Steelers free agency recap
So far, the Steelers have gone according to their usual script during the free agency period. The Steelers typically seek first to re-sign their own players. Then, once the big spenders have left the pool, the Steelers will usually make a free agent signing or two that cause little splash. The Steelers never sign big name free agents, but the ones that they sign often make a big contribution.
Recent Steelers free agent signings include Justin Hartwig, Keyaron Fox, and Ryan Clark. James Farrior may be the best free agent acquisition currently on the Steelers’ roster. He was signed for next to nothing when the New York Jets gave up on him. The Steelers then plugged him in, and he’s been a critical component of the Steelers D ever since. He’s a defensive captain, and a multi-time Pro Bowl player.
Instead of chasing big name free agents, the Steelers believe in taking care of their own players. The Steelers understand that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side. They know what their own players can do. More importantly, they know about the problems that their own players may bring to the table. What effect a player like Albert Haynesworth will have on the Redskins locker room is anybody’s guess.
So for the most part, the Steelers’ 2009 roster will look much like the one that recently won the Super Bowl. Max Starks has been re-signed. So has Willie Colon. Chris Kemoeatu as well. That insures that the entire starting offensive line will be back next year.
Some fans may be thinking, “The offensive line was terrible. Why would we want to keep them intact?” There are a couple of answers to that question. First, the offensive line wasn’t as bad as Ben Roethlisberger’s sack total made it seem. Big Ben holds the ball too long. Sometimes that results in a great play, and sometimes it results in a sack. Roethlisberger has said that he doesn’t plan to change his gunslinger style, so Steelers fans will just have to live with lots of sacks.
The second thing to keep in mind about the offensive line is that this was their first year playing together. Remember, Max Starks didn’t start off the year as the starting left tackle. Chris Kemoeatu was playing his first year as a starter at left guard. Justin Hartwig was in his first year as the Steelers’ center. Darnell Stapleton was in his first year as a starting right guard. And Willie Colon was in his second year as the Steelers right tackle. That is not a lot of time spent together as a unit. Yet, they won the Super Bowl. With more time together, the O-line should get better, not worse.
It appears that the Steelers have made the decision that they can no longer tie up money on players who might be health risks. Both Marvel Smith and Kendall Simmons cost the Steelers a lot of money last season while making almost no contribution on the field. Both players might make a complete comeback and become Pro Bowl players. That would make the Steelers decision to cut ties with them seem foolish. However, the Steelers were willing to take that risk in order to eliminate the downside of continued health problems.
The greatest potential losses for the Steelers are still unanswered. Cornerback Bryant McFadden is the highest rated CB in free agency. He will likely get a much higher offer than the Steelers can afford to match.
The Oakland Raiders recently signed their free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a three year, $45.3 million contract. Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million in the first two years of the contract. The Raiders have an option for a third year in 2011, which would be worth either $16.8 million or the amount of the quarterback franchise tag, whichever is greater. That’s a lot of money. Sure, Asomugha is a much better cornerback than Bryant McFadden. But try telling McFadden’s agent that. McFadden’s agent knows that his clients’ asking price just went up.
The fact that the Washington Redskins just signed CB DeAngelo Hall to a 6-year, $54 million deal with $22 million in guaranteed money was probably the last nail in Bryant McFadden’s Steeler coffin. The market for cornerbacks is just too high. The Steelers know that William Gay is ready to play, and Deshea Townsend is still around for insurance. Expect the Steelers to draft a cornerback in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft, and to let McFadden sign a contract that is much richer than the Steelers would have offered.
Nate Washington is the other Steelers free agent that is likely to be gone come training camp. Washington is one of the better (and faster) wide receivers available in free agency. There will definitely be a market for his services.
Washington has always been fast, and he can get good separation from his defender. However, his hands have not always been sure. Whether Washington was going to hold onto the ball has always been a 50/50 proposition. The Steelers have an exact clone of that already on the roster. His name is Limas Sweed.
Personally, I’m not quite comfortable with Sweed as a starter just yet. But I think he is going to be a quality wide receiver in the NFL. In his limited time on the field, Sweed was getting excellent separation from his defenders. He just couldn’t hold onto the ball. It took Washington a few years to develop, and Sweed may need similar development time. I won’t be surprised if the Steelers sign a low priced free agent wide receiver to help solidify the WR position until Sweed is ready to start.
Perhaps the Steelers biggest question mark during this free agency period concerns a player who isn’t even a free agent. Albert Haynesworth’s $100 million dollar deal has certainly increased the price of retaining Steelers LB, team MVP, and NFL defensive player of the year, James Harrison.
Harrison has one more year remaining on his contract. However, the Steelers have been working hard to extend Harrison’s contract before next season when he could become a free agent. Despite the fact that they play different positions, Haynesworth’s contract will affect Harrison’s negotiation.
We’ve already mentioned that Nnamdi Asomugha got a $45.3 million contract with $28.5 million guaranteed, and that DeAngelo Hall got $54 million deal with $22 million in guaranteed money. Now Haynesworth’s deal has to also be added into the mix. Haynesworth got $100 million with an NFL-record $41 million in guarantees.
Last off-season Minnesota gave defensive end Jared Allen a six-year deal worth $74 million with just over $31 million guaranteed, and the year before that the Colts handed defensive end Dwight Freeney a six-year, $72 million deal.
Joey Porter’s 5-year, $32 million contract, with $20 million in guaranteed money now seems rather small. It is probably the cellar of James Harrison’s negotiations.
Based on the above figures, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Harrison to seek a contract in the neighborhood of six years, $70-$80 million with at least $30 million guaranteed. I don’t think the length of the deal will be nearly as important to Harrison as the amount of guaranteed money.
“I was hoping we’d get $100,” Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, recently said. Yeah, right. One thing is for certain. Harrison will not be playing for the $1.8 million next year that his contract calls for.
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Pretty much spot on with the analysis, agreed 100% on letting players go that are on the downside of their career with skills and natural abilities that are sure to decline.
Limas Sweed needs to get thrown out on the field, not stand on the sideline pondering his next drop. He needs real-game reps, and he isn’t going to get that with someone else playing his position during games that count. I am hoping he is forced to step up his game and get meaningful playing time every Sunday, otherwise we will never see his true potential.
Harrison’s contract? I say pay whatever his agent wants, and figure out how to make it fit. That’s also why I’m not a GM for an NFL franchise. One thing the Rooneys have always adhered to is the belief that if they shower a single player with Redskins (stoopid) money, they will have a locker room full of players unhappy with their income.
That kind of mentality is poison - I remember we got rid of a promising young running back in the early Cowher years for that exact reason, too much complaining about money and not enough leading by example.
I’m so happy we didn’t sign any of these Haynesworthian $800-bazillion-and-a-salary-cap-demolition deals. Leave the big splashes to Mr. Snyder, and I’ll keep buying these baseball caps that say “super bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers” on them.
1What’s with the Redskins trying to be the NY Yankees. They definitely do the Steelers any favors.
2Spacemonkey,
Good thoughts. I agree with you on Limas Sweed. He is a talented receiver. He showed that in college. He’s big and fast. He just needs more reps. I think he can be just as good as Nate Washington, if not better.
Dan Snyder is killing his own team, and he’s making it much more difficult for smart teams. Do you remember when he threw all that money at Antawn Randle-El?
Albert Haynesworth is a good player, but he’s not THAT good. Now the asking price for players like James Harrison and DeMarcus Ware just went up drastically.
Stupid Washington Redskins!!!!!
3Jake,
4See above.
i know this won’t make sense to this blog, but i am commenting on the ray leaes situation. ray has allegdedly said he will never play for the ravens, well ray-ray, your phone doesn’t ring with the kind of money you are commanding. you are a great player who will go down as one of the best, and 5 years after you retire(asap) you will be sure to find a bust waiting for you in the football hall of fame. but the reason i am posting is, ray would love know more then to end his carreer with a superbowl ring, sorry ray. the steelers don’t want you, you need the steelers to come at you with a minimal offer cause you know the steelers are going to repeat! happy shopping ray.
5LIMAS WAS GIVEN THE OPPUTUNITY IN THE BIGGEST GAME OF HIS CARREER, AND HE LITERALLY DROPPED IT. HE CAN NEVER BE THE SAME MENTALLY, HE HAS THAT ” WHAT IF ” DANCING IN HIS HEAD NOW. HE WILL NEVER BE THE BIG GAME RECIEVER EVERYONE IS HOPING FOR. GAMES LIKE THAT CAN DEMORALIZE A GREAT PLAYER. OUR NXT MOVE SHOULD BE TO KEEP NATE IN WITH THE TOP TALENTED RECIEVERS WE HAVE, AND LET LIMAS GO. ON THE REAL”,,,,,,
6MARKMY WORDS, LIMAS WILL BE A BUST. I AM NOT A HATER HERE, BUT THINK A MINUTE, HIS BIG CHANCE CAME IN THE BIG DANCE, HE COULDN’T DELIVER WHEN HE KNEW HIS NUMBER WAS BEING CALLED, SANTONIO NEVER ONCE BLUNDERED A BALL IN BIG GAMES, IT COMES DOWN TO THE IT FACTOR, AND LIMAS DOESN’T HAVE IT”,,,,,,,,,
7DAVID, get real… Toss a guy out after one boneheaded play. That’s like saying Ben should have been rung up after throwing the Pick 6 against the Pats in the ’04 AFC Championship. Everyone around here is too quick to hook the rookies… first Polamalu, then Holmes, now Sweed. Admin is right. Give ‘em some reps.
8David,
I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. Atticus called it. You can’t throw away a young player after one rookie mistake. Do you remember what Troy Polamalu looked like in his rookie year? I can assure you, at that time, nobody used Troy’s name and the words “Pro Bowl” in the same sentence. However, they did call him a bust. Just look how that turned out.
Give Limas time. He’s going to be a good receiver. The Steelers’ rookie class of 2008 is going to make an impact in 2009. Just watch.
9Am I the only one who thinks that the offensive line play would be vastly improved by the removal of Bruce Arians? I’m glad to see the Steelers retain the services of the guys who made the bulk of the starts last year, but I think we need to get back to dominating time of possession, which starts with the offensive coordinator and ends with the offensive line. Yes, Ben holds the ball too long, but there was also too much use of the spread sets, which invites an overload rush against an inexperienced line. I want less than 30 attempts for Ben, and at least 25 attempts for Parker or Mendenhall, and I don’t see that happening consistently with Arians calling the shots. I’m really happy with the personell decisions so far under Tomlin, but man would I like to see Arians leave.
As for Sweed, I remember a young Plaxico who made some of the same bone-head drops that Sweed is being persecuted for, and somehow he managed to be a Pro Bowler. Not that Sweed will be the next Plax, but cut the kid a break. He’s surrounded by guys like Ward and Holmes, so he doesn’t have to be “the man” for a few years yet. He’s willing to block, he can get separation, and he’s willing to work. I like him. He’ll get more reps now that Washington has gone, and I bet by the end of the season we’ll all be glad he’s on the roster.
10JP,
I agree. Bruce Arians is a problem. But how do you get rid of an offensive coordinator who helped you win the Super Bowl? That is Mike Tomlin’s dilemma.
As far as Sweed, he is going to be just fine. Fans just have to be patient. I think he’ll be solid this year, and really have a breakout season in 2010.
11What’s the word on Harrison’s contract situation? I’m hearing rumors that it’s beginning to look unlikely that the Steelers would give top dollar and a long term deal to a 31-year-old player. I’m nervous about the lack of a cap beyond 2010. Not that we could replace him, but are there any other Joey Porter/James Harrison-type backers on the roster?
12JP,
13I’ve been keeping my ear out for news, but this thing is being done very quietly. But of course, that is the Steelers’ way. We probably won’t hear any information until the deal is done.
Okay, I can accept that. What’s your opinion on the possibility of the Steelers taking a kid who can handle kick return duties early in the draft? I know we missed out on Carr, and I don’t know of anybody left in free agency that would look good in that role. We have to upgrade our kick return game, don’t we?
14