As expected, the Steelers yesterday signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad. He was released by the Chargers last Saturday. The nine-year veteran played his first four seasons in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers, and has also suited up for the Chiefs, Bills, Saints, and 49ers.
The Steelers will play the Saints at Stade de France, in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, on Sunday. The NFL’s Peter O’Reilly said yesterday that the league is working with French and Parisian authorities and the US State Department to ensure security for the teams in light of the political unrest across the country, and said they’ve had no unusual problems with other sporting events, such as a night-time Champions League soccer match yesterday.
The Saints arrived in Paris yesterday. The Steelers don’t plan to fly out until Thursday night.
Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio says the travel shouldn’t be a problem.
Angelichio says installing the game plan and the practice schedule isn’t all that different than a normal week.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has coached NFL games overseas before, all in England, and he enjoys it. In fact, he says he wants to live in Europe after his NFL career is over.
Graham is looking forward to getting veteran safety DeShon Elliott back in the lineup for the first time this season after his recovery from a knee injury suffered last year. He says Elliott has been missed, but he’s proud of the young players who have filled in.
NFL
The New York Giants are releasing former Steelers’ top draft choice Najee Harris today. He ran for just two yards on four carries Sunday against the Saints, and has run for only 99 yards on 31 carries this season.
