Steelers notebook: Green, Phillips on PUP
The Steelers placed tight end Ladarius Green and wide receiver Shakim Phillips on the PUP list, and rookie defensive tackle Devaunte Sigler onto the non-football injury list on the day players reported Thursday to St. Vincent College.
Green, one of the Steelers' more prominent signings in unrestricted free agency in recent years, is recovering from ankle surgery. Phillips, who spent his rookie 2015 season on the Steelers practice squad, as he works back from a sports hernia injury. And rookie defensive tackle Sigler found his way onto the PUP list because, as Tomlin put it, he “was less than highly conditioned.”
The Steelers held their annual conditioning run test late Thursday afternoon on Chuck Noll Field. Tomlin addressed reporters immediately after.
Despite speculation he might be placed on the PUP list after sitting out much of the Steelers' summer practices, second-year cornerback Senquez Golson (undisclosed soft tissue injury) was not placed on the list. Golson missed his rookie 2015 season because of a shoulder injury.
Colbert, Kahn promoted to VP
The two men atop the Steelers' football operations hierarchy recently received promotions.
Kevin Colbert and Omar Kahn now have the title of “vice president” added to their titles.
Colbert, who was previously simply “general manager” is now “vice president and general manager.” Kahn is now “vice president of football and business administration” in lieu of previously being listed as “director of football and business administration.”
Several other members of the organization also were given the title of vice president.
Characteristic of how they've done business, the Steelers did not formally announce the changes; they simply updated their website, and the new media guide released Thursday included the changes.
DeCastro: no extension talks
Guard David DeCastro said “nothing's been talked about on either side” in regards to a contract extension. DeCastro was an Al-Pro last season, his fourth in the NFL, and the Steelers last summer picked up their fifth-year contract option on him.
DeCastro is scheduled to make $8.07 million this season under the terms of that option unless a long-term extension can be worked out before the Steelers self-imposed deadline of the regular-season opener Sept. 12.
“It's a business. That's the way it is,” DeCastro said of negotiations, which he said he will stay out of and let his agent handle. “Both sides have got to do that and play their little game — whatever works. I'm just here to play ball.”
DeCastro said he has explored taking out an insurance policy before the season starts to guard against injury during his contract year.
Dupree slimmer, faster
Outside linebacker Bud Dupree said his weight is down to 254 pounds. The 6-foot-4 Dupree played about 20 pounds heavier than that last season after being the Steelers' first-round pick.
Tomlin attributed Dupree's slimmer physique to a phenomenon in which many rookies enter the NFL too large but soon recognize that quickness is often more important at the pro level.
Report: Bryant tries coaching
ESPN reported suspended wide receiver Martavis Bryant will spend the year in Henderson, Nev., training and volunteering with an as-yet-undisclosed high school football team.
Citing one of Bryant's agents, Thomas Santanello, Bryant also will train five days a week at Van Hook Sports Performance and serve at local hospitals at least once a week.
Bryant is suspended for the entire season after multiple violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Chris Adamski and Mark Kaboly are Tribune-Review staff writers. Adamski can be reached at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib. Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MarkKaboly_Trib.
