The Steelers have released 31-year old WR Antwaan Randle El.  Randle El played in all 16 games for the Steelers last year and he caught 22 passes for 253 yards (11.5 avg).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards for the Steelers last year.  Randle El also returned 4 punts for 56 yards (14.0 avg) and he also completed both of his pass attempts for 39 yards….and they both went for TDs.  Randle El has played in 80 games (23 starts) in his five years with the Steelers and he caught 184 passes for 2,265 yards (12.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He has carried the ball 55 times for 318 yards (5.8 ypc) for the Steelers.  Randle El returned 182 punts for 1,650 yards (9.1 avg) with 4 TD returns and he also returned 78 kickoffs for 1,742 yards (22.3 avg) with 1 TD return.  Randle El was at his best with the Steelers on trick plays featuring him passing the ball.  Randle El completed 16 of 18 passes (88.9%) for 170 yards with 4 TD passes and 0 INTs (145.6 QB Rating) for the Steelers.  The Steelers should be o.k. without Randle El as they have a lot of good young receivers on the roster.

The Steelers have released 29-year old OT Max Starks.  Starks played in 7 games (all starts) for the Steelers last year.  He played in 95 games (68 starts) in his 7 years with the Steelers.  The Steelers had offensive line issues last year as a result of injuries.  Starks came to camp in horrible shape, so the Steelers decided to let him go.

The Steelers have finally seen enough of 31-year old kicker Jeff Reed so they have released him.  Reed played in 9 games for the Steelers this year and he made 15 of 22 field goals (68.2%) and 19 of 19 extra points good for 64 points.  Reed played in 127 games in his 9 years with the Steelers and he connected on 204 of 249 field goals (81.9%) and 307 of 310 extra points good for 919 points.  Reed always seemed to come up with excuses whenever he missed a kick and his drunken escapades off the field didn’t helps things.  Good riddance I say.

The Steelers have released 30-year old QB Byron Leftwich.  Leftwich just couldn’t stay healthy and the Steelers’ coaching staff appeared to have more faith in Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.  Leftwich could possibly be re-signed next weekend if NT Casey Hampton is healty enough to return to action or if one of the Steelers’ active QBs get injured this week against the Titans. 

UPDATE:  (9/20/2010) – The Steelers have re-signed Byron Leftwich.

The Steelers have released 31-year old center Justin Hartwig.  Hartwig started all 32 games at center in his two years with the Steelers.  They tried to deal him but found no takers before releasing him.  Rookie first round pick Maurkice Pouncey beat Hartwig out for his starting job and that’s likely a huge improvement for the O-Line in 2010.

The Steelers have released 27-year old fullback Dwayne Wright.  Wright carried the ball 8 times for 27 yards (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Steelers this pre-season.  Wright got caught up in a numbers game as the Steelers have a few backs they like more than him.  Even if Wright signs with another team the Steelers won’t miss him one bit.

The Steelers have picked OLB Thaddeus Gibson out of Ohio State with the 116th overall pick (4th round) of the NFL Draft.  Gibson is 6’2″, 245 pounds and he runs a 4.65 40 so he’s a outstanding athlete.  Gibson played in 13 games (all starts) for the Buckeyes last season in which he had 45 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, he had 4 sacks, broke up 1 pass and he had 1 interception.  Gibson played in 35 games (23 starts) in his three years with the Buckeyes and he had 82 tackles, 25 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, he broke up 4 passes and he had 1 interception.  Gibson will need coached up at OLB as he was a DE in college but the Steelers have had a lot of success in converting players like him.  Gibson has a solid upside as he was projected to be picked in the 2nd or 3rd round by most draft experts so the Steelers got nice value with this pick.

UPDATE:  (11/3/2010) – The Steelers have released Thaddeus Gibson.  He didn’t play any games for the Steelers but he was still claimed on waivers by the 49ers.