The Steelers have re-signed 29-year old WR Jerricho Cotchery.  Cotchery played in 13 games for the Steelers last year and he caught 16 passes for 237 yards (14.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 116 games in his first eight years in the NFL and he has caught 374 passes for 4,751 yards (12.7 avg) with 20 TD grabs.  Cotchery should see more targets in 2012 with Hines Ward out of the picture.

The Steelers have signed 28-year old TE Leonard Pope to a 1-year deal.  Pope played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last year and he caught 24 passes for 247 yards (10.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 87 games in his first six years in the NFL and he has caught 102 passes for 973 yards (9.5 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  Pope always seems to find his way to whatever team Steelers’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley turns up as he played under him in Arizona and Kansas City.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been do nothing this off-season, except for cutting veteran players.  They are right against the salary cap, so don’t expect any big signings any time soon.  Here is a look at what the Steelers have done so far this off-season:

Offensively:  The Steelers have re-signed OG Ramon Foster, and that was a good move for them.  They have also signed QB Troy Smith and WR Derrick Williams, but neither of them have much of an upside.  Smith could be the Steelers’ #2 QB in 2012 if Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon all decide to fly the coop.

Defensively:  The only defensive player the Steelers have added this off-season is CB Walter McFadden.  He is not much of a player.

GRADE SO FAR THIS OFF-SEASON:  F-

The Steelers have re-signed 26-year old RG Ramon Foster to a 1-year deal.  Foster played in 15 games (14 starts) for the Steelers last year.  He has now played in 41 games (26 starts) in his first three years in the NFL.  Foster really improved last year, so it was smart of them to keep him for 2012.

The Steelers have released 37-year old inside linebacker James Farrior.  Farrior played in 14 games for the Steelers last year and he had 78 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 passes defensed.  Farrior played in 154 games in his 10 years with the Steelers and he had 1,080 tackles, 30 sacks, 53 tackles for a loss, 12 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 8 interception (1 returned for a TD) and 54 passes defensed.  The bloodletting continues in Pittsburgh as the Steelers struggle to get into good salary cap position.

The Steelers have released 35-year old DE Aaron Smith.  Smith played in 4 games for the Steelers last year and he had 8 tackles.  Smith played in 160 games in his 13 years with the Steelers and he had 453 tackles, 44 sacks, 40 tackles for a loss, 7 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 20 passes defensed.  The Steelers will likely let Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward duke it out in training camp to replace Smith.

The Steelers have released 29-year old OG Chris Kemoeatu.  He played in 13 games (8 starts) for the Steelers last year.  He played in 75 games (53 starts) in his seven years with the Steelers.  The Steelers are probably better off without Chris Kemoeatu, as he didn’t block too well last year.

The Steelers have released 35-year old WR Hines Ward.  Ward played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Steelers last year and he caught 46 passes for 381 yards (8.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He played in 217 games (190 starts) in his fourteen years with the Steelers and he caught 1,000 passes for 12,083 yards (12.1  avg) with 85 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 57 times for 428 yards (7.5 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Steelers.  Ward finishes his career with the Steelers as their all-time leader in catches (1,000), receiving yards (12,083) and TD grabs (85).  Ward is also #8 in NFL history in receptions, #18 in receiving yards and he is tied for #13 in TD receptions with Paul Warfield and Lance Alworth.  The Steelers are going to miss Ward’s dependable hands and his blocking down field in the running game.

UPDATE:  (3/20/2012) – Hines Ward has decided to retire.

The Steelers have released 31-year old WR Arnaz Battle.  Battle played in 10 games for the Steelers last year but he didn’t catch any passes.  He did have four tackles as he was almost used exclusively on special teams.  He played in 25 games in his two years with the Steelers and he didn’t have any catches but he did have 13 tackles.  Battle has played in 113 games in his first 10 years in the NFL and he has caught 178 passes for 2,150 yards (12.1 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  Battle also has rushed for 77 yards on 22 carries (3.5 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career so far.  Battle made his mark on special teams as he has 46 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries in this career so far.  He has also returned 64 punts for 446 yards (7.0 avg) with 1 TD return and he has returned 22 kickoffs for 441 yards (20.0 avg) in his NFL career.  I think the Steelers will be able to get along o.k. without Arnaz Battle in 2012.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released 30-year old CB Bryant McFadden.  McFadden played in 13 games for the Steelers last year and he had 10 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 1 pass defensed.  He has played in 80 games in six years for the Steelers and he has 226 tackles, 43 passes defensed, 9 interceptions (one returned for a TD), 2 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.  This is kind of odd as the Steelers just signed McFadden’s brother last week.  But, it does save the Steelers a lot of money against the salary cap.