C.Hope Wants To Remain A Steeler

[drizze99]

S Chris Hope's agent say he hopes to negotiate a deal that will keep the Steelers' free safety in Pittsburgh but acknowledged that in free agency "business is business." Pat Kirwan, a senior analyst for NFL.com, predicts Hope will be one of the first 10 free agents signed.

Source: LINK

[clevestinks]

I like Chris Hope some, but I believe that our system protected him somewhat, he isn`t as good as the money he will get. I`m not sold on him entirely! And wouldn`t be to sad to se him go, although we are thin at that position

[Suitanim]

This is all pretty standard stuff...I think the NFL must issue a booklet "Standard Responses to Free Agency Questions".

The bottom line is almost always this: Stay in Pittsburgh for fair money and contend every year, or go play in Arizona or Cleveland for a few more sheckles and never play in a Championship game again.

[melroseplace]

I agree that he's not worth the money he's getting, but I would definitely like to see him stick around. hopefully he's smart enough to realize that if he stays here he's got a good shot of going back to the SB. that should be incentive...

[83-Steelers-43]

Losing Hope would hurt only because we don't have anybody solid to back him up. That scares me. For a FS he rarely get's his hands on the ball. He is a product of our system and I don't see us blowing big time cash on keeping him here. We will obviously make an attempt, but I don't see the Rooney's putting a nice chunk of change aside for Chris Hope.

Also, keep in mind the guy is only 25.

[Atlanta Dan]

You actually can make an argument that if you candidly evaluate your own talent and know you are mostly a product of being in the right place at the right time, then you should grab for the FA $$$ rather than take less $$ to stay where you are and assume you will be a player with your current team for life.

The classic case is Larry Brown after Dallas won the SB, who cashed in as a FA (and flopped) because O'Donnell gift-wrapped the INTs. Another example was Dexter Jackson, whom the Steelers pursued in 2002, and who fortunately ended up in Arizona (now back in Tampa) while the Steelers had to "settle" for trading up and drafting Troy.

The history of SB champs is that second-tier starters that are in their FA year get to cash in because someone confuses their talent within a system to individual talent. The two cases this year are ARE and Hope. Both are nice role players, but if the Steelers thought they absolutely needed to keep either one they would be signed by now. I have no doubt ARE is gone and little reason to believe Hope is staying. Given that this should not come as a shock to the Steelers, I assume they have a plan for replacing Hope.

[WWIIOwheelz]

/\/\/\/\

Excellent post and very true.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

I assume they have a plan for replacing Hope.

I "Hope".....hehe.....sorry, that was horrible.

[Ambridge]

Who's Hope's back-up........Tyrone Carter??

I know he had a pick or two during the season along with some solid ST's play so maybe he can take his performance to the next level and step in as the new starter??

[83-Steelers-43]

He had one sack and one INT this season.