Big Ben scare a dose of reality for Steelers

All reports indicate the ankle injury that forced Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger to leave practice on a cart Thursday isn’t serious. But it had to put a lump in the throat of Kevin Colbert.

The Steelers’ Director of Football Operations is taking a major gamble by heading into the season with precious little reliable depth behind Big Ben. Byron Leftwich fled town for an opportunity to compete for a starting job in Tampa Bay. That leaves 11-year veteran Charlie Batch, who spent last season on injured reserve, as Roethlisberger’s primary backup.

Leftwich actually played more efficiently than Roethlisberger is several of his five appearances last season, but there’s no arguing the importance of Big Ben’s role in Pittsburgh’s quest to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Batch has thrown just 133 passes in 22 appearances in seven seasons in Pittsburgh. That includes just four starts.

And Batch better be at the ready. The Steelers’ offensive line gave up 49 sacks in 2008 – in part because Roethlisberger fights so hard to keep every play alive. However, that bravado leads to a constant pounding.

Behind Batch is second-year man Dennis Dixon, but the former Oregon Duck is nowhere near being able to lead an NFL offense. At this point in his development, he is being looked at more for a potential Wildcat role – which could land him a spot on the active roster come game days. But Colbert and coach Tom Coughlin certainly don’t want to see Dixon lining up under center for anything more than a few gadget plays in 2009.

Giants' swift move could pay big dividends

With names like Shaun Alexander, Kevin Jones and Ron Dayne still dangling on the unemployment line, it still came as no surprise that general managers took immediate notice when Shane Olivea's four-game suspension was rescinded.

The former starting right tackle for the Chargers was generating interest from multiple teams after he was released Feb. 28. San Francisco was among the known suitors, but interest waned when Olivea was suspended June 20, meaning he would miss the first four games of the 2008 season.

When that decision was overturned Thursday, it only took the Giants a matter of hours to scoop him up with a one-year deal. Olivea lost his job in San Diego in large part because he tends to be streaky, but he does play with a nasty streak. And 26-year-old right tackles who have started 57 of 60 career regular-season games aren't easy to come by in July.

It was a no-brainer for the Giants, who had only inexperienced youngsters Guy Whimper and Adam Koets behind starters David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie. If Diehl or McKenzie went down, Whimper has only limited playing time in two seasons and Koets has yet to see regular-season action. Now the Giants have an outstanding insurance policy in Olivea, a former seventh-round pick who is in his prime.

Jobs of any kind are proving difficult for the trio of running backs to come by. Alexander clearly lost a step -- or two -- during his final two injury-plagued seasons in Seattle, and he and Dayne will have to accept backup roles if they're going to be in the league in 2008.
Jones has been diligently rehabbing from ACL surgery five months ago, and recently held a workout in front of representatives from Miami, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Detroit. He ran the shuttle and cones and caught some passes. If he can prove he is healthy enough to at least participate in non-contact drills by early August, he should end up in someone's camp early enough to compete for significant carries.

Olivea cleared -- and should be coveted

Shaun Alexander, Kevin Jones and Ron Dayne are still searching for work, but Shane Olivea's name will likely be mentioned more than all three combined in the offices of general managers leading up to training camp.

Olivea was cut by San Diego in February after losing his starting right tackle job to rookie Jeromey Clary in November. He was generating interest from San Francisco, among other teams, but didn't sign a deal and was then suspended on June 20 for violating the league's substance abuse program. That meant a team that signed Olivea would be without his services for the first four games of the regular season.

That suspension was rescinded Thursday, and Olivea will be coveted by several teams. He lost his job in San Diego in large part because he tends to be streaky, but Olivea does play with a nasty streak. And 26-year-old right tackles who have started 57 of 60 career regular-season games aren't easy to come by in July.

Expect Olivea to be scooped up quickly by a team looking for him to compete for a starting job.

Jobs of any kind are proving difficult for the trio of running backs to come by. Alexander clearly lost a step -- or two -- during his final two injury-plagued seasons in Seattle, and he and Dayne will have to accept backup roles if they're going to be in the league in 2008.

Jones has been diligently rehabbing from ACL surgery five months ago, and recently held a workout in front of representatives from Miami, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Detroit. He ran the shuttle and cones and caught some passes. If he can prove he is healthy enough to at least participate in non-contact drills by early August, he should end up in someone's camp early enough to compete for significant carries.