Steelers sign Heyward Bey

[Dwinsgames]

We have signed wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to a one-year contract.

[Steelerette]

Looks like Bouchette's gut-feeling is right.

I don't hate it because I know he's not intended to be a #1 or #2 WR. And because the Raiders drafted him we won't feel the pressure to force the issue.

Having him reminds me a lot of having Dwight Stone.

[Psycho Ward 86]

http://www.steelers.com/news/article...6-047d0f0cb380

[Dwinsgames]

Looks like Bouchette's gut-feeling is right.

I don't hate it because I know he's not intended to be a #1 or #2 WR. And because the Raiders drafted him we won't feel the pressure to force the issue.

Having him reminds me a lot of having Dwight Stone.

Dwight " Hands of " Stone

Darrius " slippery fingers " Heyward Bey

1 common thing beyond speed ... unreliable hands

[Steelerette]

In related news, the Steelers are now four cents under the salary cap

[Steelerette]

Dwight " Hands of " Stone

Darrius " slippery fingers " Heyward Bey

1 common thing beyond speed ... unreliable hands

If his hands were going to improve it would have happened by now, it was a problem for him in college too.

But I think what we can hope for is some production on special teams, kick returns. And maybe we run some looks where he does contribute limited offensive production.

Even if I'm not impressed with his potential to catch balls I like it, because these signings say to me that the Steelers:

1) Recognize there were problems
2) Went out to fix them.

Maybe Bey doesn't even make the final roster out of camp. But they're sure going into camp with a lot of competition now, which is more than you could say before, and hopefully something emerges at the bottom of our WR corps.

Brown, Wheaton, Moore, Draft Pick... there will only be one more space that has to be contended for by Justin, Bey, Collins, Moye, and late rounder/udfa. Decent situation.

[steelreserve]

As a #3 or #4 receiver, he might not be bad, and could bring something different to the table. I almost feel bad for the guy - his name is toxic in FA discussions because he's a "Gigantic Draft Bust," but really, Senile Al put a ton of unrealistic expectations on him, and he should never have been drafted that high in the first place. Since we're not a) expecting him to be a #1 receiver with 10 catches and 1,500 yards, or b) paying him correspondingly, it might work out for us.

One thing that is not so good - if we're making this kind of signing, what does it say about our confidence in Wheaton? Perhaps we're thinking he's a bit more of a project than it originally seemed.

Something I do like no matter what, though - they said they were going to shake up the roster this offseason, and they certainly did. We lost a lot of dead weight; now let's see if we found anyone better.

[Dwinsgames]

If his hands were going to improve it would have happened by now, it was a problem for him in college too.

But I think what we can hope for is some production on special teams, kick returns. And maybe we run some looks where he does contribute limited offensive production.

Even if I'm not impressed with his potential to catch balls I like it, because these signings say to me that the Steelers:

1) Recognize there were problems
2) Went out to fix them.

Maybe Bey doesn't even make the final roster out of camp. But they're sure going into camp with a lot of competition now, which is more than you could say before, and hopefully something emerges at the bottom of our WR corps.

Brown, Wheaton, Moore, Draft Pick... there will only be one more space that has to be contended for by Justin, Bey, Collins, Moye, and late rounder/udfa. Decent situation.

probably the plan from the onset , create a competitive environment and let the cream rise to the top all while not going into the draft with glaring " needs "

[st33lersguy]

How much did they sign that Limas clone for? Are they now over the cap?

[one side only]

Looks like Bouchette's gut-feeling is right.

I don't hate it because I know he's not intended to be a #1 or #2 WR. And because the Raiders drafted him we won't feel the pressure to force the issue.

Having him reminds me a lot of having Dwight Stone.

Other than Stone being an UDFA and DHB being a #1 pick, Stone entering the league as a RB, and DHB a WR, and Stone being used almost exclusively as a special-teamer and DHB not, the comparison is spot on.

[86WARD]

Not a chance they signed him for more than $400K...right? Don't like him as a player at all.

[Dwinsgames]

Fastest WR in the 2009 draft that included Mike Wallace , hard to fathom Wallace had the better hands and feel like I lost 10 points off my IQ for saying it ...... but its true

[st33lersguy]

Now the Steelers have signed the top 2 draft picks of the Raiders 2009 draft class that was panned by pretty much everyone following football at the time, granted I like one signing a lot better than the other

[one side only]

Somewhere there is a pundit praising the signing by saying DHB "can take the top off the coverage," or a similarly inane comment.

[Steelerette]

I haven't seen contract details yet but it has to have been mega cheap considering the cap position we were already in.

He should have never been a first rounder, but don't let his "bust" status get in the way of considering:

-very cheap camp body who, if he even makes the team, can contribute on special teams and wide sets

Pretty good signing in that light.

[Steelman]

I don't love this signing, but if Colbert is just covering bases before the draft then I understand it. It's only a one-year deal.

I really thought we had double-dip potential at WR, ala Sanders/Brown, in the draft with how deep the class is this year. But maybe not, or the FO thinks Wheaton and others will step up.

[Steelerette]

I actually see a ton of potential in Jasper Collins and would love to see him make the team as our final WR.

[salamander]

Semi-decent depth signing, imo.

[MrPgh]

Can he return kicks and punts as a 5th WR? If so I'm okay with the signing. But if the Steelers actually think he should be an important piece in the offense and try to use him over a WR they would take in the early rounds of the draft, then I have a big problem with the signing.

[vader29]

So everyone says he is fast and can't catch but the real question is, can he jump?

[Dwinsgames]

Ralph Mancini ‏@ReverendRalph 16m @Dwinsgames DHB was the worst WR in football last yr. Dropped 50% of passes thrown to him & he hears footsteps when a defender is closing in

[steelreserve]

Can he return kicks and punts as a 5th WR? If so I'm okay with the signing. But if the Steelers actually think he should be an important piece in the offense and try to use him over a WR they would take in the early rounds of the draft, then I have a big problem with the signing.

My hope is they don't take a WR in the early rounds of the draft. We've let important parts of our defense go for way too long. We got a temporary solution to some of that in FA, but we still need to do something for the long term.

[tube517]

If his hands were going to improve it would have happened by now, it was a problem for him in college too.

But I think what we can hope for is some production on special teams, kick returns.

This is what I thought. Antonio can't be expected doing PR duty again. Too much risk of injury. But, I couldn't find any return stats for Darrius Heyward-Sweed??? Anywhere.

As a #3 or #4 receiver, he might not be bad, and could bring something different to the table. I almost feel bad for the guy - his name is toxic in FA discussions because he's a "Gigantic Draft Bust," but really, Senile Al put a ton of unrealistic expectations on him, and he should never have been drafted that high in the first place. Since we're not a) expecting him to be a #1 receiver with 10 catches and 1,500 yards, or b) paying him correspondingly, it might work out for us.

One thing that is not so good - if we're making this kind of signing, what does it say about our confidence in Wheaton? Perhaps we're thinking he's a bit more of a project than it originally seemed.

Something I do like no matter what, though - they said they were going to shake up the roster this offseason, and they certainly did. We lost a lot of dead weight; now let's see if we found anyone better.

The next thought that crossed my mind is about Wheaton. Do they have any confidence in him?

[Shoes]

As a #3 or #4 receiver, he might not be bad, and could bring something different to the table. I almost feel bad for the guy - his name is toxic in FA discussions because he's a "Gigantic Draft Bust," but really, Senile Al put a ton of unrealistic expectations on him, and he should never have been drafted that high in the first place. Since we're not a) expecting him to be a #1 receiver with 10 catches and 1,500 yards, or b) paying him correspondingly, it might work out for us.

One thing that is not so good - if we're making this kind of signing, what does it say about our confidence in Wheaton? Perhaps we're thinking he's a bit more of a project than it originally seemed.

Something I do like no matter what, though - they said they were going to shake up the roster this offseason, and they certainly did. We lost a lot of dead weight; now let's see if we found anyone better.

I'm hoping Wheaton does a 180 this year. It is odd, Ben praised him all training camp, saying he was very smart and only needed to be told once and he got it. Hopefully he's not made of glass, I believe he had another finger cut on a few weeks ago. Let's hope he excels this season.

[Mojouw]

I think this move has little to do with Wheaton. It has more to do with Moye, Brown, and whatever flotsam and jetsam is swirling around the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

[Shoes]

I think this move has little to do with Wheaton. It has more to do with Moye, Brown, and whatever flotsam and jetsam is swirling around the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

Probably so, but it still raises questions about Wheaton.

[tube517]

I think this move has little to do with Wheaton. It has more to do with Moye, Brown, and whatever flotsam and jetsam is swirling around the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

I hope DHB can become like Quincy Morgan was in 2005. A flop w/another team but made some key catches during the year as a #4. That would be fine w/me.

[ALLD]

KRs and end around reverses. Check down crossing pattern. What he needs is to get hit a bunch of times to tighten ball security on runs and to knock the fear out of him. If he lasts then throw him a patented Flacco moonball and pray he catches it.

[Mojouw]

Probably so, but it still raises questions about Wheaton.

What questions does it raise about Wheaton? Other than the obvious, he has almost zero NFL game experience. How does DHB signing for what appears to bet the vet minimum (meaning he can be readily cut at almost any point prior to the start of the season) change anything about the below:

1. Brown
2. Wheaton/Moore
3. Moore/Wheaton
4. ?????
5. ?????
6. ?????

That was the depth chart this morning and it still is now. Seriously not trying to be a jerk, but I don't see how DHB and Wheaton are related?

[Psycho Ward 86]

Probably so, but it still raises questions about Wheaton.

lol, RAISES questions? you mean you didnt have questions about Wheaton before this signing? Wheaton is worthless to this team until he proves otherwise. even though it isnt all his fault