Steelers open OTAs
The Steelers opened their OTAs today with very good attendance.
Per Steelers rules, I can't report on who lined up where or how many times, but I can tell you some other things:
* Troy Polamalu said he's been working with a physical therapist on his calf and he feels like his 2012 season was "avoidable."
In fact, Polamalu feels so good about his rehab, he says the calf injury - which has bothered him since 2010 - is now behind him.
* Saw Heath Miller at the facility walking around. He didn't have a brace on his knee and wasn't limping.
Now that's a long way from being ready to get back on the football field, but it's a good sign.
* I tried to talk to LaMarr Woodley today, but he blew me off. Woodley did look to be in good shape.
* Had a nice talk with rookie receiver Justin Brown today. Seemed like a good kid and said his decision to transfer from Penn State to Oklahoma was one of the toughest decisions he made in his life.
* Ike Taylor said Cortez Allen is going to make life "hell" on a lot of opposing receivers this year.
* Emmanuel Sanders wouldn't talk about his flirtations with the Patriots, simply saying, "I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Sanders said he wants to stay here and is open to a long-term contract.
Roethlisberger underrated? Absolutely
Frequent visitors to this blog should be well aware of how I feel about offseason rankings of this and that. They are dreamed up by TV and web site execs to keep people watching and visiting their sites.
But the NFL Network's top 100 players - which is also run on NFL.com - is voted on by the players. And Ben Roethlisberger ranked 61st.
That's right, 61st.
Does anyone in their right mind actually believe that Roethlisberger is the 61st best player in the NFL right now. Does anybody think if all the teams were dissolved and there was a redraft of players by a new league that Roethlisberger would be the 61st player selected?
Maybe in fantasy football. But in the real world, Roethlisberger is one of the 20 best players and most valuable players in the league.
Yet on this list, there are 11 quarterbacks ranked ahead of him. Seriously.
Yes, Roethlisberger is now 31 and missed three games in 2012 with a rib/clavicle injury. Yet he still threw for over 3,200 yards with 26 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions - all without any threat of a running game.
That got him ranked two spots ahead of Stephen Tulloch. Who's Stephen Tulloch, you might ask? He's a linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Yes, those same Lions who make the playoffs as often as your Pittsburgh Pirates.
Knowing Roethlisberger, this slight will fuel him. He was having an outstanding season in 2013 before suffering the injury and wasn't the same player after coming back.
But Roethlisberger is as competitive as anyone I've ever covered. He won't say it publicly, but he'll use this slight to come back with an even better year.
