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PITTSBURGH -- Troy Polamalu walked off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice field on Tuesday with rookie safety Shamarko Thomas hanging on the veteran safetys every word. To be honest, Polamalu admits its still a little strange to think that in the last decade hes morphed from precocious talent into respected leader. Yet he knows being a mentor is part of his job description these days, and for a team in the midst of startling change, its a role hell eagerly fill. "The great thing about the people that we have here is that all we are going to do is give knowledge," Polamalu said. "There is no hesitation. Its not like we think this guy is going to replace someone, like other teams." Maybe, but there is little doubt that the Steelers expect Thomas to one day take over for the 32-year-old Polamalu or 33-year-old Ryan Clark. Just not quite yet. For as all the tumult Pittsburgh experienced in the off-season, there was a sense of normalcy during the first day of organized team activities. While locker room fixtures James Harrison, Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall are all gone, a host of veterans remain to help an 8-8 team rebuild on the fly. "It feels new and different every year at this time," coach Mike Tomlin said. "Were working with 90 guys and every year 40 or so of them, minimum, are new guys. From that standpoint, its the same. Were always excited and energized to work with the new faces." So long as the old ones know that needs to be fixed. The Steelers slid to their worst record of Tomlins six-year tenure in 2012 as injuries and uncharacteristic mistakes sent Pittsburgh tumbling out of the playoffs. General manager Kevin Colbert refused to call the Steelers a team in transition during the off-season but allowed changes needed to be made for Pittsburgh to get back to its usual spot among the NFLs elite. Part of the plan was trimming some salary cap fat in cutting Harrison and veteran offensive lineman Willie Colon. Part of it was adding youth like top draft pick linebacker Jarvis Jones and second-round running back LeVeon Bell. And part of it was relying on players like Polamalu and quarterback Ben Roethlsiberger to assert themselves in the locker room. Roethlisberger has spent the majority of his career as the youngest player in the quarterback room. Now hes the oldest after the team jettisoned Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch in the off-season and brought in Bruce Gradkowski, John Parker Wilson and fourth-round pick Landry Jones. "Im going to do everything I can to help those guys get ready to play because Im here to win games," Roethlisberger said. "Weve had other guys step up and play and win games for us in the past. Im excited to help these guys be ready to go if need be." The quarterback brushed off off-season chatter from several players -- some anonymously -- that the dynamics of the locker room changed last year. He called the suggestions "confusing" and said the team is eager to move on. So is cornerback Ike Taylor. The very un-Steelerlike end to last season left a "sour taste" in the veterans mouth. "Thats something we pride ourselves on is making the playoffs, having the opportunity to go to a championship game and we came up short," Taylor said. When asked if missing the playoffs for only the third time since 2004 is that big a deal, Taylor didnt hesitate. "It is," Taylor said. "When you put all that effort in, training camp, minicamp, going along into the season and have opportunities to make it and you dont make it, its frustrating." And hopefully, a lesson learned. Polamalu missed more than half the season with a calf injury, the first one of his 10-year career he says "could have been avoided." The 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year declined to get into specifics on how he could have kept the calf healthy but says his off-season regimen continues to change as he matures. "Time is not stale," Polamalu said. "You have to continue to evolve as time evolves, your career evolves and your body evolves. I think when you become stale in that way, then its just kind of a redundant thing." Like, say, harping on last season. The Steelers arent used to missing the playoffs in consecutive years. They went three seasons without a post-season appearance from 1998-2000, but thats long before the likes of Polamalu, Roethlisberger and Taylor came along. Nevertheless, all have endured bumps in the road throughout their careers. And all have found a way to respond almost immediately. They see no reason it cant happen again. "I think its like coach (Tomlin) says," Taylor said. "Less talk and more work." . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter.Wallabies winger Henry Speight could be facing two months out after suffering a bone fracture above his eye socket. And the injury could have a negative impact on his chances of playing for Australias rugby sevens side at the Rio Olympics this summer.The Fiji-born back suffered the injury when he clashed heads with team mate Christian Lealiifano during the Brumbies Super Rugby loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday. Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said: Its a shame to lose Henry, hes obviously a world-class winger.At this stage it looks like he may be out for eight weeks, which would be around the same time we take on the Rebels in Round 12, but we will have to wait for further advice.Hes remaining positive and will be doing everything he can to get back on the field as soon as possible. Henry Speight featured in last months Sydney Sevens Speights injury appears likely to rule him out of all but the final two rounds of the World Sevens series in Paris and London in May, a major blow to his hopes of proving he can adapt to the shorter game.The 27-year-old made his World Series debut in Dubai last December and also featured in the inaugural Sydney Sevens in early February. Weve picked out our favourite tries from the fourth round of Super Rugby Larkham said the Brumbies already had contingencies in place to replace Speight after he decided to have a go at making the Australia team for the Olympics.ddddddddddddWinger Lausii Taliauli will join the squad in South Africa while outside backs Nigel Ah Wong, Robbie Coleman and James Dargaville were already available to Larkham for Saturdays match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, live on Sky Sports. Also See: WATCH: Super Rugby tries Super Rugby home Super Rugby fixtures Rugby on Sky ' ' '
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