National Football League

Re-signed Steeler vets ready to get going

Published Aug. 3, 2011 4:26 a.m. ET

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Doug Legursky can't wait to change his shoes.

It's nothing personal. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman has no issue with the black-and-white cross-trainers he sported on the practice field at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday morning.

It's just he'd rather be in cleats. He's healthy. He's happy after re-signing with the Steelers last Friday. The only thing he isn't is playing.

''It's pretty weird,'' Legursky said. ''I've been playing football 19 years, and this is the first time I've been OK and not able to practice.''

Welcome to the truncated - and complicated - 2011 NFL free agency period.

Though he's signed, sealed and delivered, Legursky and all the other NFL free agents who have inked new contracts since camps opened last week have been unable to join their teammates on the field.

Players with new deals can't practice until Thursday, when the league year officially begins. It has made for an interesting and sometimes frustrating day at the office for guys such as Legursky and linemates Willie Colon, Jonathan Scott and Tony Hills.

All agreed to come back to the defending AFC champions to take another run at the Super Bowl. All have spent the first days of camp standing around watching the players they'll be competing against get an early jump on trying to take their jobs.

Ask Legursky and company if it's clear to them what they can and can't do and they shrug their shoulders and carefully word their answers.

''Like I said, this is from my understanding, it has a lot to do with collective bargaining and things of that nature,'' Scott said. ''They say don't do it, and I don't do it.''

Sitting in meetings? Yes. Eating team meals? Yes. Putting on pads and going to work? No. Work out with the guys already officially in camp? No.

Wide receiver Hines Ward, currently on the physically unable to perform list with a thumb injury, said the sight of regulars such as Legursky, defensive tackle Chris Hoke and defensive back William Gay in the weight room while rookies and undrafted free agents run with the first team has given camp a somewhat bizarre feel.

''It doesn't feel like camp until we have our whole team,'' Ward said. ''It's a different experience having training camp and the free agency process at the same time.''

Veteran defensive tackle Aaron Smith has a different word for it. He spent Tuesday afternoon working alongside first-round draft pick Cameron Heyward and going against the likes of rookie offensive guard Keith Williams, guys that probably won't see much time with the first string come Thursday.

''It's a little awkward,'' Smith said. ''You know this guy is going to be there, but somebody else is there right now. It's kind of, almost like we're at an OTA or a mini-camp right now.''

That might not be a bad thing for a team with some significant depth issues, particularly along the offensive line.

Williams is doing his best to take advantage of his time working with the first and second units, hoping to soak up as much knowledge as he can.

''It's a great opportunity for me to show the coaches and the whole team that I can play ball, I can be a pro,'' Williams said. ''I've got to limit my mistakes and study hard.''

It's one of the few things the re-signed guys can do with their teammates.

Gay, who likely will serve as the nickelback, never doubted he'd return to the Steelers. He also didn't rush to get back, knowing he couldn't get in between the lines until Thursday. He arrived in camp Monday and spent most of that night shaking hands with the dozens of new faces on the 90-man roster. Although he's pretty comfortable with the schemes, he understands studying only gets you so far.

''I don't care what you do on the outside,'' Gay said. ''Once you put them pads on and you're chasing somebody every down, that's a totally different story.''

One that can't begin fast enough for the veterans. It's been six long months since that miserable night in Texas when the Steelers fell to Green Bay in the Super Bowl. It's time to move on.

The free agents have tried to stay sharp by keeping a close eye on practice and reacquainting themselves with the playbook. Yet there's only so much watching they can do. And it can be hard to stay focused.

''If you watch people (do your job) when you should be doing it, you get pretty bored, right?'' Hills said. ''I mean that's how it is. I'm just trying to stay mentally ready, and when the pads come on Thursday, just go all out.''

Hills will be going all out with some old friends. The Steelers have re-signed practically all of their restricted free agents. Reserve quarterback Dennis Dixon and running back Mewelde Moore have agreed to terms, making it 11 free agents from last year's team who have come back.

The Steelers also have secured the rights to tight end John Gilmore from Tampa Bay. Gilmore will compete for the No. 2 spot behind starter Heath Miller after Matt Spaeth signed with the Chicago Bears.

Gilmore is the only significant free agent acquisition the team has landed, in part because of the difficulty of getting under the $120.4 million salary cap. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, linebacker James Harrison and defensive end Brett Keisel all agreed to restructure their contracts to create cap space.

Considering how many established players the Steelers have on the sidelines not-so-patiently waiting to get the go-ahead to practice, Scott figures maybe they don't need to make a splash in free agency to shake up camp. They just need to get some familiar faces in familiar places.

''How many months was the lockout? That's pretty boring,'' Scott said. ''Let's get this thing rolling, because I'm pretty sure the whole world is waiting, too.''

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