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Steelers Sign First-Rounder Ziggy Hood

Jul 25, 2009 – 8:24 PM
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JJ Cooper

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If the Steelers have any plans to extend the contracts of any veterans, they won't have to worry that chief negotiator Omar Kahn will be distracted by signing draft picks.

Nearly a week before training camp opens on July 31, the Steelers have already signed every one of their draft picks. First-round pick Evander Hood became the final draft pick to sign when he agreed to a five-year deal with the Steelers on Sunday.

Pittsburgh hasn't had to worry about draft picks holding out since Ben Roethlisberger missed four days of camp back in 2004, so the Steelers have done a good job of getting its rookis into camp. Of course, when you remember that Roethlisberger was 13-1 as a starter that year, it's also a sign that missing a couple of days of camp may not be that big a deal.

Hood will battle veteran Travis Kirschke to be the team's No. 3 defensive end, although his even bigger role is to be ready to step in as a starter next year when Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel hit free agency.
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