Game Recaps
Roster
Schedule
Pictures
Facts & Info
Special Features
News Archives
History
Links
Quick Index

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Unrestricted Free Agents

Player	What to Expect / What Happened
DE Orpheus Roye	Signed with Browns
LB Carlos Emmons	Emmons actually had a decent season in 1999, but still never really proved a whole lot in his two seasons as a starter. He is expendible, especially with Joey Porter waiting in the wings.
DB Chris Oldham	Signed with Saints
WR Courtney Hawkins	He was good as a 3rd down receiver in 1997, but really did not do much as a starter. If he wants to come back, he has to know that barring injuries, he would never be a starter again.
DE Nolan Harrison	Let's see... He's always hurt, he never plays, and when he does play he gets into scuffles and gets stupid penalties called on him. He's basically the Tom Barrasso of the Steelers. Kiss him goodbye.
QB Mike Tomczack	Unbelievably, the Steelers are trying to re-sign him.
TE Mitch Lyons	He's ok, but the Steelers always waste their tight ends anyway. He'll be back only if the price is cheap.
DB Lance Brown	Once blocked a punt against the Chiefs that we recovered for a touchdown. That's about all I'll ever remember about this guy once he's gone.
OL Jim Sweeney	He is 37 but says that if Cowher wants him back, he'll return. Other than that, he'd probably like to retire as a member of his hometown team.

Steelers Retiring?

OL Jim Sweeney	This would be his 17th season. He may just have to call it quits.
QB Mike Tomczack	I'd love to see him retire as a Steeler, but he knows that with the playing experience he got at the end of last year, not to mention the total lack of decent QB's in the NFL, he can still play somewhere if he wants to - maybe even here.
OT Justin Strzelczyk	Actually, Jugs was just released by the Steelers. He'll probably try to make a comeback with some team, but his final NFL game will probably end up being the Monday nighter two years ago where he hurt his knee.

Wore Out Their Welcome?

OT Wayne Gandy	I will be so pissed if the Steelers don't dump him and his $4 million a year. He is the biggest bum since Jamain Stephens. He's always giving up a sacks or getting called for holding penalties. He also faces a possible suspension next season for stupidly shoving a referee in the final minutes of last season.
QB Kordell Stewart	Much to the dismay of Steelers fans, he'll be back. Cowher and Rooney are too in love with him. He should however have competition.
NT Joel Steed	Would the Steelers actually dump one of the conerstones of their defense? Well, Steed really isn't the "cornerstone" he used to be, and he also makes more money than almost anyone on the team. We could maybe trade him to move up in the draft and get Courtney Brown (Penn State sucks) or one of those guys. Remember, we have to think about rebuilding here. It's a possibility, albeit an unlikely one.
FS Travis Davis	He sure got smoked a lot last year. At the very least, Davis will lose his starting job to up-and-comer Scott Shields.
WR Will Blackwell	His injuries and lack of pass-catching skills (generally a key requirement for an NFL receiver) have become tiresome. He'll be one of those guys that get cut during training camp.
RB Jerome Bettis	Ok, this one is purely SPECULATION on my part. It just seems like Bettis gets paid a lot of money but without the strong line, he can't produce as well. He's also been suffering through injuries lately. It also seems like whenever Richard Huntley is in the game, our running attack is much stronger.

2000 Draft: An Early Look

If there's one thing the Steelers have done right in the past two years, it's the draft. I really believe that we have some good young players. We need to keep building on that, and with the 8th overall pick (our highest in years), that shouldn't be a problem. We probably need linemen more than anything - on both sides of the ball. If there's a good defensive lineman, the Steelers should nab him. They are extremely thin in that position and have been for a while. They almost drafted Jevon Kearse last year, but had to pass him up because they needed a WR more (they had to do that - they didn't know he was going to turn out to be as good as he is). The offensive line is shaky as well. Hopefully Kris Farris, last year's 3rd round pick who was injured, can add some depth at tackle, but even with him the Steelers need much more. The draft isn't until April, so I'll have much more around that time.

2000 Opponents

Once again the Steelers will be forced to play pretty much all of their schedule inside the division (which this year includes the defending AFC champions), but at least they will see some new competition as well. They will play two games at New York. The Steelers haven't played the Jets since 1992 and haven't played the Giants since 1994. They will also play San Diego again. There were only four years between 1971-1996 that the Steelers and Chargers did not play each other, but the two teams haven't met since then. In the final season of Three Rivers Stadium, the Steelers will host some good games. The Oakland Raiders, our old bitter rivals, will finally return to Three Rivers (site of many of their worst moments) for the first time in 20 years! I personally think that game would be a perfect finale for our beloved stadium. The actual schedule with dates and times won't be announced for a couple of months. Notably absent from this year's schedule: a game at Kansas City.

HOME:

AWAY: