Colbert takes advice from Steelers Today
I hate to blow my own horn, but I’m going to do it anyway. I wrote a 3-part series called “If I were Kevin Colbert”, that predicted everything that has happened during the Steelers’ free agency period. If you haven’t already read that series, please go back and do so. Part 1 can be found here, and Part 2 can be found here.
In that series, I predicted that the Steelers would sign Max Starks to a whopping contract for the second year in a row. I predicted that they would let Marvel Smith go. I predicted that they would make an offer to Willie Colon, but that they wouldn’t do the same for Chris Kemoeatu. I predicted that Anthony Smith would be let go. Mitch Berger too. I even predicted that they would let Arnold Harrison go, while resigning Anthony Madison and Sean McHugh to modest contracts.
A couple of things that I predicted have not yet happened. I said that Bryant McFadden and Nate Washington would both receive offers that were too rich for the Steelers’ tastes, and they’d both be with new teams next year. That hasn’t happened yet, but it will.
The one thing that surprised me is that the Steelers released Kendall Simmons. He still has time left on his contract, so they didn’t have to make a move with him yet. Either their doctors are telling them something that we don’t know, or they just don’t think he’s worth what he’s making.
To be honest, even BEFORE Simmons hurt his ACL this past year, he was a revolving door on the offensive line. He may as well have layed out a welcome mat for defensive linemen, he was so accomodating to their needs. And 2007 was an even worse year for him. He sucked. He looked more like a matador than an offensive lineman. Mike Tomlin obviously noticed that too. Oh well. See ya later, Kendall.
The bottom line is that Steelers’ Director of Football Operations, Kevin Colbert, obviously reads Steelers Today. He did everything that we said that he should do, and we couldn’t be any happier.
By the way, Mr. Colbert, our consulting bill is in the mail. Please pay promptly.
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Allow me to brag too. heh heh. I suggested that Simmons should be cut way back in October during one of those postgazette chats. Also, I said Big Ben should try a surprise punt at times considering how bad our punters were in the middle of the season.
1I sure hope someone is stupid enough to sign Colon so the Steelers can get a 1st round pick. But I think the high tender will scare even the foolish teams. That is why I think steelers should have signed Colon to lower tender so some team would be temped to give us a fairly high draft pick in return(2nd round).
the steelers shold not sign any other free agent from another team. look at our o9 schedule, we should win every game.
2You weren’t quite on. The Steelers signed Kemo today.
3I too always thought Simmons was over-rated. But I would have kept him over Chris Kemoeuato. Everytime I turned around he was missing a block or getting flagged for a false start. I think the Steelers should sign Colon long term but move him to guard. There are plenty of tackles in the draft and I think they should take a left tackle early. Jamon Merideth would be a good pick. Then move Starks back to his original position which is RT.
4BH,
You’re right. The Steelers disobeyed my orders and signed Kemo.
I can’t say that I agree with that move, but Colbert is a lot smarter than I am. In my opinion, Kemo gets far too many penalties. Also, for his humongous size, he should be much more dominant as a blocker (at least as a run blocker). Have you ever seen Kemo pancake anyone? Neither have I. He seems to lack a mean streak.
5Brian,
I agree with you on all counts. Kendall Simmons was over-rated, but he was better than Kemo. I guess Simmons’ contract was just too big for the Steelers to continue to pay with his uncertain health.
Colon should probably be moved to guard. He has never excelled as a right tackle in my opinion. Guard is his natural position. However, I still wish Colon would stop getting called for so many penalties.
Starks did a reasonable job at LT. However, his feet just aren’t fast enough. I think he’d be better suited as a RT.
6David,
Our 2009 schedule is definitely looking promising. Particularly after this year’s schedule. But winning every game may be asking for too much from the team.
So far, free agency looks like it has weakened the Ravens. The Bengals are likely to lose TJ Houshmandzada. And the Browns got rid of K2. We should own the AFC North.
7The smartest thing that you said is that Kevin Colbert is smarter thn you. I suspect that Mr. Colbert is a member of a large group… those that are smarter than you. Kendall Simmons played well in 07. He was constantly burdened by the poor play of Sean Mahan, as was Alan Faneca. Simmons’ return from diabetes and the knee injury speak to his will and talent. I don’t know whether he can also bounce back from the Achilles. If he does not, it won’t be for lack of trying. He never “sucked”. Judging by your comments, you do. Speaking for myself and other Steeler fans with a brain and a heart, I say thank you to Kendall Simmons for his career in Pittsbugh and wish him Godspeed.
8Bill,
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your feelings for Kendall Simmons. He had a long, productive career with the Steelers. I appreciate what he contributed. I particularly respect his courage in coming back from diabetes.
I disagree with you strongly about the quality of his play in the latter stages of his Steelers playing days. I don’t think that it is fair to blame Sean Mahan for Kendall’s shortcomings. He didn’t play well in his last two years. That’s a fact.
You may not like hearing this either, but Alan Faneca didn’t either. Alan made the Pro Bowl this year on reputation only. Watch his play with the Jets, or watch film of his final 2 years with the Steelers. Faneca was getting bullrushed routinely. He never used to get over-powered like that in his earlier years.
To continue that line of thought, Casey Hampton is no longer the player that he once was, either. The Steelers lose little when Chris Hoke enters the game. Also, Willie Parker isn’t a particularly elusive runner. He’s fast, but has very little wiggle in his hips.
Some Steelers fans think that being a fan means pretending like the Steelers never play badly. I don’t subscribe to that philosophy. I call them like I see them. I’m sorry that you disagree, but I think it’s good that my readers disagree with me sometimes. It gives us something to talk about. Had you not disagreed with me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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