Steelers look to get Ward, McFadden, & Essex done before camp...

[BlitzburghRockCity]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib.../s_357510.html

The organization hopes to complete contracts for cornerback Bryant McFadden (second round), offensive tackle Trai Essex (third round) and a long-term extension for veteran wideout Hines Ward prior to the opening of training camp.

All three are represented by agent Roosevelt Barnes, who has failed to return phone calls to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the past two weeks.

Ward is scheduled to make a base salary of $1,668,750 in the final year of his contract. Steelers president Art Rooney II has said that signing Ward to an extension is a priority. The 29-year-old Ward caught 80 passes for 1,004 yards with four TDs, and played in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl last season.

Ward's representatives began talking with the Steelers this spring, but negotiations have moved slowly, even stalling at one point. Ward has not made his contract demands public, though he did tell Pittsburgh Trib columnist Joe Starkey at minicamp that "I am to this team what Marvin (Harrison) is to his team."

Harrison, the star wideout for the Indianapolis Colts, signed a seven-year contract in December that guaranteed $23 million the first two years, including a signing bonus reportedly worth $13 million. The highest guaranteed payout in Steelers history ($9 million) was paid to Roethlisberger.

As for Miller, he'll open training camp behind veteran tight end Jerame Tuman (nine catches for 89 yards with three TDs last season), but his talents may make it difficult to keep him off the field.

Miller won the Mackey Award last season as the nation's top tight end, capping a career in which he hauled in 144 passes for 1,703 yards with 20 TDs in just three years. He had 70 receptions as a sophomore, but just 41 as a junior due in large part to a nagging sports hernia that caused some NFL teams to shy away from him in the first round of the draft.

But Miller moved well during minicamp and at the team's voluntary coaching workouts on the South Side in May and June, displaying soft hands and an ability to find open spots in the secondary. He offers a big target for Roethlisberger, just as Plaxico Burress did last season.

NOTE - Herron, a running back from Northwestern, will earn annual salaries of $230,000, $310,000 and $385,000 with a $30,100 signing bonus.

[Prosdo]

Nice to hear they want to get these guys signed before camp. I am hoping they do indeed do that. Good post Matt. Let's see all these guys taken care of in the next few days.

[steelersgirl86]

Indeed, they should get this done before camp. I sure hope they do....I have been waiting...along with others I am sure...

[Avoid LLoyd1975]

Damn whats the holdup. I am starting to get nervous about Ward. I think something is going on that the public does not know about.

[Prosdo]

Steelers expect to sign second, third choices

Thursday, July 28, 2005
From staff and wire reports

The Steelers and the agents for their draft picks in the second and third rounds expect to wrap up negotiations today, which will put all eight of the team's draft choices under contract agreements.

Cornerback Bryant McFadden, their second-round pick from Florida State, will receive a four-year contract. Offensive tackle Trai Essex, their third-round choice from Northwestern, will have a three-year deal.

No further details of the contracts were available.

McFadden had an outstanding spring working out with the Steelers and coaches consider him a candidate to win a starting job in training camp, which opens Sunday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05209/544920.stm

[BlitzburghRockCity]

merged your's and my thread together. Mine had the original thoughts but yours has the latest updates.

Thanks girl! :D

[Prosdo]

Sorry Matt should have posted that here. Thanks for merging them.

[BlitzburghRockCity]

no worries girl, dont sweat it! ;)