Ed Bouchette: I'm at sunny Saint Vincent awaiting your question as much as a soak in a whirlpool after this morning's tough first practice.

HinesWizzle: How did they look this morning?

Ed Bouchette: Pretty good. All dressed up in their helmets and jerseys and shoulder pads. Coach Mike Tomlin wore all black.

GjSteel: Hi Ed, after the Colts gave Dwight Freeney..that ridiculous contract...was there a worry inside the Steeler organization..that Troy..would have increased his salary demands?

Ed Bouchette: maybe he did increase them. Doesn' t matter, that's a what-if that no longer applies.

Justin_K: Do you think Clark Haggans will finally be relieved of his starting job this season? He continues to underproduce.

Ed Bouchette: I expect Haggans to start and rookie LaMarr Woodley to play on passing downs as a rusher. Woodley has looked good, big, physical. Tomlin would like to give those starters a break too.

Gametime: It seems there are some on the team with internal conflicts - Obviously Alan Faneca is upset and there have been reports on Hines Ward expressing some ill comments. I know it is very early but is there any evidence this is being a negative at camp?

Ed Bouchette: I think you've been reading old news. Ward no longer seems to have a problem and Faneca's position has been written and talked about to death. Nothing ever goes smoothly, either.

LA_Steeler_Lover: I read an article this morning showing the current 'power'rankings in the NFL and the Steelers were no where to be found - what's your take - are we that weak this year?

Ed Bouchette: I'd put them in the upper third to middle.

Parkersburger: What made the first day of practice so tough?

Ed Bouchette: Lot of physical play.

Boots: What is the absolute best we can expect coming into this season?

Ed Bouchette: Coming into it? Everyone healthy and ready to go. At the end of it? A Super Bowl victory.

steeeeeefullll: How does Barlow look? Is he running yet?

Ed Bouchette: He looked OK in this morning's practice, looked good on the pass protection drill against the linebackers.

gametime: Was the timing of Troy's contract meant to send a message to Faneca?

Ed Bouchette: I think it was timed for the opening of training camp because I believe they could have finished it last week if they wanted. I don't think they worried about the timing as far as Faneca, but I do believe they were happy that Troy's new contract stole Alan's thunder on the first day.

IzzyB: Do you think a tougher camp is what the Steelers need after a poor season?

Ed Bouchette: I think the new coach wants to establish a tone early in this camp. All coaches do that. I think what they need to do is play better and however that develops, if it develops, will be a good thing for them.

Steelerzfan: Ed, what do you think of the ease of the running drills yesterday?

Ed Bouchette: It was OK with me. I was tired of watching all those 40-yard sprints. Really, after today's practice, that run test mattered little.

steeeeeefullll: Is Tomlin really a tough coach or is it all hype?

Ed Bouchette: He's not a Tom Coughlin-tough guy. His practices are tough, at least this first one was, and he's no-nonsense in many ways, but he's also upbeat and seems to get along with his players.

LA_Steeler_Lover: It seems to me that in recent times we have made efforts to improve/solidify many aspects of the team except the OL line. Now with the Faneca situation and all how do think our OL line will shape up?

Ed Bouchette: That O-Line should be intriguing, first to see if any of these young guys can knock off a veteran starter, and second to see how they deploy their depth. Will Willie Colon play guard and tackle so he will be active on game day? What happens if Okobi does not win the center's job, do they cut him? Ask him to take a cut in his $2 m salary?

steeeeeefullll: Will the Steelers finish better than 7-9?

Ed Bouchette: Why, you want to put a bet down? I would say yes, but I never thought they'd go as low as 8-8 last season after a Super Bowl. I think they'll be decent this year, a playoff contender.

Eric: I have not heard Tomlin talk about switching to 4-3 or cover 2 at all, yet speculation is rampant. What do you see happening both this year and into the future?

Ed Bouchette: Again, old news. Tomlin has talked about sticking with the 3-4 since March.

Justin_K: Do you foresee Big Ben bouncing back to have a big year? Or do you believe he will struggle again with the added responsibilities?

Ed Bouchette: I think he'll bounce back. How big is another question. He showed in his first two seasons he has the ability and I think he wants to show it again. He'll need help around him as well.

Jtown: Ed, since Cowher is gone, is Ike out of the "dog house"? Do you think he'll be the "comeback" player of the year, or is that solely on the shoulders of Ben?

Ed Bouchette: Ike did not get into the dog house until later in the year because he did not perform up to Bill Cowher's expectations. He's been re-established as a starter and must continue to perform to keep that job.

steeeeeefullll: Ben looked like he is in good shape...has he been as dedicated in the off season as people have been reporting?

Ed Bouchette: I wasn't around him to see how dedicated he was but the coaches believe he did work harder and Ben did say he was in his bes shape. We'll see.

BGI: Is there any indication Coach Tomlin is 'tinkering' with the 3-4?

Ed Bouchette: Coaches always tinker. It's in their job description. Brett Keisel will be the most obvious tinker-ee, moving all over the defense.

Justin_K: Keeping with the linebacker questions, do you believe Joey Porter will be missed on the field?

Ed Bouchette: No, except perhaps on the depth chart. He underperformed on the field. He was a good leader, and that may affect them a little, but I think James Harrison will surprise some people. They just develop some depth, however, because Harrison was excellent as the No. 3.

gametime: Has the groin injury Timmons had earlier cleared up or is this still a problem?

Ed Bouchette: Everyone says he is 100 percent, including Lawrence Timmons. He got through this morning's practice OK.

Jon: What is wrong with Santonio Holmes?

Ed Bouchette: No one's saying. I don't think it's a big deal. I asked Santonio today and he told me he could not tell me.

GjSteel: The projected salary cap is going to $116 million -- isn't it true the Steelers can basically pay who ever they want ... they just choose not to give Faneca the number he is looking for?

Ed Bouchette: Oh, they could give Faneca MORE than he wants, if they wanted to. Then, when it comes time to pay Ben his big contract next year or sign some other good, young player to a long-term deal, they may not be able to come up to their price because of the salary cap. Remember, no matter what the salary cap, it's still a pie to be divvied up among the players. Not all players can get what they want because the pie will never be that big.

Gilbert_Gottfried: More cliches, Tomlin or Cowher?

Ed Bouchette: Cowher, although he fractured them many times. I wish I had written them all down, like the day he thought the Raiders were trying to circumcise a rule.

choppers: Through the mini-camps & OTA's, have any of the rookies impressed the coaches?

Ed Bouchette: LaMarr Woodley.

Wexford_Wag: Do you think the offense can really rebound this season when Coach Arians says he will run still run 60% of the "old" offense? Also, what is his reputation around the league as a coach? Coach Cowher never mentioned him much.

Ed Bouchette: Bruce Arians is a good, veteran offensive coach with a good track record. The "new" Cleveland Browns had their only good season when he was their coordinator and they were scoring like crazy.

D: Do you think the Steelers are at their best when their the underdog like they are coming into this season?

Ed Bouchette: You mean like 1975 or 1979? Or, after coming off that 15-1 season and then winning a Super Bowl in the 2005 season? No.

Stillers.com: Ed, has the battle between Timmons and Harrison begun to un fold yet? If so, who has the upper hand?

Ed Bouchette: Harrison. I think he'll keep the starting job this year.

Brooklyn_Steel: How has Ben looked? Passes on target?

Ed Bouchette: Calm down, there's been one morning practice with plenty to go.

Justin_K: Do you believe Faneca is worth keeping, even at an insane price?

Ed Bouchette: I think Alan Faneca is a great guard, consistent, and a good team player. But it's the team's duty to decide when a player wants to much vs. how much he will contribute over the life of a contract. The team also has other players to worry about. I do think Faneca is worth being among the highest paid guards in the league; unfortunately, he may have to wait until next year to get it somewhere else.

D: Could Dallas Baker be a no.3 or 4 receiving threat this season?

Ed Bouchette: I really don't think so. He's looking at either making it as No. 5/6 receiver or practice squad.

fool: How well can we expect the special teams to do this year?

Ed Bouchette: If they produce the way they practice, they should be great. I've never seen so much attention paid to special teams.

Stefan_Djordjevic: Any truth to the rumors that have Cowher going to Washington and looting the Steelers front office (Colbert and Kahn)?

Ed Bouchette: You mean, as opposed to the rumors of Cowher going to Cleveland? Or the NY Giants? Or Carolina? Or ... Kevin Colbert, by the way, is under contract through 2010 and the Rooneys aren't about to let him go with Bill to another team before that.

crowe7337: Last year, everyone talked about how Willie Parker came into camp much more muscular. Anyone come into camp this year that you can tell has worked hard this off-season?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, Levon Kirkland looks good. He dropped a lot of weight since he balooned up after his playing days. He's in camp for a week as a scouting intern. I noticed Kendall Simmons more than anyone. He's lost some of his gut and looks trim, yet says he's been able to maintain his overall weight.

Brooklyn_Steel: Is that silly Mascot there and why did the Rooney's get one after all of these years?

Ed Bouchette: No, haven't seen him. Hope not to. Someone lost their head when they agreed to that.

Jerry_Micco: Ed, how often do you hangout at Sharkys?

Ed Bouchette: Had 2 beers there last night.

RR2: I have heard a lot of people around here talk about Big Ben and the offense will struggle this year. I feel if they use the two tight end formations this could be a good year for them. Do you agree?

Ed Bouchette: I hope they don't use too many tight ends. One or two is way more than enough.

da1130: Will Mahan start @ guard or center?

Ed Bouchette: I believe Mahan was brought here to start at center. It's up to Chukky Okobi to disprove that.

SteelCity: What are the chances Cedrick Wilson gets cut? He looked soft last year and if Reid and Washington step up is there any need to keep him on the team?

Ed Bouchette: I would be stunned if Wilson were cut. He should be their No. 3 receiver, at worst No. 4, a good, quick veteran who can get deep.

GjSteel: Do you think Anthony Smith beats out Ryan Clark?

Ed Bouchette: That will depend on Smith and Clark over the next few weeks, truly, because the coach has an open mind about it.

steeler_fan88: Any chance that we get any deals done for our other players in the last year of their contracts?

Ed Bouchette: They actually may try, but I don't think it will happen.

Ed Bouchette: Thanks for the many questions, and the quality. We'll do it again next week. In the meantime, send me questions for my daily Q&A and watch for our new daily video production from camp.