mesaSteeler
03-23-2009, 09:59 PM
Steelers shy away from free agents
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_617321.html?source=rss&feed=9
By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, March 23, 2009
Scott Brown is the Steelers beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Brown's blog and Steelers Q&A.
DANA POINT, Calif. — The Steelers have rarely been major players during free agency.
This year they may stay on the sidelines altogether for the signing period, which started at the end of February.
The Steelers have yet to add a player from another team to their roster, and they likely won't make any free-agent signings until after the NFL Draft at the end of April — if they make any at all.
"Right now, we're really shifting away toward the draft process," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said Sunday, the first day of the NFL owners' meetings at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa. "We'll add through the draft. That's the biggest component of what we do anyway. I'm confident we're going to get some good picks."
The Steelers' focus this offseason has been keeping the team that won Super Bowl XLIII intact, and they have re-signed almost 10 of their own players, including three starters along the offensive line.
The Steelers have gotten visits from just two free agents and both players, wide receiver Joey Galloway and cornerback Chris Carr, signed elsewhere. Colbert said the Steelers may not sign any free agents.
Their top priority remains signing outside linebacker James Harrison, who is going into the final year of his contract, to a long-term deal. The Steelers are also intent on reaching an agreement on a multi-year deal with left tackle Max Starks, who signed a one-year, $8.45 million contract in February after the Steelers used a franchise tag on him to buy more negotiating time.
Colbert said he is confident the Steelers will lock up Harrison even though the two sides have yet to make a breakthrough in talks that started in February.
"Sure, we both get frustrated at the pace sometimes," Colbert said of negotiations, "but he's been great, his agent's been great in dealing with us. It's everybody's goal here, them and us, to secure James Harrison long-term. So long as we don't lose sight of that fact we'll get a deal done that's satisfactory to both sides."
The Harrison deal and possibly one with Starks have to fall into place before the Steelers start negotiating with other players that are going into the final year of their contract.
That list includes wide receiver Hines Ward, tight end Heath Miller, nose tackle Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel and free safety Ryan Clark.
"I don't know if we'll get (a deal with Harrison) done before the draft, so the draft will affect who we go after, (and) how many," Colbert said when asked which other players the Steelers would like to sign to multi-year contracts.
The Steelers are still trying to re-sign several of their own free agents, Colbert said, and the team has not ruled out bringing back both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch.
The Steelers signed Leftwich last August after Batch was lost for the season with a broken collarbone. Each has proven to be a capable backup to starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Having both, along with second-year man Dennis Dixon behind Roethlisberger, would appear to make for a crowd at quarterback. But, Colbert said, "it would be great to have that kind of depth going into the season."
As for free agents from other teams, Colbert said the Steelers will probably re-visit the issue after teams start releasing players following the draft. Even if the Steelers do not sign a free agent, Colbert said, he is pleased with what the team has been able to accomplish since winning the Super Bowl.
"To us, it's a productive offseason," Colbert said, "keeping our own players."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_617321.html?source=rss&feed=9
By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, March 23, 2009
Scott Brown is the Steelers beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Brown's blog and Steelers Q&A.
DANA POINT, Calif. — The Steelers have rarely been major players during free agency.
This year they may stay on the sidelines altogether for the signing period, which started at the end of February.
The Steelers have yet to add a player from another team to their roster, and they likely won't make any free-agent signings until after the NFL Draft at the end of April — if they make any at all.
"Right now, we're really shifting away toward the draft process," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said Sunday, the first day of the NFL owners' meetings at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa. "We'll add through the draft. That's the biggest component of what we do anyway. I'm confident we're going to get some good picks."
The Steelers' focus this offseason has been keeping the team that won Super Bowl XLIII intact, and they have re-signed almost 10 of their own players, including three starters along the offensive line.
The Steelers have gotten visits from just two free agents and both players, wide receiver Joey Galloway and cornerback Chris Carr, signed elsewhere. Colbert said the Steelers may not sign any free agents.
Their top priority remains signing outside linebacker James Harrison, who is going into the final year of his contract, to a long-term deal. The Steelers are also intent on reaching an agreement on a multi-year deal with left tackle Max Starks, who signed a one-year, $8.45 million contract in February after the Steelers used a franchise tag on him to buy more negotiating time.
Colbert said he is confident the Steelers will lock up Harrison even though the two sides have yet to make a breakthrough in talks that started in February.
"Sure, we both get frustrated at the pace sometimes," Colbert said of negotiations, "but he's been great, his agent's been great in dealing with us. It's everybody's goal here, them and us, to secure James Harrison long-term. So long as we don't lose sight of that fact we'll get a deal done that's satisfactory to both sides."
The Harrison deal and possibly one with Starks have to fall into place before the Steelers start negotiating with other players that are going into the final year of their contract.
That list includes wide receiver Hines Ward, tight end Heath Miller, nose tackle Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel and free safety Ryan Clark.
"I don't know if we'll get (a deal with Harrison) done before the draft, so the draft will affect who we go after, (and) how many," Colbert said when asked which other players the Steelers would like to sign to multi-year contracts.
The Steelers are still trying to re-sign several of their own free agents, Colbert said, and the team has not ruled out bringing back both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch.
The Steelers signed Leftwich last August after Batch was lost for the season with a broken collarbone. Each has proven to be a capable backup to starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Having both, along with second-year man Dennis Dixon behind Roethlisberger, would appear to make for a crowd at quarterback. But, Colbert said, "it would be great to have that kind of depth going into the season."
As for free agents from other teams, Colbert said the Steelers will probably re-visit the issue after teams start releasing players following the draft. Even if the Steelers do not sign a free agent, Colbert said, he is pleased with what the team has been able to accomplish since winning the Super Bowl.
"To us, it's a productive offseason," Colbert said, "keeping our own players."