Steelers coach Mike Tomlin
– Photo by Chaz Palla
CHARLOTTE, N.C – This is the time of the year that you hear NFL coaches talk about how some cutting their roster to 53 was quite a difficult things to do.
For the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, you shouldn’t hear him say that because about the only choice he has to make from now and until the 53-man roster needs to be in place by Saturday at 4 p.m is whether or not he’s going to keep 11 linebackers or six cornerbacks.
So, without any fanfare, here’s my 53-man roster that initially will be in place (there will be an addition or two, like tight end and corner, after the rest of the league’s cuts circle through.) By the way, there is a misnomer that a team HAS to keep 10 offensive linemen or 10 linebackers. As long as they feel they can get their guys on the practice squad, there is no use in forcing them on the 53-man roster.
QB (3) – Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Zach Mettenberger
RB (4) – DeAngelo Williams, Fitz Toussaint, Daryl Richardson, Roosevelt Nix (Le’Veon Bell goes on suspended list)
WR (5) – Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Eli Rogers, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates.
TE (3) – Jesse James, Xavier Grimble, David Johnson (Could bring in a free agent tight end)
OL (8) – Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Ramon Foster, Alejandro Villanueva, Marcus Gilbert, Ryan Harris, Cody Wallace, Chris Hubbard.
DL (7) – Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Ricardo Mathews, L.T. Walton, Daniel McCullers, Javon Hargrave, Lavon Hooks
OLB (5) – James Harrison, Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats, Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo
ILB (5) – Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, Steven Johnson, L.J. Fort
CB (6) – William Gay, Ross Cockrell, Artie Burns, Doran Grant, Donald Washington, Montell Garner (Could bring in a free agent cornerback).
S (4) – Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden, Shamarko Thomas, Sean Davis
PK (1) – Chris Boswell
P (1) – Jordan Berry (Could bring in a free agent punter)
LS (1) – Greg Warren
