Notebook
Morgan busy learning Steelers’ offense PITTSBURGH – Quincy Morgan said his head’s buried in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playbook. That would explain why he didn’t turn around to talk to a group of reporters who’d gathered at his locker.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Morgan said. “Someone just came up and started asking questions and this is the position I wound up in.”
So the back of Morgan’s head told reporters that A.) He didn’t see his release from Dallas coming; B.) He never thought he’d be here when he was in Cleveland; and C.) He chose the Steelers from a handful of interested suitors because of the receivers coach and the chance to win a championship.
“I’m just glad to be a part of this team,” Morgan said. “I know it’s a great team with a great bunch of guys. Hopefully I can make this situation work.”
In three years with the Cleveland Browns, Morgan caught 14 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown in seven games against the Steelers.
“I always admired this team from afar,” he said. “I’m glad to be here, but I never would’ve imagined I’d be a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
The key to the move was Steelers wide receivers coach Bruce Arians, who was Morgan’s offensive coordinator in Cleveland.
“We had a very good relationship,” Morgan said. “I’m sure he put his little part in.”
“It was easy for me,” said Arians. “Speed. Deep ball. Good speed. He’s aggressive and can stretch the field. I like Quincy a lot.”
Morgan said “this is one of the hardest offenses I’ve ever seen.” Arians agreed, and said that fact would probably cost Morgan any shot at working his way into the starting lineup this season.
Arians expects Morgan to serve the Steelers as their No. 4 receiver this season, which is about where he stood in Dallas before the arrival of Peerless Price forced Cowboys coach Bill Parcells to release him.
“I just think with a coach like Bill, he has his agenda,” Morgan said. “He had his guys in place. That’s part of the business sometimes.”
Morgan, who has 155 catches, 15 touchdowns and 53 starts in four NFL seasons, said Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Denver, among others, expressed interest after he was released, but he signed a one-year contract with the Steelers.
“I know these guys win games and I know what type of team this is. It’s a tough team,” Morgan said. “It’s a team that a lot of teams in the league are scared of, so why not be a Steeler?”
Chow time II
Before he watched film of the Tennessee Titans, Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu figured his former offensive coordinator at USC, Norm Chow, would utilize something of a West Coast/run-and-shoot offense as the new coordinator in Tennessee.
After looking at film, Polamalu changed his mind.
“I should’ve added that he’ll use whatever suits his personnel,” Polamalu said. “And they have four good tight ends.”
Polamalu, though, said the Titans don’t have a receiving threat at tight end in the Todd Heap mold.
“They have three hard-nosed, blocking tight ends and if they’re going to create any problem for our defense it’s having seven guys who are all like offensive linemen on their line of scrimmage,” Polamalu said.
The Titans’ fourth tight end is Greg Guenther, a 6-foot-8 undrafted rookie who also played at USC.
“He played two years,” Polamalu said. “His third year he had a back injury and sat out and this last year he played basketball. I know him personally. He hasn’t really jumped out. I watched him closely because we were teammates, but he catches the rock and he blocks really well and he’s huge. He’s listed at 6-8 but that seems kind of small. He’s more like 6-9.”
Hurricane fundraiser
The Steelers and KDKA-TV held a fundraiser Tuesday night at Heinz Field to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The biggest donation was $10,011 by a group from Connellsville called “Andy’s Army.” That donation was matched by Hines Ward, and the total of $42,500 was matched by the Steelers, bringing the total haul to just over $85,000.