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Veteran TE visits Steelers
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Leonard Pope, a 6-foot-8 tight end who has shadowed Todd Haley from Arizona to Kansas City, has followed the Steelers new offensive coordinator to Pittsburgh -- at least for a visit today.
Pope has become only the second known unrestricted free agent to visit the Steelers this year. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him on the third round from Georgia in 2006. He played there for Haley when he was Arizona's offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008.
Haley became Kansas City's head coach in 2009 and after the Cardinals cut Pope that September, the Chiefs signed him. He started 10 games for the Chiefs last season, when he caught 24 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. In his six-year NFL career, Pope has 101 receptions for 973 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Steelers are searching for a No. 2 tight end behind Heath Miller. Wesleye Saunders, a rookie last season, has been suspended for the first four games of 2012 for violating the league's rule on the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Steelers also have another tight end visiting them today, one of three draft prospects: Missouri tight end Michael Egnew, Akiem Hicks, who played college football at Regina in Canada, and linebacker Nick Perry of Southern Cal.
Each team is permitted 30 visits by prospects before the NFL draft.
First Published April 10, 2012 12:48 pm
