SB Nation Pittsburgh - Steelers Vs. Eagles: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Finedhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-08-17T18:42:03-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29914782012-08-17T18:42:03-04:002012-08-17T18:42:03-04:00Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Comments On Fine, Byron Leftwich Hit
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<p>On Friday, the NFL handed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> <span>Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie</span> <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/17/3250266/Dominique-Rodgers-Cromartie-fined-byron-leftwich/in/2991478">a $21,000 fine for his hit last Thursday</a> on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> quarterback <span>Byron Leftwich</span>, and so far the defensive back isn't taken the penalty well.</p>
<p>"Twenty-one thousand. I ain't even got that," Rodgers-Cromartie <a href="http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/DRC-on-fine-I-aint-even-got-that?blockID=758725&feedID=704">joked to the media </a>after hearing about the fine, which stemmed from a <a href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2012/8/17/3250222/drc-fined-21k-for-hit-on-leftwich">high shot on the Steelers' backup quarterback </a>early in his team's 24-23 preseason victory at Lincoln Financial Field.</p>
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<p>"I won’t hit him no more, I’ll tell you that much," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "It’s not even a vicious hit... shoot, he got up right from it. I mean, I’ll say I left my feet. I can understand that. I can understand a fine coming."</p>
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<p><br>The hit in question was ruled a "dangerous" one by the league and rightfully so. Replays show Rodgers-Cromartie leaving his feet and hitting Leftwich near the head area. Luckily, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound signal caller was not hurt.</p>
<p>"I wouldn’t do it again. In place, you never know. It’s football. You have to keep playing. Play through it."</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, make sure to visit the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/17/3250543/dominique-rodgers-cromartie-fine-byron-leftwich-steelersJared E. Smith2012-08-17T16:42:51-04:002012-08-17T16:42:51-04:00Steelers Vs. Eagles: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Fined $21,000 For Hit On Byron Leftwich
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<img alt="PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 18: Byron Leftwich #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason game on August 18, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z5zMNKf4IJSYHdY-W0kBYQxAb1Y=/0x27:968x672/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3712649/121370842.jpg" />
<figcaption>PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 18: Byron Leftwich #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason game on August 18, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Visit <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain </a>for more on the Steelers.</p> <p>Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich saw a bit of justice Friday, as Philadelphia Eagles corner back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 <a href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2012/8/17/3250222/drc-fined-21k-for-hit-on-leftwich">for his high hit last Thursday on the backup</a>. The hit (<a href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2012/8/17/3250222/drc-fined-21k-for-hit-on-leftwich">shown here</a>) was ruled as "dangerous" by the NFL despite Rodgers-Cromartie's claim that <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/eagles/2012/08/13/rodgers-cromartie-it-was-a-clean-hit/">it was clean</a>.</p>
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<p>“Regrets? We’re playing football, man,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “The Bible said don’t live a life of regret.”</p>
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<p>The hit on Leftwich occurred early in the Steelers' 24-23 loss to the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Under pressure, Leftwich rolled to his right to escape, where the blitzing Rodgers-Cromartie left his feet and delivered a blow to Leftwich's head area. Luckily, Leftwich was not hurt on the play.</p>
<p>The hit came under a lot of scrutiny, much of it from <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/08/12/mmqb/3.html">SI.com's Peter King</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, make sure to visit the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain</a>.<br></i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/17/3250266/Dominique-Rodgers-Cromartie-fined-byron-leftwichJared E. Smith2012-08-11T12:32:00-04:002012-08-11T12:32:00-04:00David Johnson Injury: Steelers Fullback Lost For The Season
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<p>According to an <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000048096/article/david-johnson-steelers-rb-reportedly-out-for-season" target="_blank">NFL.com report</a>, Pittsburgh Steelers fullback David Johnson will miss the entire 2012 season with what has been deemed a "significant knee injury" suffered in the first quarter of the team's first preseason game with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Ed Bouchette who covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted that Johnson had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL):</p>
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<p>Looks like <a href="https://twitter.com/search/?q=%23Steelers"><s>#</s><b>Steelers</b></a> starting FB David Johnson has torn ACL and will miss the season. Undrafted Will Johnson of WVU only other FB on roster.</p>
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) <a data-datetime="2012-08-10T03:22:37+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/EdBouchette/status/233765267082182656">August 10, 2012</a>
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<p>The 24-year-old Johnson was the Steelers tight end before being told he'd be moving to fullback in the spring one Todd Haley was hired to be Pittsburgh's new offensive coordinator.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For the latest on the Steelers, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh and check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold;">Behind the Steel Curtain</a>, SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-weight: bold;">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/11/3235833/david-johnson-injury-pittsburgh-steelers-fullback-knee-injuryBryan Crawford2012-08-10T14:38:24-04:002012-08-10T14:38:24-04:00Steelers vs. Eagles: Mike Tomlin Assesses First Preseason Game
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<p>The Steelers came close in their 24-23 loss against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, but not quite close enough for coach Mike Tomlin, who said his team "didn't get the job done" <a target="_blank" href="http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Coach-Mike-Tomlin-on-loss-to-Eagles/faf34d51-25eb-45a7-bc3a-55a9781f2167">in his post game press conference</a>.</p>
<p>"That is always our intention every time we step into a stadium, to win football game," he said. "Obviously we fell short in some areas. We have to go back to Latrobe and get back in the business of developing as a team. Too many errors, physical and mental. We’ll deal with it. We won’t accept it; we will deal with it this time of year."</p>
<p>He recognized, however, that it was an exhibition game without anything really on the line and that he saw some good things from his squad. He highlighted wide receiver <span>Chris Rainey's</span> contributions in particular. Rainey led the team with a pair of receptions for 65 yards including a 57-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.</p>
<p>"He did some good things tonight," Tomlin said. "He has some growth, some detail things, some assignment things. Obviously he provided a splash or two for us in the football game."</p>
<p>He also like some things about the performances of rookie offensive lineman <span>David DeCastro</span> and Mike Adams.</p>
<p>"I thought they represented themselves well at times," Tomlin said. "From an assignment standpoint I thought they were above the line. They were beat physically some, but that is life in the National Football League. I am sure they will take the lessons learned in this stadium tonight and build from it."</p>
<p>Tomlin confirmed that Adams sustained an injury in the game, but that it is "less significant" than the injury suffered by tight end David Johnson, which Tomlin described as "severe."</p>
<p><i>For the latest on the Steelers, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh and check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind the Steel Curtain</a>, SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> blog. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3233893/steelers-vs-eagles-mike-tomlin-mike-adams-injuriesFTG18552012-08-10T12:37:01-04:002012-08-10T12:37:01-04:00Steelers vs. Eagles: Emanuel Sanders Pleased With Offensive Execution In Preseason Debut
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<p>Steelers quarterback <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> only played one series in Pittsburgh's 24-23 loss against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night, but that series lasted a long, long time.</p>
<p>The offense held the ball for 9:48 on its opening possession, making short but steady progress toward a 46-yard field goal by <span>Shaun Suisham</span> that gave the Steelers an early 3-0 lead. Roethlisberger completed seven of his eight passes on the drive for 49 yards but a relatively small 6.1 yards per completion average, reflective of a ball possession-focused approach by new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh's next drive, with backup <span>Byron Leftwich</span> at the helm, saw the offense go 83 yards in 11 plays while taking another big chunk, 6:32, off the play clock. It culminated with a 2-yard pass to wideout Emanuel Sanders. After the game, Sanders was pleased with the offense's effort in its preseason debut, but hinted there's more to come as well, writes<a target="_blank" href="http://triblive.com/sports/2371818-85/steelers-didn-offense-ball-eagles-roethlisberger-yard-preseason-sanders-team"> Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</a>.</p>
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<p>"We definitely didn't bring all of our cards out. We just came in with a small portion of our playbook and tried to execute that," wide receiver <span>Emmanuel Sanders</span> said of Haleyball. "I feel like we did a pretty good job, but as the preseason goes along we'll get better and show more of the playbook. I really like it."</p>
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<p><i>For the latest on the Steelers, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh and check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain</a>, SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3233558/steelers-vs-eagles-emanuel-sanders-ben-roethlisberger-offenseFTG18552012-08-10T12:09:22-04:002012-08-10T12:09:22-04:00Steelers Vs. Eagles: Steelers Winners And Losers From First Preseason Matchup
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<p><a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/10/3232903/steelers-preseason-game-1-winners-and-losers-in-24-23-loss-to">Behind The Steel Curtain lists</a> its winners and losers from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>' first preseason game, a 24-23 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> Thursday night.</p>↵<p>The list of winners includes <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span>, who played well and moved the ball despite an offensive line that struggled in front of him, and <span>Chris Rainey</span>, who showed excellent speed and quickness.</p>↵<p>The key loser is, of course, 2012 second-round pick Mike Adams, who looked terrible, allowing two sacks in his brief time on the field before getting hurt. In fact, the offensive line in general looked awful:</p>↵<blockquote>↵<p>The absence of LG <span>Willie Colon</span> and the abysmal performances from every tackle (Adams, [Trai] Essex and <span>Marcus Gilbert</span>) led to seven sacks and a boatload of pressure. Rookie RG <span>David DeCastro</span> had a nice kickout block to spring RB <span>Jonathan Dwyer</span> for a 33-yard gain down the left sideline on the team's second drive, and Rainey's screen pass was sprung by some nice blocking, but take those plays out, the Steelers averaged a miserable 2.2 yards per play (63 plays, 140 yards). Much of that was the result of an offensive line that surrendered more pressure than it prevented throughout the game.</p>↵</blockquote>↵<p>With the additions of David DeCastro and Adams this offseason, the Steelers took steps to shore up what had been a weak offensive line. The offensive line may turn out to be much-improved this season, and Adams' struggles in his first preseason game aren't exactly a first for an NFL rookie, but they weren't encouraging, either.</p>↵<p>Also on the list of losers is <span>Curtis Brown</span>, who is competing for time in a cornerback picture behind <span>Ike Taylor</span> that currently looks unclear.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3233490/steelers-vs-eagles-winners-losers-mike-adamsCharlie Wilmoth2012-08-10T12:07:00-04:002012-08-10T12:07:00-04:00Steelers vs. Eagles: Ben Roethlisberger Praises Chris Rainey
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<p>Steelers rookie wide receiver <span>Chris Rainey</span> made perhaps the most exciting play of Pittsburgh's 24-23 preseason loss at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> on Thursday night when he took a third-quarter pass from quarterback <span>Jerrod Johnson</span> 57 yards for a touchdown. He finished the night as the Steelers' leading receiver, with two catches for 65 yards and that score.</p>
<p>After the game, starting quarterback <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> was impressed by the young wideout's efforts and skills, according to<a target="_blank" href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/three-offensive-players-leave-early-because-of-injuries-in-loss-648449/"> Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a>.</p>
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<p>"He is explosive," Roethlisberger said of the rookie. "He brings a lot to the table, and you never know what you are going to get. You just give him the ball and you sit there and watch because he is explosive and fun."</p>
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<p>Rainey was a dual threat at Florida last season, racking up 861 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while catching 31 passes for 381 yards and two scores. Pittsburgh uses a fifth round pick to select the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Lakeland, Fla. native in April's NFL Draft.</p>
<p><i>For the latest on the Steelers, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh and check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind the Steel Curtain</a>, SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> blog. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/10/3233485/steelers-vs-eagles-ben-roethlisberger-chris-raineyFTG18552012-08-09T23:15:27-04:002012-08-09T23:15:27-04:00David Johnson Injury: Steelers Tight End Suffers 'Severe' Knee Injury
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<p>Steelers tight end David Johnson left in the first quarter of the first preseason game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> on Thursday night, and according to head coach Mike Tomlin, he could be out for a considerable amount of time. Johnson suffered a knee injury that Tomlin would characterize as "severe" after the game. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/MarkKaboly_Trib/status/233759528720683009">Via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</a>:</p>
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<p>Tomlin: DJ severe knee injury. Adams less significant. Dwyer AC sprain.</p>
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) <a data-datetime="2012-08-10T02:59:49+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly_Trib/status/233759528720683009">August 10, 2012</a>
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<p>While the Mike Adams and <span>Jonathan Dwyer</span> injuries create less cause for concern, it does appear that Johnson could be lost for a significant portion, it not all, of the upcoming 2012 season.</p>
<p><i>For the latest on the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>, be sure to <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" target="_blank">check out Behind the Steel Curtain.</a>Still not enough football for you? Head over to the <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation NFL Hub Page </a></i><i>for all the latest news from all 32 teams through the preseason and regular season.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/9/3232514/steelers-injuries-david-johnson-mike-adams-jonathan-dwyer-updateBrendan Porath