Steelers Make Inquiries About Redden

The Pittsburgh Steelers acknowledged Friday they had been talking to the Rams about a trade for unhappy running back Barry Redden, who has said he would rather play on the East Coast.

Steeler executive Art Rooney Jr. was quoted: “I can’t deny that we’ve asked about him.”

The Steelers lack depth n at running back because Frank Pollard is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and Walter Abercrombie is out with a form of meningitis.

Head coach John Robinson indicated the Rams were asking for as much as a first-round draft choice or a player with e equivalent value.

“If you’re desperate for a running back, is that an awful lot for a starter in the NFL?” Robinson said.

Redden has not started in four years with the Rams, but Robinson added: “I think he’s a front-line player, no question.”

Robinson said he would prefer to obtain a current player instead of a draft choice because “it’s very hard to play a draft choice this year.

“I would be very surprised if Pittsburgh came back with an offer of sufficient content. (They have) a long history of not trading much.”