The Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 training camp is less than a week old, but already heads are rolling at St. Vincent’s.
Neal Coolong of DK on Pittsburgh Sports is reporting that the Pittsburgh Steelers have cut former CFL stand out Shawn Lemon.
#Steelers waive former CFL standout Lemon: http://t.co/yXPwQ2t13b via @Dejan_Kovacevic @NealCoolong
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) July 30, 2015
The Steelers signed Shawn Lemon during the off season to a fair amount of fan fare. Lemon had no NFL experience, but had started in 2013 and 2014 for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders where he amassed 13 sacks during 18 games in the 2014 season. The Stampeders went on to win the 2014 Grey Cup and Lemon’s next stop was Pittsburgh.
Prior to the 2015 NFL Draft, Lemon appeared to have a good shot at making the Steelers final roster, with Jason Worilds heading for retirement, James Harrison’s status unknown, and only Arthur Moat’s returning for sure.
However, the Steelers drafted Bud Dupree in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft followed by their decision to draft Anthony Chickillo in the 6th round.
James Harrison of course agreed to return to the Steelers, and Pittsburgh also is returning 2014 practice squad “star” Howard Jones as well as Jordan Zumwalt, who the Steelers took in the 2014 NFL Draft. Outside linebacker coach Joey Porter relished having so complex numbers problem on his hands, indicating that having 7 or 8 men vying for four or 5 roster spots would create healthy competition.
- It would seem that Shawn Lemon, who began camp on the PUP list, would be the first casualty of that competition.
It is a shame that the former CFL star will not get his chance to prove himself on the team, but perhaps Pittsburgh has already seen enough from the rest of the men they have to move on.
Shawn Lemon is no stranger to the waiver wire. Before playing for Calgary, he played for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Edmonton Eskimos. He also played for the indoor football for the San Jose SaberCats, Orlando Predators and the Sioux Falls Storm.
