Given the void in the return game left by the free-agent departure of WR Antwaan Randle El, who signed a blockbuster deal with Washington, it's no surprise that Pittsburgh had Jeremy Bloom in for a visit last week. Bloom, who forfeited his college football eligibility to remain as a world-champion skier, put some impressive returns and receptions on tape in limited play at Colorado. He's expected to be a late first-day pick next week. "Those are some big shoes to fill," Bloom said of the prospects of replacing Randle El. "I can't say I'll do it right away, but I'd do everything I can."

Cornerback Ike Taylor has until 4 p.m. today to sign as a restricted free agent with another team but has no prospects and, in all likelihood, will play for the Steelers at least one more season. Taylor has drawn some interest from other NFL clubs but not enough to visit any of them. A big reason is the fact the Steelers tendered him a one-year contract for $1.57 million. Another team would have to forfeit a first-round draft choice to sign him, and that has been done only once in the past 13 years in the NFL. The Steelers also would have a week to match any offer sheet Taylor might sign, which means another team would have to offer him a large enough contract for the Steelers not to match.

Southern California running back LenDale White and South Carolina free safety Ko Simpson, both underclassmen, visited the Steelers on Tuesday in advance of the April 29-30 NFL draft. White, 6-foot-1, 238 pounds, might fall to No. 32 in the first round -- the spot held by the Steelers -- and it might put the team in an intriguing position. White is reportedly slipping on draft boards due to a hamstring injury and concerns about his work ethic. But if Steelers coach Bill Cowher was convinced yesterday White is worth selecting in the first round, the former USC star could fill the void left by the retired Jerome Bettis.

Super Bowl XL was the third covered by the NFL Network, which may be around for at least 40 more. "It's a young company, and I got in at the ground level," said former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson, one of the ex-players teamed regularly with host Rich Eisen on the network's signature program, "NFL Total Access." "We're getting more programming, and when you have 32 billionaires backing you (the NFL's 32 owners), it's not a bad deal." NFL Network has evolved into much more than an outlet for NFL Films re-runs. "Total Access" and "Game of the Week," complete with its unavailable-everywhere-else audio from the sidelines, are becoming must-see TV for fans, coaches, general managers and agents. "The times people say they love me on 'SportsCenter' have dwindled considerably," said Eisen, who used to anchor at ESPN. "And when people tell me their 7- or 8-year old son is addicted to the show, that's when I know we've hit it."

Backup linebacker James Harrison signed a four-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, even though he wouldn't have become a free agent until 2008. Normally, NFL teams do not offer such terms to backup players who can cannot become free agents for several more seasons. However, Harrison started three games and had 45 tackles and three sacks last season for the Super Bowl-champion Steelers.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has named eight owners to the committee that will search for his successor. The committee is to be co-chaired by Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh and Jerry Richardson of Carolina. The other members are Jerry Jones of Dallas, Al Davis of Oakland, Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, Woody Johnson of the New York Jets, Mike McCaskey of Chicago and Robert Kraft of New England. Tagliabue has announced plans to retire at the end of July but has said he will stay in office until his successor is named.