Sean Spence 'significantly ahead' of where Steelers thought he would be!

[katmandu]

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014/3/7/5481650/sean-spence-injury-report-status-condition-2014-season-steelers


Justin K. Aller

Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac tweeted Friday linebacker Sean Spence appears to be on the road to recovery, and adds some fuel to speculation that Larry Foote was released because Spence will be able to compete for a starting position in training camp.

Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac tweeted Friday linebacker Sean Spence (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/155200/sean-spence) appears to be on the road to recovery, and adds some fuel to speculation that Larry Foote (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1596/larry-foote) was released because Spence will be able to compete for a starting position in training camp.

Steelers (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) linebacker Sean Spence is "significantly ahead" in his rehabilitation efforts from a devastating 2012 knee injury, according to Post-Gazette reporter Sean Spence.
Spence suffered a major knee injury at the end of the preseason in 2012, and has not appeared in a game yet since the Steelers selected him in the third round of that year's draft.

It's easy to speculate at this point Spence's condition could have led the Steelers to decide to release veteran linebacker Larry Foote, but considering nerve damage was involved, and Spence's attempt to get back on the active roster last year after spending the first three months of the season on the PUP list failed, his ability to compete in training camp should be considered a blessing, not an expectation.

If he can, though, he can expect to compete with second-year LB Vince Williams for playing time alongside Lawrence Timmons (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/16797/lawrence-timmons), and whatever may come out of the draft and free agency.

[fansince'76]

"Significantly ahead " of where they thought he'd be? It's been almost two freaking years now. I'll remain cautiously optimistic, and that's about it. I remember hearing a bunch of rosey reports about his recovery last year too. I still expect them to have to turn to the draft or FA as backfill for Foote's departure, if not turn around and re-sign Foote again for less.

[Dwinsgames]

"Significantly ahead " of where they thought he'd be? It's been almost two freaking years now. I'll remain cautiously optimistic, and that's about it. I remember hearing a bunch of rosey reports about his recovery last year too. I still expect them to have to turn to the draft or FA as backfill for Foote's departure, if not turn around and re-sign Foote again for less.

the dead money on releasing foote makes it kind of tough , even at bottom $ vet min using the rule in last cba that was linked in the other thread still only makes him slightly less exp than it would have been to keep him , that being said I think they have come to terms with moving on ...

I liked Larry ( many did not ) he was a solid player and you need a bunch of those kind of guys to be a contender as not everyone can be a super star

[Dwinsgames]

all that being said I am not more sure Spence is the answer even is 100% as an every down ILB for this team , for me a 3rd down specialist is probably all we can expect and that is if he is 100% and I have some doubts to that with nerve damage but we will see

[stillers4me]

For a guy that some thought would never play again, I'd say that sounds promising. He must be showing something pretty good for the Steelers to still be holding on to him. He broke his handor finger or something last year when he started practicing, I think that's why they shut him down right away. Better to give that knee more time. Could possibly be one the greatest comeback stories of the year. A win/win for everybody. I'm really rooting for the kid.

[Shoes]

For a guy that some thought would never play again, I'd say that sounds promising. He must be showing something pretty good for the Steelers to still be holding on to him. He broke his handor finger or something last year when he started practicing, I think that's why they shut him down right away. Better to give that knee more time. Could possibly be one the greatest comeback stories of the year. A win/win for everybody. I'm really rooting for the kid.

I agree Sue. I remember last year Butler had some negative words about Spence's return and Tomlin fired back an exact opposite story in return. It did seem like he made very good progress last year. Makes me wonder about Butler though. I would think as a LB coach you would be as positive as possible in public about an injured players recovery... At least for the players sake.

[steelreserve]

As far as I'm concerned, if we're talking about Spence, "significantly ahead of where we thought he would be" basically just means he's not dead.

[fansince'76]

the dead money on releasing foote makes it kind of tough , even at bottom $ vet min using the rule in last cba that was linked in the other thread still only makes him slightly less exp than it would have been to keep him , that being said I think they have come to terms with moving on ...

I liked Larry ( many did not ) he was a solid player and you need a bunch of those kind of guys to be a contender as not everyone can be a super star

Thanks, I honestly wasn't sure what the cap implications were for Foote. And I agree, I liked him too.

[stillers4me]

I liked Foote, too. Guys like Larry Foote and James Farrior don't come around everyday. Good reliable players, with great work ethic and mentality that are model locker room leaders and mentors. It's sad seeing them all go. I hardly recognize this team anymore.

[Dwinsgames]

Thanks, I honestly wasn't sure what the cap implications were for Foote. And I agree, I liked him too.

yea the way I am looking at it , his dead money is something like ( from memory so don't quote me on exact figures ) like 575k vet min even using the new cba rule about what would count against the cap was something like 650k add those two figures together and it only saves 100k from what he was getting paid prior to cutting him , seems like a lot of work for 100k savings and then not having him in the building to manage his recovery from season ending surgery you might be on the losing end ...

he will be missed

[katmandu]

He broke his handor finger or something last year when he started practicing, I think that's why they shut him down right away.He broke his hand, Wheaton broke "another" finger.

There's a whole lot of Steeler fans that do NOT know the Spence broke his hand and "assume" that it was Spence's knee that put him on IR last year.

[Dwinsgames]

He broke his hand, Wheaton broke "another" finger.

There's a whole lot of Steeler fans that do NOT know the Spence broke his hand and "assume" that it was Spence's knee that put him on IR last year.


I knew it , but one last time for the record...

1) I was not all that keen on Spence as a 3 down Linebacker in the 3-4 prior to injury

2) post injury as extreme as it was I think it is a stretch to believe he will be the same player ( so less inclined to believe he can be a 3 down LB in the 3-4 )

3) 2 years of rust is a TON for a guy who barely has 1 training camp under his belt in 3 seasons

so while I wish the kid the best , and hope he proves me wrong I am just not going to load that basket full of all the eggs from the hen house

[stillers4me]

This is a guy who is working extremely hard to come back......whether he makes it or not, he has my utmost respect. He copuld have just given up. From what I've seen, these places make bootcamp look like kindergarten recess. Something tells me he's going to make it.

Sean Spence Working Out At Bommarito Performance Systems
Feb. 13, 2014
According to Mark Kaboly of the Tribune-Review, Sean Spence is working out in Florida, at Bommarito Performance Systems. If you’re not familiar with BPS, it’s a highly regarded athletic training facility in Miami, FL. Big name NFL players have utilized their services including Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, and Steelers Running Back Jonathan Dwyer (http://thesteelersfans.com/57/jonathan-dwyer-will-make-mouths-drop-at-camp/).

The Steelers placed Spence on Injured Reserve (http://thesteelersfans.com/1040/steelers-to-place-sean-spence-on-ir/) during the first week of November. He had a 3 week window to show the coaching staff he was ready to return, but broke his finger after he returned to practice........


Read more~ http://thesteelersfans.com/1821/sean-spence-working-out-at-bommarito-performance-systems/#ixzz2vLJCu6Gs