83-Steelers-43
04-23-2007, 07:59 AM
Paychecks, not personalities, dictate decisions with Steelers
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, April 23, 2007
If the last few months have taught us anything, it should be that it's always about the money.
At $8 million per season, Bill Cowher would still be coaching the Steelers, not working for CBS.
At a higher salary, Joey Porter would still be the starting outside linebacker for the Steelers, instead of breaking the bank with the Miami Dolphins.
Instead of missing the first minicamp in silent protest because of unhappiness over the lack of progress in his contract negotiations, Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca would have been a welcome sight at the team's South Side facility.
New coach Mike Tomlin had better things to do than answer reporters' questions about Faneca's absence, but that's what happens when the Steelers' top offensive lineman misses a voluntary minicamp, and some people think it's because Tomlin got the job instead of former assistant coach Russ Grimm.
It isn't, of course.
With a brand-new, market-value contract in hand, Faneca would learn to love playing for Tomlin.
On the other hand, if he doesn't get the new deal he's seeking from the Steelers and becomes a free agent after the 2007 season, he'll learn to love playing for his new coach.
Faneca, who turns 31 at the end of next season, is in line for his last big payday. Despite his absence from the minicamp, he'll be there when the season starts -- after all, he needs to show potential suitors he can still perform at a Pro Bowl level.
"Alan's a professional," wide receiver Hines Ward said Sunday at the conclusion of the minicamp. "Players and coaches, we come and go. Yes, we all loved Russ. We loved Whis (former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt). But they're not here now."
The Steelers learned that lesson from Porter, if they didn't learn it first from Cowher in his failed contract talks with the Steelers.
Porter, though, was one of them, a former teammate who helped the Steelers win their first Super Bowl in 26 years.
And now he's gone.
If it happened to Porter, they all realize it could also happen to them.
Porter's situation taught the rest of the players a valuable lesson: There is life after playing for the Steelers.
Abundant life.
Porter still has his Super Bowl ring, plus he signed a contract with Miami for more money than he could have dreamed of earning with the Steelers.
Porter's new contract includes a $12 million signing bonus and $20 million in guaranteed money.
The Steelers have never given a $10 million signing bonus.
But that's about to change. If not with Faneca, then with Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, whose contact also ends after next season.
Faneca and Polamalu both have Super Bowl rings, too.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_504060.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, April 23, 2007
If the last few months have taught us anything, it should be that it's always about the money.
At $8 million per season, Bill Cowher would still be coaching the Steelers, not working for CBS.
At a higher salary, Joey Porter would still be the starting outside linebacker for the Steelers, instead of breaking the bank with the Miami Dolphins.
Instead of missing the first minicamp in silent protest because of unhappiness over the lack of progress in his contract negotiations, Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca would have been a welcome sight at the team's South Side facility.
New coach Mike Tomlin had better things to do than answer reporters' questions about Faneca's absence, but that's what happens when the Steelers' top offensive lineman misses a voluntary minicamp, and some people think it's because Tomlin got the job instead of former assistant coach Russ Grimm.
It isn't, of course.
With a brand-new, market-value contract in hand, Faneca would learn to love playing for Tomlin.
On the other hand, if he doesn't get the new deal he's seeking from the Steelers and becomes a free agent after the 2007 season, he'll learn to love playing for his new coach.
Faneca, who turns 31 at the end of next season, is in line for his last big payday. Despite his absence from the minicamp, he'll be there when the season starts -- after all, he needs to show potential suitors he can still perform at a Pro Bowl level.
"Alan's a professional," wide receiver Hines Ward said Sunday at the conclusion of the minicamp. "Players and coaches, we come and go. Yes, we all loved Russ. We loved Whis (former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt). But they're not here now."
The Steelers learned that lesson from Porter, if they didn't learn it first from Cowher in his failed contract talks with the Steelers.
Porter, though, was one of them, a former teammate who helped the Steelers win their first Super Bowl in 26 years.
And now he's gone.
If it happened to Porter, they all realize it could also happen to them.
Porter's situation taught the rest of the players a valuable lesson: There is life after playing for the Steelers.
Abundant life.
Porter still has his Super Bowl ring, plus he signed a contract with Miami for more money than he could have dreamed of earning with the Steelers.
Porter's new contract includes a $12 million signing bonus and $20 million in guaranteed money.
The Steelers have never given a $10 million signing bonus.
But that's about to change. If not with Faneca, then with Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, whose contact also ends after next season.
Faneca and Polamalu both have Super Bowl rings, too.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_504060.html