lamberts-lost-tooth
02-18-2008, 03:35 AM
Steelers' changing of the guard
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ordinarily, the Steelers attempting to re-sign reserve guard Chris Kemoeatu would barely rate a mention entering free agency.
These are not ordinary times for the Steelers.
Seven-time Pro Bowler Alan Faneca, the top free-agent guard, is as good as gone. Last week the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Bears are considering signing Faneca to a huge deal. Additional teams are expected to enter the Faneca sweepstakes.
Kemoeatu, a restricted free agent with two starts in three NFL seasons, is the probable in-house candidate to replace Faneca at left guard.
Omar Khan, the Steelers' lead negotiator, has spoken with Kemoeatu's representative, Kenneth Vierra, regarding a new multiyear contract. The two are scheduled to have another phone conversation tomorrow and then meet in person Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"What I took from the conversation is he's going to start at guard (in 2008)," Vierra said about Kemoeatu, a fifth-round pick (and the 204th player selected) in the 2005 draft. "The bottom line is they've expressed interest. We're making progress and talking and trying to get it done."
The Steelers are under no obligation to give Kemoeatu a long-term contract. As a restricted free agent, they can offer him a one-year tender and continue negotiating on a long-term deal or wait until after next season when he would become an unrestricted free agent.
Kemoeatu, who earned around $460,000 last season, would receive $927,000 next season if the Steelers offered him a low tender that would net them a fifth-round draft pick if another team topped their offer.
Vierra said the Steelers are more likely to offer a $1.47 million tender that would cost another team a second-round pick to sign Kemoeatu.
"Normally you can establish some kind of market, a range, and you can work things out," Vierra said. "It's a crapshoot because he has a lot of potential, he's shown a lot of good things, but he doesn't have 30 starts under his belt. We're trying to figure out what makes sense length-wise, bonus-wise, playing-time incentives-wise.
"I have full confidence he's going to be a Steeler in 2008. The question is, can we get a (long-term) deal done?"
Khan doesn't discuss contract negotiations, and director of football operations Kevin Colbert wasn't available for comment. A team spokesman said the Steelers don't discuss the status of their free agents.
Kemoeatu started two games at right guard in 2006 when Kendall Simmons was sidelined with a foot injury. He saw limited action at right guard last season in a "Monday Night Football" game against Baltimore. He also started at left guard in a preseason game against Green Bay last season when Faneca was out with a shoulder injury.
"If Alan's gone, you have a guy that can step in at a very high level," Vierra said. "He will work. That's what they like about him."
Clearly, the Steelers like what they see. But have they seen enough to offer Kemoeatu the long-term security he's seeking?
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_552921.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ordinarily, the Steelers attempting to re-sign reserve guard Chris Kemoeatu would barely rate a mention entering free agency.
These are not ordinary times for the Steelers.
Seven-time Pro Bowler Alan Faneca, the top free-agent guard, is as good as gone. Last week the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Bears are considering signing Faneca to a huge deal. Additional teams are expected to enter the Faneca sweepstakes.
Kemoeatu, a restricted free agent with two starts in three NFL seasons, is the probable in-house candidate to replace Faneca at left guard.
Omar Khan, the Steelers' lead negotiator, has spoken with Kemoeatu's representative, Kenneth Vierra, regarding a new multiyear contract. The two are scheduled to have another phone conversation tomorrow and then meet in person Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"What I took from the conversation is he's going to start at guard (in 2008)," Vierra said about Kemoeatu, a fifth-round pick (and the 204th player selected) in the 2005 draft. "The bottom line is they've expressed interest. We're making progress and talking and trying to get it done."
The Steelers are under no obligation to give Kemoeatu a long-term contract. As a restricted free agent, they can offer him a one-year tender and continue negotiating on a long-term deal or wait until after next season when he would become an unrestricted free agent.
Kemoeatu, who earned around $460,000 last season, would receive $927,000 next season if the Steelers offered him a low tender that would net them a fifth-round draft pick if another team topped their offer.
Vierra said the Steelers are more likely to offer a $1.47 million tender that would cost another team a second-round pick to sign Kemoeatu.
"Normally you can establish some kind of market, a range, and you can work things out," Vierra said. "It's a crapshoot because he has a lot of potential, he's shown a lot of good things, but he doesn't have 30 starts under his belt. We're trying to figure out what makes sense length-wise, bonus-wise, playing-time incentives-wise.
"I have full confidence he's going to be a Steeler in 2008. The question is, can we get a (long-term) deal done?"
Khan doesn't discuss contract negotiations, and director of football operations Kevin Colbert wasn't available for comment. A team spokesman said the Steelers don't discuss the status of their free agents.
Kemoeatu started two games at right guard in 2006 when Kendall Simmons was sidelined with a foot injury. He saw limited action at right guard last season in a "Monday Night Football" game against Baltimore. He also started at left guard in a preseason game against Green Bay last season when Faneca was out with a shoulder injury.
"If Alan's gone, you have a guy that can step in at a very high level," Vierra said. "He will work. That's what they like about him."
Clearly, the Steelers like what they see. But have they seen enough to offer Kemoeatu the long-term security he's seeking?
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_552921.html