By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Long snapper Jared Retkofsky was happy to get a raise from his job working for a moving company, going from $12 to $15 an hour over the last week. On Tuesday, though, his salary got an even bigger bump when he was signed to the Steelers active roster, replacing injured Greg Warren.
Retkofsky, who was with the Steelers in training camp in 2007 and in the 2008 offseason, got back in the swing of things on Wednesday and while some things came natural others were a little tougher to adjust to in his first practice.
"I pretty much have the timing down," said Retkofsky. "Mitch (Berger) knows I am going to snap the ball when I am ready. Field goal timing I know when Jeff (Reed) wants the ball. That's something we established the last two years.
"What I am trying to get used to is snapping with my full pads on. I haven't had my pads on for a year and a half. Right now that's the big thing I am working on. We got quite a bit of work in today. I did double what I would normally do. Again I am trying to get used to my pads and delivering the ball wearing a tight helmet and shoulder pads."
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes knows he let his team down last week and is looking forward to making up for lost time on Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
Holmes said if he had played against the New York Giants, a game he was inactive for, that he could have made a difference in the 21-14 loss.
Nate Washington started for the Holmes, but they had to use young, inexperienced receivers Limas Sweed and Dallas Baker for depth.
"I know I would (have made a difference), but I wasn't there to help the team," said Holmes, who was inactivated after marijuana was found in his car by police. "Having a young guy with Sweed filling in, not having as many reps throughout practice and not having the experience being in that tough situation, I feel I could have made big progress with the team."
Holmes said he never experienced anything like having to sit out and not being a part of the team and it was tough for him.
"It really hurts, this is my first time ever having to sit down and watch my team play and not even be part of it whether I was injured or not," said Holmes. "It's all personal feelings that can't even be described.
"It was a long weekend. To sit around and watch on TV and I couldn't be out there to help. It has been a long weekend and I am ready to get back out there and get at it."
He isn't the only one who feels that way.
"He's a weapon for us and it will be fun to have him back out there," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
- *
Safety Ryan Clark (shoulder) linebackers Keyaron Fox (hamstring) and LaMarr Woodley (calf), nose tackle Casey Hampton (turf toe), cornerback Bryant McFadden (forearm), quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) and tackle Marvel Smith (back) did not practice on Wednesday. Deshea Townsend and Hines Ward were also held out, but neither was injury related. Running back Willie Parker did practice.
- *
