How Sweed it is!

To be a star in today's NFL, you have to have speed, height and great hands. Two of Three of which Lima Lee Sweed, a 6'4" 220 pound out of Texas, drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers with their 22nd pick in the 2nd round has. But where Sweed lacks is where the money's made in the NFL. There receivers who are short, who are light but their advantage is their ability to catch the ball in the NFL.

Sweed's career as a Texas Longhorn made NFL scouts drool with the anticipation of what potential this kid could offer to their prospective teams. Sweed's junior year recorded 46 receptions for 801 years and 12 touchdowns. He also caught a a touchdown in 7 consecutive games, breaking former Longhorn Roy Williams' record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception.

Sweed's ability t take the ball away and out jump his defenders made him an ideal receiver for the NFL, however, things have gone as rosy as either Sweed or the Steelers had hoped.

Sweed started his rookie career on a high note against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first 2008 pre-season match up. Sweed led the team in receptions and yardage (3 for 23 yards) but quickly fell silent shortly after.

Is first regular season action came in week 7 at the expense of Dallas Baker who was injured allowing Sweed an opportunity. In that game, he went 1 for 11 yards. He finished the 2008 season with 6 catches for 64 yards with no touchdowns and 2 fumbles. Not very humbling, needless to say.

The start of Limas Sweed decline happened in the 2008 AFC championship game. An easy pass thrown his way which would have resulted in a touchdown, was dropped. Closer examination showed that Sweed eye's were looking at the score board, rather than the ball.

The 2009 training camp didn't offer any more promise, losing the 3rd wide out slot to Mike Wallas. Sweed entered the season as the 4th receiver, rarely playing in the first 3 games. Once he finally received playing time in week 3, he again dropped a pass that more than likely would have resulted in a Steelers touchdown.

Receiving little playing time , Sweed was placed on the teams injured reserve on December 21st with more speculation of what the true nature of the injury was. Some have speculated that Sweed is struggling with sever depression, however, this is only speculation.

I think, in order for Sweed to become the caliber receiver that he was as a Longhorn, he needs to be traded. Pittsburg spent allot to get this kid so they either want their money back or would rather have his talent waist on the sidelines.

I think there was to much pressure for the kid to be the next Terrell Owens or Andre Johnson and he could not handle the initial stigma that he wasn't at the caliber..... YET.

Patients and mentoring is the key here. This kid has amazing talent that is currently bottle away in a catacomb of mixed feelings. Given a fresh start, I could see a slow, but promising recovery for a career that had more than a shattered start.