lamberts-lost-tooth
03-01-2008, 08:49 AM
Steelers predictably stick to plan
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 1, 2008
It never fails.
Every year at the start of free agency local fans and pundits scrutinize the Steelers' roster from top to bottom before sighing a wishful "what if?" as NFL teams open their checkbooks and attempt to sign their troubles away.
And then there's the Steelers, who try to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
The Steelers are not a pretentious football team.
They win more games than they lose. They won Super Bowl XL and have fielded five playoff teams in the last seven seasons.
They sell out every game at Heinz Field and have a waiting list for season tickets larger than the national debt.
So why ask why the Steelers aren't more active in free agency?
All depends on your definition of free agency.
For the record, the Steelers have made offers to six of their own free agents -- restricted free agents Nate Washington, Chris Kemoeatu, Greg Warren and Trai Essex, and unrestricted free agents Max Starks and Travis Kirschke.
Whoop-de-do!
Last year the Steelers broke tradition and signed unrestricted free agent center Sean Mahan for $17.5 million. Moral to that story: Be careful what you wish for.
Given the choice of spending money on other team's players or, in Mahan's case, another team's mistake, the Steelers generally choose to re-sign their own players. Players they've spent years developing and indoctrinating to the Steelers' way.
Of the four restricted free agents, only one -- Essex -- was drafted as high as the third round. Washington and Warren were undrafted free agents.
Warren is the starting long snapper. Kemoeatu is expected to replace Alan Faneca. Washington is the No. 3 receiver. Essex is a backup.
It's doubtful that any of those players -- and that includes Starks -- will attract big offers from other teams. The Steelers couldn't care less. To the Steelers, familiarity is more important.
Eighteen of the Steelers' 22 starters in the 2007 opener at Cleveland were homegrown. Don't expect those numbers to change much for the 2008 opener.
The Steelers' blueprint for success doesn't include pricey free agents, and it's safe to assume that it probably never will.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_555010.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 1, 2008
It never fails.
Every year at the start of free agency local fans and pundits scrutinize the Steelers' roster from top to bottom before sighing a wishful "what if?" as NFL teams open their checkbooks and attempt to sign their troubles away.
And then there's the Steelers, who try to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
The Steelers are not a pretentious football team.
They win more games than they lose. They won Super Bowl XL and have fielded five playoff teams in the last seven seasons.
They sell out every game at Heinz Field and have a waiting list for season tickets larger than the national debt.
So why ask why the Steelers aren't more active in free agency?
All depends on your definition of free agency.
For the record, the Steelers have made offers to six of their own free agents -- restricted free agents Nate Washington, Chris Kemoeatu, Greg Warren and Trai Essex, and unrestricted free agents Max Starks and Travis Kirschke.
Whoop-de-do!
Last year the Steelers broke tradition and signed unrestricted free agent center Sean Mahan for $17.5 million. Moral to that story: Be careful what you wish for.
Given the choice of spending money on other team's players or, in Mahan's case, another team's mistake, the Steelers generally choose to re-sign their own players. Players they've spent years developing and indoctrinating to the Steelers' way.
Of the four restricted free agents, only one -- Essex -- was drafted as high as the third round. Washington and Warren were undrafted free agents.
Warren is the starting long snapper. Kemoeatu is expected to replace Alan Faneca. Washington is the No. 3 receiver. Essex is a backup.
It's doubtful that any of those players -- and that includes Starks -- will attract big offers from other teams. The Steelers couldn't care less. To the Steelers, familiarity is more important.
Eighteen of the Steelers' 22 starters in the 2007 opener at Cleveland were homegrown. Don't expect those numbers to change much for the 2008 opener.
The Steelers' blueprint for success doesn't include pricey free agents, and it's safe to assume that it probably never will.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_555010.html