Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 6.1.2010
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Ed Bouchette: Welcome back for today's chat. Steelers finished up their practice about 90 minutes ago, their first with Ben Roethlisberger back at quarterback. Fire away.
ProfessorFlush: Thoughts on the number of kickers in camp this year? Is this the year of IMPROVED special teams?
Ed Bouchette: I don't think the number of kickers (2) and punters (2) and long-snappers (2) on the 90-man spring roster has anything to do with improving special teams. they'd like to improve that kickoff coverage, for sure.
screenwriter: Ed, Any progress with contracts for this rookie class?
Ed Bouchette: None that I've heard, but that's rarely been a problem here. Almost always they have all rookies under contract entering training camp.
Polamalu43: Ed, Did Ben address the team yet?
Ed Bouchette: Not today. He did so back on April 19. According to a number of players, today was a normal day, nothing unusual. Ben ran the first team; Byron Leftwich was not here because of a previous commitment. Ben did not talk and Mike Tomlin had to leave practice early to attend to something on the outside and he did not talk either. Requests to talk to coordinator and QB coach were turned down.
Steelman: Hi Ed if we get to the end of Bens suspension with 4 healthy QB's can Dennis Dixon go back on the developmental squad without clearing waivers?
Ed Bouchette: No. It's called the practice squad now and a player must be waived first. Plus, once he's on that squad, any other team can sign him to a 53-man contract if the player is willing to sign.
Amos_P_Swanson: Though he didn't speak to the media....How did Ben seem today?
Ed Bouchette: One of his teammates said he had butterflies before practice. He seemed relaxed and was smiling during the stretching, warmup stuff. I saw him afterward and he also seemed pleasant, almost at ease. I do know he wants to change, not just his image, but he wants to change how he acts and how he treats people. This is going to be a long, ongoing story that took one more step today.
First Published June 1, 2010 2:37 pm
