events.
"It's unfortunate that these types of things are making the news. It's not what you want to be doing at this time of year," said Cowher, who caused his own distraction when news broke in March that he bought a $2.5 million home in Raleigh, N.C.
On Holmes, Cowher said, "I really don't have any details whatsoever, so I really don't want to comment."
On Roethlisberger, Cowher said, ""I think we're all very hopeful that he'll be able to come back and not have any lingering effects from the accident. Sometimes with the lessons of life, you have to get knocked down before you get back up. He's just very fortunate. This was one of those lessons that could have been devastating. It could have been a very tragic story."
PLAYER NOTES
--Receivers coach Bruce Arians spent last week working out with rookie WR Santonio Holmes, who arrived in Pittsburgh Tuesday, one day after his arrest in Columbus, Ohio, on domestic violence and assault chargers. Shane Boyd, who played in NFL Europe and is on the Steelers' roster, spent the week throwing passes to Holmes.
Holmes has not spoken to the media since his arrest, but issued this statement through the ball club: "I understand that being a Pittsburgh Steeler carries along with it the demands for responsible behavior off the field. I want to apologize for the negative attention that my arrest on Monday has brought upon the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, especially in light of my previous arrest in May."
Holmes' two arrests in three weeks - he was charged with disorderly conduct in Miami Beach over the Memorial Day weekend - were not his first brushes with the law. While processing Holmes, Columbus police discovered an outstanding warrant for an assured distance violation, a minor traffic misdemeanor that stems from an accident in which a driver is tailgating, from Oct. 18, 2005. Holmes never showed up for court on that charge.
He also was arrested on disorderly conduct chargers Nov. 16, 2003 in Columbus following a fight in a parking lot at 3 a.m. The chargers were dropped the following March.
--The Steelers' Super Bowl ring, made by Josten's, has been appraised at slightly more than $9,000.
--Vann McElroy, Tommy Maddox's agent, denied a report that he had called the Steelers the morning of Ben Roethlisberger's accident to inquire if they were interested in re-signing his client.
"I called simply to see how Ben was and tell them we hope everything is OK with Ben," McElroy said. "It was not brought up whatsoever. It wasn't the right time at all."
The Steelers have little interest in re-signing Maddox, who is trying to pursue a pro golf career.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--RB Willie Parker came out of nowhere as an undrafted second-year player to rush for 1,202 yards, the most by a Steelers player in five seasons. He's their starter but unlikely to receive a long-term deal until possibly next year.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--OT Willie Colon (4th): $1,333,500/3 yrs, $283,500 SB.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--QB Charlie Batch: UFA; $4.2M/3 yrs, $800,000SB.
--OT Barrett Brooks: UFA; terms unknown.
--LB Arnold Harrison: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB James Harrison: ERFA; $5.5M/4 yrs, $1.375M SB.
--RB Verron Haynes: UFA; $1.75M/2 yrs, $315,000 SB.
--DE Brett Keisel: UFA; $13.1M/4 yrs, $3.29M SB.
--LB Clint Kriewaldt: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--S Mike Logan: FA, had been released by Steelers; terms unknown.
--WR Lee Mays: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Sean Morey: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--WR Quincy Morgan: UFA; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--DE Shaun Nua: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr.
--CB Ike Taylor: RFA; $1.573M/1 yr).
--CB Deshea Townsend: UFA; $7.76M/4 yrs, $2.29M SB.
--TE Jerame Tuman: UFA; $4.25M/3 yrs, $900,000 SB.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DE Rodney Bailey: UFA Seahawks; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB).
--S Ryan Clark: UFA Redskins; $7M/4 yrs, $1.7M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--RB Jerome Bettis (retired).
--S Chris Hope: UFA Titans; $32M/6 yrs, $5M SB.
--QB Tommy Maddox (released).
--WR Antwaan Randle El: UFA Redskins; $31M/7 yrs, $5M SB.
--DE Kimo von Oelhoffen: UFA Jets; $9.2M/3 yrs, $3.2M SB.
--CB Willie Williams (released).
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