Ike Taylor (CB) re-signed. That means the entire starting defense of 2010 will be intact to start 2011. That’s probably a good sign, although I would have been just as happy if they could have bolstered up the secondary with some better talent, as that is definitely the biggest defensive weakness Pittsburgh has.

Shaun Suisham (K) re-signed. Gross. I despise Suisham. There’s a reason he’s been cut from so many other pro teams. Luckily, I did read this morning that he could face some competition for the job from Swayze Waters (whoever that is) who was signed at the end of last year. It’s just going to be hard to get me on board with any kicker to be honest because I loved Jeff Reed so much. I do understand why he had to go, though. He had all kinds of disciplinary problems, which is not the Steelers style, plus he was playing uncharacteristically poorly last year.

Daniel Sepulveda (P) is probably leaving as a free agent. Sadly. I liked him. (Read that in the same article as linked above.)

Max Starks & Randle El cut. I do love Randle El. But we won a Super Bowl without him once. We could surely do it again.

Willie Colon re-signed. Another good thing.

Matt Spaeth (TE) gone. Sad because I liked him, but we have other options to back-up one of my favorite Steelers – Heath Miller.

All four QBs look like they’ll probably be back (Roethlisberger, Leftwich, Batch, and Dixon). This makes me extremely happy, as I like all of these guys and feel comfortable with any of them leading the team at any time. (Dixon is the only free agent and it’s likely the Steelers will re-sign him.)

Breaking news this AM – Flozell Adams was cut too. That’s another starter off the offensive line that needs replacing. Every year the offensive line makes me nervous. Hopefully they can get their act together quickly.

Mewelde Moore (RB) is probably leaving. We’ve still got Mendenhall and Redman, and a couple of guys on the roster who can compete for that third spot, though, so I’m not that worried. Although I do know a few other fans who will be sad to see Mewelde go.

As for the last major issue in the news, I have mixed feelings about Plaxico. I really liked him when he was a Steeler before, and I’m not a huge fan of Emmanuel Sanders so I’m fine with him getting bumped out of the receivers line-up. But this guy is a world class idiot. He just got out of jail because he went to a nightclub wearing sweatpants, had an illegal gun tucked into his sweatpants waistband, and proceeded to accidentally shoot himself in the leg. That’s three strikes – he wore sweatpants to a club, he thought it was safe/acceptable to stick a gun down his sweatpants, and he was too stupid to make sure there was no way he was going to accidentally shoot himself or someone else. But maybe being back in Pittsburgh will tame him again? Maybe New York was just a bad environment for him? I don’t know. He’s also expensive, and by my calculations, the Steelers are probably still over the salary cap. Hopefully he likes the Steelers enough to sacrifice some cash. Otherwise, I won’t be heartbroken if he ends up elsewhere (or nowhere).

There’s all kind of other stuff going on around the league, but nothing that should affect the AFC North all that much. I mean, Ochocinco, Carson Palmer, Willis McGahee and Todd Heap have all been cut or traded (or retired or whatever Palmer is…). The Cleveland offense may have a breakthrough year (I think Colt McCoy will only get better, unlike most super-hyped college QBs), and the Baltimore defense is still strong (but not impossibly so). But I think the division is Pittsburgh’s to lose.

Ahhh I am so excited for some football! First preseason game 2 weeks from today!