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Draft prospect visits Steelers
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mike Thomas, a 5-foot-8 1/2 wide receiver from University of Arizona, became the first college prospect from outside the area to visit the Steelers today.

Thomas earned all-Pac 10 honors last season as a receiver and punt returner. He set the conference record with 259 career receptions and was timed at 4.30 in the 40-yard sprint at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

The Steelers, who lost No. 3 receiver Nate Washington in free agency, would like to draft a receiver with good speed who also could return punts and/or kickoffs for them.

Thomas is the first of 30 prospects the Steelers are permitted to entertain at their facility before the draft.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09090/959538-66.stm

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Prospects now have the attention of Steelers
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers provided a few firsts yesterday. University of Arizona wide receiver Mike Thomas became the first college prospect from outside the area to visit their facility this year, and the team concluded March without signing an outside free agent.

It's the first time in 17 years they've gone the first month of free agency without signing anyone other than their own players to contracts, and unless something unforeseen develops, they won't sign one at least until after the April 25-26 draft.

The Steelers looked at only two unrestricted free agents from other teams at their facility, Chris Carr and Joey Galloway, who signed elsewhere. The club has since turned its attention to the draft.

"Right now as I look at it, it's less about what we need in terms of acquiring and more about the growth and development of the guys that we have here," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We've got to continue to make sure that our guys are on the rise. We've got some guys we're optimistic about what they're capable of doing.

"Optimism and potential are dangerous words. They've got to do it. I'm more excited about that maybe than I am looking at potential acquisitions from outside the team, whether it's through free agency or the draft."

The Steelers have curtailed their activity in free agency through the years. They've signed one player who became a starter in each of the past several years. Last year, it was center Justin Hartwig, although he did not qualify as a true unrestricted free agent because Carolina cut him. In 2007, it was another center, Sean Mahan, who was traded a year later. In 2006, it was safety Ryan Clark. In 2005, it was receiver Cedrick Wilson, although he became No. 3 and not a regular starter. And in 2004, it was halfback Duce Staley.

This year, nothing and it appears it will remain that way.

"Right now," Tomlin said, "I'm just excited about some guys that we believe have bright futures and that are capable of getting better."

The Steelers have begun their offseason workout program with mostly young players, and Tomlin will have two organized team activities for all his players before the draft, as he did last year.

Arizona's Thomas is the first of 30 college prospects the Steelers plan to bring in for closer inspection at their facility. The visits do not include workouts, but mostly longer interviews with players they either have not had a chance to spend much time with or those they want to further inspect.

Thomas, a stocky 5-8Â 1/2, 193-pounder, earned all-Pac-10 honors last season as a receiver and punt returner. He set the conference record with 259 career receptions and was timed at 4.30 seconds in the 40-yard sprint at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

The Steelers, who lost No. 3 receiver Nate Washington in free agency, would like to draft a receiver with good speed who also could return punts and/or kickoffs.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09091/95 ... newspanel2