Steelers free agency update
It has now been 24 hours since the NFL free agent signing period began, and the Steelers have already had lots of activity. Let’s quickly review what’s happened so far.
Mike Wallace - Gone! That’s right, gone. Everyone was expecting Wallace to sign with the Miami Dolphins, and that’s exactly what he did. More importantly, he got paid the big bucks, just like he wanted to. Wallace signed a contract that will make him second only to the likes of Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. I guess holding out from training camp and dropping passes is actually a viable way to get a pay increase. Who knew?
Willie Colon – Gone! But unlike Mike Wallace, Willie Colon got cut. You can’t make the club if you’re laying in the tub. And that’s what Colon was doing far too often over the past 3 seasons.
Colon was actually doing well in his new position at guard. But he was paid far too much for a player who has missed 36 games over the past three seasons.
Larry Foote – Signed! The Steelers signed Foote to a 3-year extension. After having left the Steelers once before to sign with the Detroit Lions, I didn’t expect to see him play for anyone else ever again. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
LB Larry Foote
Now if only Sean Spence would get healthy and take Foote’s job permanently.
Plaxico Burress – Signed! Yup, the Steelers signed Burress to another one-year deal. I guess catching 3 passes is enough to earn another contract. Who knew it was so easy? I guess I’m going to have to be a walk-on at Steelers Training Camp this summer. I’m pretty sure I can catch 3 passes. That ought to earn me a spot on the squad.
Ramon Foster – Signed! Ramon Foster is like a bad case of Herpes. No matter how hard the Steelers try, they just can’t seem to get rid of him.
Frankly, I’ve always liked Ramon, and I’m glad to see that he’ll be back with the Steelers next year. And if history is any indication, he’ll end up being a starter by mid-season.
Jonathan Dwyer – Signed! Dwyer must have been concerned about his value on the open market, because he signed his tender offer before the ink was even dry.
David Johnson – Signed! Johnson is back from his injury, and just signed a one-year deal. He won’t be a viable replacement for the injured Heath Miller, but he is a good blocker.
Steve McLendon – Unknown. The Steelers tendered an offer to McLendon, but he hasn’t signed it yet.
Isaac Redman – See Steve McLendon.
Emmanuel Sanders – See Isaac Redman.
Rashard Mendenhall – No news yet. But Mendenhall is an unrestricted free agent, and most people believe that he will follow Mike Wallace out of Pittsburgh. I agree with them. But I actually wish there were a way to get him to stay.
Don’t leave, Rashard.
Edit: Rashard Mendenhall has signed with the Arizona Cardinals since this article was written. He’ll be rejoining his former Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians.
Bruce Gradkowski – Signed! That’s right, the Steelers signed free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski. And I am totally ecstatic about the move. In my opinion, Gradkowski is an upgrade over both Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich. And unlike Batch and Leftwich, Gradkowski doesn’t already qualify for Social Security benefits.
I still remember when Gradkowski was playing for the Oakland Raiders, and he led them to a victory over his hometown team. I’ve always thought he would look good in black and gold. However, I probably shouldn’t get too excited about this signing. After all, Ben Roethlisberger’s backups seldom see any action. But it’s still nice to have Gradkowski on the team.
So what are your thoughts on what the team has done so far? Which moves do you like, and which ones don’t you agree with?
I agree with most of what you said with a couple exceptions. I liked the Steelers resigning Burress. He came in late and was not in football shape and also had to learn a whole brand new system. Give him a training camp and a preseason along with absorbing the new playbook, I can easily see 50-60 catches and 10 TDS. Foster played well last year and with Decastro healthy, I like both guards. It is the tackle play is what I am more worried about. And oh, I am very happy Mendenhall is gone one for his mouth and two for the predictable spin move he would seem to do every time he had a touch instead of putting his down and getting the two or three yards the team needed for a first down to extend drives. Releasing Harrison could be costly! I just hope he does not play for the Ravens!
1Anything but Wallace resigning with the Steelers wouldn’t have been a surprise. They waaaaay over paid for him. We’ll how the Tannehill to Wallace connection works out.
No surprise on Colon either.
I was hoping Foote would come back. Hopefully he’ll phase out as the new guy phases in.
Plax surprised me. My thought is they are concerned with not have Miller for part of the season.
Foster surprised me too. Although paired with cutting Colon, it makes sense. Not too bad if he is the weakest link on OL. It’d be nice to see him win the damn starting spot in camp for chance. I also wonder if they will flip OGs, since DeCastro is better at pulling than Foster. Unless they go to zone blocking. Which doesn’t really suit Foster, which make me think ‘why would the sign Foster if they are going zb?’
David Johnson – I thought he would be back. Has a nice opportunity to fill in a bit at TE, and also continue to work at FB.
Dwyer and Redman – I would only want one back at most. I lean towards Redman (more reliable), but it’s only a slight lean. Dwyer better show up shape this year, as I have a feeling this might be a real competitive camp at that position. (Crossing my fingers).
McLenon – I’m hoping he comes back. As this point, he’s a better value than Hampton. Maybe they are waiting on McLendon to decide on Hampton.
Sanders – I’ll be concerned if he doesn’t come back.
Mendenhall -Give Bruce my best
Gradkowski – only the Steelers could add a 30 year old QB and get YOUNGER at the position. Isn’t he like 1-2 against the Steelers? And scored only 3 points in those two losses? Well, he won’t have to face our defense, at least regulation, so there is that…
2Charles,
I can agree with you that signing Burress wasn’t the worst thing the Steelers could have done. Particularly if they plan to use him as a red zone threat. But last season, Haley had Burress and a 6’9″ guy named Leonard Pope, and he never used either of them as a red zone weapon. So we’ll have to see how he uses Plax. But if Plax signed for the veteran minimum, then it was a good signing.
I also agree with you about Mendenhall’s spin move, and I complained about that move for years. We even started calling him “Spindenhall” around here. But you must have noticed that he didn’t spin as much this past year. So he may have been coached out of that particular tactic.
3Jim,
It’s going to be interesting watching Wallace in Miami. I’m not sure if Tannehill has the arm strength to deliver the deep ball like Ben did (and even Ben usually underthrew him).
And I certainly hope they bring McLendon back. I don’t want to have to rely on Casey Hampton any longer. I sure wish that Alameda Ta’amu would show something in camp this year. But he’s been a total waste so far.
And you’re right, the Steelers probably are the only team who could bring in a 30 year old backup QB and get younger.
4I also love the Gradkoswski signing! And McLendon better come back!
5Gaaaaahhhh we lost Keenan Lewis! Raaaaaaaagggggeeeee!!!!!!
Apparently, he gave the Saints a hometown discount after growing up and playing college ball there.
6@Dan
I feel the same way.
Why develop guys, if we aren’t going to hold on to them, if they turn out to be any good?
7