Six of the most recent Steelers articles on SCST. http://www.scsportstalk.com Byron Leftwich, until recently among the most promising young starting quarterbacks in the NFL, could join the Steelers today as the replacement for injured backup Charlie Batch.

Before Leftwich boarded a jet in Atlanta last evening for the trip to Pittsburgh, he said he would welcome playing behind Ben Roethlisberger.

"They have an opportunity to win it all," Leftwich said. "To be part of that, if I can help, that's my mind-set. I'm just trying to get back out there."

The Steelers were talking to agent Tom Condon last night about a possible contract. Leftwich said it was his understanding that he would not work out before any possible deal was struck. The Steelers resume practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe today. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000288 The Steelers came to contract terms today with their top two draft picks and will have all their picks signed to contracts when they open training camp Sunday in Latrobe.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, the team's first-round draft choice, came to terms on a five-year deal. Wide receiver Limas Sweed, their second-round choice, agreed to a four-year contract.

Mendenhall will sign for five years at $12.55 million. He will receive bonuses as part of that contract worth $6.83 million. Contract terms for Sweed were not immediately available. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000279 As camps around the league open this week, the stars will deservedly get the bulk of the attention.

However, the NFL is a war of attrition and medical issues can quickly mount. Roster depth is a critical factor to most teams' success. Granted if your favorite team has a few superstars and they avoid injury, then depth isn't as big of an issue. Although for most squads, depth is a major component for winning and losing.

Each year I examine every depth chart right before training camp commences, looking for the teams with the best depth. A year ago, I declared the Washington Redskins as the team with the most quality depth heading into training camp. Injuries to the offensive line immediately challenged their depth and the club responded with a playoff performance. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000274 Just as politics makes strange bedfellows, money, particularly lots of it, makes unusual adversaries.

The Rooney brothers, the five sons of The Chief, the great Arthur J. Rooney, are at odds over the ownership of the Steelers -- their business, our passion.

We can only imagine what The Chief would think of this, of his boys fighting over the football team he founded. After all, he had warned them. He had told them -- more than 21 years ago -- it might come to this if they didn't listen to him. But like so many sons, they didn't heed the advice of their father. They knew better. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000270 ESPN The Magazine has conducted a detailed online survey of sports fans across America, and the results tell a fascinating story of how teams treat their fans and what fans think of their teams. Some 60,000 fans went to ESPN.com to answer questions in seven categories about the 122 teams that comprise the four major sports leagues: The NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

Fans had to identify their hometown and rate those teams in the various categories. An eighth and most important category was determined by the work of the sports marketing center at the University of Oregon.

Although not scientific in the truest sense, the survey used modern polling techniques from professionals in the field. In other words, the magazine did this about as well as it can be done.

Its take on the three Pittsburgh teams seems pretty much on the mark and goes a long way toward establishing its validity. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000246 Max Starks signed his one-year contract tender at nearly $7 million this past weekend. Not only does that make him the second-highest paid player behind Ben Roethlisberger, now he will try to win his starting job back.

The contract, which is $6.9 million, was offered to Starks when the Steelers made him a transition player in February. If they had not, he would have been an unrestricted free agent. He was able to solicit offers with the Steelers holding the right to match, but found none worth taking. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000226