Ashley Lelie Visits With Steelers

On Monday, evidence emerged that a first-round receiving bust from the 2001 draft is trying to get noticed again. Also on Monday, evidence emerged that a quasi-first-round receiving bust from the 2002 draft is trying to stay noticed. Ashley Lelie, a forgotten man for nearly two months of free agency, has visited the Steelers, according to multiple media reports out of Pittsburgh. “He had a great visit,” agent Peter Schaffer told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “The Steelers and I are going to continue to have open dialogue. I think there’s some mutual interest, and we’re going to keep discussing it.” The Steelers have been looking for a replacement for Nate Washington, who signed a free-agent deal with the Titans. Their second-round pick from 2008, Limas Sweed, could fill the void . . . if/when he shows he can catch the ball. This year, the Steelers picked Morley Safer Mike Wallace in the third round, who also will be in the mix. We’re told that Lelie has had conversations with other teams, but no other visits are scheduled. He entered the league in 2002 as a first-round pick of the Broncos. After an ugly contact dispute, he was shipped to the Falcons in 2006. He then signed with the Niners for 2007, and jumped to the other side of the Bay for 2008. In seven NFL seasons, Lelie has broken the 1,000-yard barrier only once, in 2004. Last year with the Raiders, he caught eleven passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns in 13 appearances.