With recent arrests of linebacker James Harrison and receiver Cedrick Wilson (and one of the guys who wore the costume of mascot Steely McBeam) and a criminal trial of running back Najeh Davenport (he was acquitted on Wednesday), we’re told that the Pittsburgh Steelers are dropping from their draft board players with character questions.

There also are concerns regarding the overall leadership in the locker room, given the departures over the past few seasons of running back Jerome Bettis, center Jeff Hartings, and guard Alan Faneca.

The directive to clean things up surely has come from the top of the organization, which has been embarrassed by the misbehavior of several players — starting two years ago with first-round draft pick Santonio Holmes, who was arrested twice in three weeks less than two months after joining the team.