Who Will Replace Willie Colon?

Tony Hills.

Hills has been with the Steelers for the last three years. He has not even had the ability to push for even the main back up spot, let alone compete for a starting job. He is not a real option.

Chris Scott.

Scott joined the Pittsburgh Steelers  in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Though he has potential, he is not really an option at this point. He has not even put pads on, so odds are, he is not going to be lining up in the starting role.

Jonathan Scott.

Jonathan Scott joined the Pittsburgh Steelers  this year, on a one year contract. He was a free agent from the Buffalo Bills. J. Scott was brought in to compete for a back up role, more than that of a starter.

He will be given a shot to prove that he has the ability, but honestly, if he was that good, would Buffalo have just let him walk away with out even a restricted free agent tender?

Best guess is no, so he probably won't be good enough to earn the starting job on the Steelers right side.(Jeff Reed)

 

Jared Gaither, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have done almost everything they can to get rid of Gaither this off season. He is no longer in the Ravens long-term plans with last year's drafting of Michael Oher.

Though the Ravens would not normally be in the market to make a trade with the Steelers, this could be a win/win situation for the Ravens and the Steelers. The Ravens don't want Gaither anymore because at the end of the 2010 season, he will become an unrestricted free agent. They are not going to pay him at the end of the year, and have been wanting to get rid of him all season.

If the Ravens would be willing to give up Gaither for a third-round pick (most compensation offers I have heard of, have been for a fifth-round pick or later), the Steelers could solidify the right side of the offensive line.

 Who Will Replace Willie Colon?Do you think ?

Texans backup quarterback situation similar to most NFL teams

Mike Florio wrote an article for The Sporting News that should serve as a reminder that the Texans are not alone when it comes to questions at backup quarterback.

The article,  "NFL depth chart: Analyzing best, worst backup QBs" takes a look at (in Florio's opinion) the best and worst backup quarterback situations in the league.

Folks in Indy might say backup schmakup since Peyton Manning hasn't  missed a start in his 12 year career.  Indeed, on teams where Manning and similar iron men like Drew Brees and Brett Farve are under center, I could play backup QB and the team would still be a perennial favorite for the Super Bowl. (discount Kerry Collins jersey)

But that eventually catches up to the best of them...

Most fans would probably agree with Florio about the Bears having one of the worst backup QB situations in the league but many would question his choice of Tennessee having one of the best.  Thirty-seven year old cheap Kerry Collins jersey was terrible in six starts last season before being benched in favor of Vince Young.

When breaking down the Texans keys to success this season, Matt Schaub's health is at the top of the list.  Dan Orlovsky disappointed during preseason last year and the Texans were forced to bring in Rex Grossman who quickly took over the number two job.

After practice on OTA Day 5,, coach Kubiak was asked if he is more comfortable with Orlovsky at backup than last year.

"Obviously, I'm more comfortable," said Kubiak.  "He's a better player right now than he was last year. It's a really big camp coming up for him, training camp and stuff. Dan's had some chances in this league, and he's got all of the tools that Matt (Schaub) has. The question is for him, 'Does he continue to progress and get better?' He's been a better player for five days here, and we need that to continue for the team."

Aside from Orlovsky having a full year of experience in the Texans system, is there any reason to believe he will be any better this year than he was last year?  Let's just hope we don't have to find out.  Six year vets typically don't flip a switch and get good all of a sudden.

But there's a chance you'll feel better about the Texans backup QB situation if you take a few minutes to look over the list below - if nothing else because it's clear the Texans are not alone when it comes to questions at the QB2 position.

Jeff Fisher on Chris Johnson: 'He's under contract right now'

In the latest salvo in the contract dispute between the Tennessee Titans and star running back Chris Johnson, Titans coach Jeff Fisher issued a sharp reply when asked about Johnson saying he would like $30 million to $40 million in guaranteed money.

"So would I," Fisher said. "You know he's under contract right now."

Chris Johnson has been skipping the entire offseason program.

He has said he would like to be the highest paid offensive player in the game.

Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt has said that the team expects Johnson to honor his contract.

"I'm not going into my relationship with him, whether I've talked with him or not," Fisher said. "This is something I feel will eventually get worked out."

Eventually, though, doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon.

McCloughan's title not yet known

Former San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan did not have to look far for his next NFL job.

McCloughan, 39, plans to stay within the NFC West as part of the Seattle Seahawks' personnel team. His hiring to a senior personnel position is not yet official, but the Seahawks are expected to make an announcement this week. McCloughan's precise title was not yet known.

"It's huge for us because Scot is one of the most respected personnel people in the league," Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Monday. "He played a critical role in helping the Seahawks become a Super Bowl team [in 2005] and did a great job in rebuilding the 49ers over the last few years."

McCloughan was the Seahawks' college scouting director when the 49ers hired him in 2005. He cited undisclosed personal reasons for his departure from the 49ers in March. The team called McCloughan's departure a mutual parting.

McCloughan's imminent hiring in Seattle adds another layer of intrigue to a rivalry that continues when the teams play one another in the regular-season opener. The Seahawks already hired just-retired 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich as an assistant coach this offseason, while the 49ers snapped up Seahawks offensive line coach Mike Solari after Seattle targeted Alex Gibbs to fill the role.

The 49ers considered adding Solari a coup because the highly regarded line coach had worked with San Francisco offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye in Kansas City, and the 49ers had wanted to hire him previously. The Seahawks feel the same way about adding McCloughan, who has strong roots in the organization and with Schneider.

McCloughan and Schneider broke into the NFL together under former Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf in the early 1990s. They worked together with the Seahawks in 2000. They are similar in age and overall approach; both are known to relish the grunt work of personnel evaluation.

"We're very fortunate to add someone of Scot's caliber," Schneider said. "Scot is not only an experienced leader but he is also extremely loyal."

McCloughan has not disclosed the reasons for his departure from the 49ers other than to tell Sirius radio that "family needs to come first and I lost sight of that with my position at the 49ers."

The role McCloughan fills in Seattle will be more narrowly focused than the wider-ranging GM role he left behind in San Francisco.