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Ryan Shazier is neither gone nor forgotten. The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker remains a fixture at the team’s facility as he continues his recovery from spinal surgery last December that left his football future uncertain at best.

While there is a sense of loss [url=http://www.broncoscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-max-garcia-jersey]Max Garcia Jersey[/url] , there is no sense of panic. The Steelers understand there is no one player that has Shazier’s mix of speed and smarts. So they’re not even going to try to replace him.

Expect a group that includes free-agent signee Jon Bostic, Tyler Matakevich and possibly even rookie Terrell Edmunds as part of the committee that will be in Shazier’s spot at inside linebacker when the defending AFC North champions open the 2018 season in Cleveland.

The front office felt so comfortable with the idea it passed on selecting a linebacker in last month’s draft, the first time in nearly a decade the Steelers didn’t use one of their picks on a position coach Mike Tomlin considers among the most vital on the field.

That’s fine by Bostic. The well-traveled 27-year-old signed a two-year deal in March following a productive if injury marred season in Indianapolis. Bostic’s arrival appeared to be for depth purposes but when the draft came and went, he now finds himself with as good a shot as anyone as lining up next to veteran Vince Williams. While he kept tabs on the draft, he didn’t exactly celebrate when Pittsburgh didn’t pick up a linebacker.

”At the end of the day, I don’t get paid to do that type of stuff,” Bostic said during organized team activities this week. ”All I can control is me preparing, when my number is called upon, make sure that I’m ready.”

Something Bostic was last season for the Colts, finishing with 97 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in 14 games before a knee injury in December sent him to injured reserve. He’s good to go now and eager to show he’s ready to unpack his bags and stay awhile.

The Chicago Bears chose Bostic in the second round of the 2013 draft, but he found himself on the move following a coaching change after the 2014 season. The Bears sent him to New England in 2015 and the following January the Patriots flipped him to Detroit for a draft pick. He never played a down for the Lions after breaking his left foot during a practice against the Steelers.

From there it was on to Indianapolis [url=http://www.lionscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-devon-kennard-jersey]Devon Kennard Jersey[/url] , where he breathed life into his career by being one of the most consistent performers on a team that won just four games. The expectations are considerably higher in Pittsburgh.

”Last year, when I was out there, I proved myself and going forward I plan to prove myself again,” Bostic said. ”I got a lot of unfinished business.”

So do the Steelers, who were gashed for 164 yards rushing and 45 points in a stunning playoff loss to Jacksonville. Though Pittsburgh led the league and set a franchise record with 57 sacks, the defense struggled at times following Shazier’s injury against Cincinnati on Dec. 4.

Throw out a Christmas Day game against Houston – which played without quarterback DeShaun Watson – and the Steelers allowed 33.5 points and 381 yards after Shazier’s exit. They’ll have a full offseason to get ready for life without him. The plan includes potentially flipping from a 3-4 to a 4-3 look in certain situations and getting creative with substitutions.

That’s where Edmunds comes into play. Though technically a safety, he served as a de facto linebacker late in his time at Virginia Tech when the Hokies played with five or more defensive backs. There’s also Matakevich, a special teams ace who will finished 2017 on injured reserve due with a shoulder issue.

General manager Kevin Colbert pointed out after the draft that Matakevich was injured during the same quarter the Steelers lost Shazier. Who knows what he could have done if asked to fill in for Shazier? It’s one of the reasons Colbert said he didn’t feel comfortable ”reaching” for a linebacker in the draft if one who fit the profile wasn’t available.

”Between Jon and Tyler we don’t know what we have at those two quite honestly because Jon is new to us and Tyler will be in the rotation and competition as well,” Colbert said. ”If there are positions that are available to us when we are picking, and they fit and they are at the right spot, great.”

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Less than two years removed from spectacular rookie seasons that transformed the Dallas offense, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott are even more in control of the future of the Cowboys.

The team must move on without Jason Witten and Dez Bryant.

Witten retired earlier this month to join ESPN’s ”Monday Night Football” following 15 seasons as the Cowboys tight end.

He left as the club leader in catches (1 [url=http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-bruce-smith-jersey]Bruce Smith Jersey[/url] ,152), receiving yards (12,448) and games played (239). Witten was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times.

Bryant was a three-time Pro Bowler playing all eight of his NFL seasons for Dallas before being released in April.

”As we lost those guys, the first statement coming in was we’re not trying to replace those guys,” Prescott said Wednesday after the Cowboys completed the second of three days of offseason practices this week.

”Those guys are irreplaceable.”

Prescott knows something about replacing a big-name Cowboy. He did so after four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo was lost to injury before the 2016 season.

As a fourth-round selection in 2016, Prescott led Dallas to a 13-3 record, an NFL East title and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Elliott, Dallas’ first-round pick that year, led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 with 1,631. Last season, he was suspended for six games because of domestic violence allegations. The Cowboys dropped to 9-7, finishing four games behind the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the division.

Witten most often led quietly [url=http://www.brownscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-christian-kirksey-jersey]Christian Kirksey Jersey[/url] , by example. Bryant was vocal, animated both on and off the field.

Prescott said his leadership style probably more resembles Witten’s.

”Those guys did a great job of encouraging me to be the kind of leader that I am,” Prescott said. ”Kind of making me take charge. Now with those guys gone, it’s really no different.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Prescott made his presence felt in the locker room immediately.

”He’s had really unique leadership qualities,” Garrett said. ”The best leaders develop relationships with people, and he did that right from the start. It wasn’t like he was banging the drum saying, `I’m a leader. I’m a leader.”’

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan sees a different type of leadership style in Elliott.

”Zeke sure brings a lot when it comes to his approach and how he plays, his physicality,” Linehan said.

Garrett said of Elliott’s season in 2017: ”Obviously what went on last year was distracting to anybody. There’s no question he’s locked in and ready to focus on what he needs to do to be prepared to play his best football.”

As for who will most likely fill Bryant’s energy role, Linehan said, ”We don’t have a whole ton of rah-rah guys yet. They’re working on getting to know their jobs and earning their keep. I think that will get developed.”

Tavon Austin and Allen Hurns are among the newcomers who could fill the void of two players who combined last season for 132 catches and 1,398 receiving yards. Austin was acquired in a draft-day trade while Hurns signed as a free agent in March.

Two-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin hasn’t participated in this week’s team drills so far [url=http://www.jaguarscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-barry-church-jersey]Barry Church Jersey[/url] , though he’s working out at the team facility on his own, while his representatives try to work out a new contract.

Martin is in the fifth year of his rookie deal at a salary of $9.4 million. The Cowboys drafted him out of Notre Dame with the 16th overall pick in 2014. He has started all 67 games in the regular season and playoffs for the Cowboys.

”He’s one of the best players we have,” Garrett said. ”He represents everything we want. We want him to be here for a long, long time. But there’s a business side to this, and we all understand that.”

”We miss having `70′ out there, but 100 percent understand the situation,” Prescott said. ”Know why he’s doing it. Want the best for him. I hope he gets everything he deserves.”

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