Kevan Barlow was hoping to make it a clean sweep, playing football in high school, college and the National Football League in his hometown.

Yesterday, the dream ended.

Barlow, who played at Pitt and Peabody High School, was one of 10 players cut by coach Mike Tomlin as the Steelers reduced their roster to 75 players.

They have to get to the 53-player limit by 11 a.m. Saturday.

Also cut were punter Mike Barr, kicker Connor Hughes, wide receivers Eric Fowler and Dan Sheldon, defensive end Derrick Jones, running back Larry Croom, long-snapper Jared Retkofsky, center Donovan Raiola and linebacker Richard Koonce,

Curiously, Barlow carried four times for 14 yards and scored the Steelers' final offensive touchdown on a 1-yard run in their 27-13 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night. Barlow, the seventh-leading rusher in Pitt history with 2,438 yards, could not be reached for comment.

Barlow's departure means that fullback Dan Kreider, halfback Verron Haynes and fullback John Kuhn are the candidates believed to be competing for the fifth and final running back spot.

Barlow, a seven-year NFL veteran who was a third-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 2001, was signed to a one-year contract in May that would have paid him $595,000 plus a $40,000 roster bonus this season.

He spent last season with the New York Jets after spending his first five seasons with the 49ers. But the Jets released him for salary-cap purposes, and the Steelers signed him as a possible third-down back behind Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport.

Barlow's best season came when he led the 49ers with 1,024 yards rushing and averaged 5.1 yards per carry in 2003. He has 3,984 yards rushing, a 3.9-yard average per carry and 144 receptions in his NFL career.

Keisel fined

Defensive end Brett Keisel said yesterday he will appeal a $12,500 fine he received from the NFL for his low hit that injured Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell in an Aug. 18 preseason game in Landover, Md.

A league spokesman said Keisel was fined for roughing the passer on a play in the first quarter in which he also was assessed a 15-yard penalty. Keisel appeared to lunge at Campbell after he stumbled to the ground and hit the Redskins' quarterback in the knee area. Campbell sustained a bruised knee and did not return.