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Monday, April 17, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
The Steelers' work to acquire players did not end until 2 1/2 hours after the draft when they scurried to sign 13 rookie free agents.
The group included 6 feet 2, 300-pound guard Hank Fraley, who played tackle at Robert Morris College.
The list also includes two fullbacks and a running backs.
The others: punter-kicker Kyle Atteberry of Baylor, safety Ainsley Battles (5-10, 190) of Vanderbilt, wide receiver Demetrius Brown (6-21/2, 209) of Wisconsin, cornerbacks Sedrick Curry (6-1, 193) of Texas A&M and Timothy Strickland (5-9, 183) of Mississippi, linebackers Jonathan Foster (6-1, 246) of Louisiana-Monroe, Mike Sands (6-4, 235) of Harvard and Donnell Thompson (5-11, 234) of Wisconsin, fullbacks Joey Goodspeed (6-0, 241) of Notre Dame and Dan Kreider (5-11, 242) of New Hampshire, defensive end Johnny Mitchell (6-4, 312) of Louisiana State and running back Destry Wright (5-11, 208) of Jackson State.
Donahoe assesses Stewart
Tom Donahoe spent the weekend analyzing the draft for ESPN rather than making picks for the Steelers.
Their former director of football operations, forced to resign in January, answered questions posed by fans on ESPN.com and also appeared occasionally on ESPN's televised draft show.
He critiqued quarterback Kordell Stewart's situation yesterday on ESPN televsion.
"I think they're in a dilemma with Kordell," Donahoe said. "Because they really like him as a person, they like his talent, they've seen what he's capable of doing.
"He's struggled the last couple years. Some of it has not been totally Kordell's fault. First, we've not been as good a football team in Pittsburgh.
"In this draft, they've gotten some weapons, they also drafted Tee Martin late, which certainly will put a little bit of pressure on Kordell. But I really think they want to give him one more shot at it and see if he can turn it around."
Donahoe was asked if he feels too much pressure from the fans here.
"It has affected him mentally," Donahoe said. "It's something he's going to have to overcome, because Pittsburgh's a tough town. They want you to produce and they want you to play well and, if you don't, you're going to hear about it and Kordell has to learn to deal with that."
Vrabel's role is reduced
Mike Vrabel, who played defensive tackle in the Steelers' dime defense, will no longer play that position this season. The Steelers plan to use him strictly as an outside linebacker, primarily on the left side behind Jason Gildon.
He can't skate
Jason Gavadza is an unusual athlete, and not because he's a tight end who can go deep. He's a native of Toronto who can't skate.
"I hate to admit this, but I can't skate," Gavadza said. "I'm a hell of a hockey player, but I wouldn't be able to skate. My mom never put me on skates when I was younger, so I took up the sports that involved the speed and everything. Football was there for me in high school."
He also practiced for two months this year with Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin, a fifth-round pick of the Steelers, as both prepared for the combine.
"He's a hell of an athlete," Gavadza said.
No such trade talks
Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations, said neither his team nor the Jets proposed a trade that would have sent Plaxico Burress to New York for Shaun Ellis and Chad Pennington. There were various reports in New York that either the Jets or the Steelers proposed such a deal on Saturday.
Colbert confirmed that the Steelers tried to get another first-round choice to draft Pennington by offering draft picks, but no one would take the offer, including the Jets.
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