Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El dances around on the snow-covered turf at Heinz Field as looks for a seam in the Chicago defense to return one of the Bears' seven punts during their December matchup.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Realted article
Steelers Notebook: Tuman comes to terms; Bailey to return at DE
The flurry of moves involving the Steelers two days ago came hours before the Ides of March, and they came out believing not only did they, unlike Caesar, avoid a knife to the heart of their Super Bowl team, but also might have enhanced future runs at more championships.
The Steelers, who already had lost receiver Antwaan Randle El, moved quickly to shore up two more possible holes by signing new starters at free safety and defensive end and did so with modest, long-term contracts for young players who appear to be on the rise.
In free safety Ryan Clark, 26, they acquired a player at least the equal to Chris Hope and at a much better price than Hope wanted from them.
"The thing about Ryan as a player is that he was always at the right place at the right time," said Kevin Colbert, their director of football operations. "He was somebody who could set a defense and run a defense. Ryan's similar to the types of free agents that we've been able to sign, a young kid coming off his first contract as a starter. He was productive on a very good defense."
They wanted to keep Kimo von Oelhoffen and Brett Keisel but, in the real world, that was never going to happen, and they could have lost both defensive ends. While Keisel, 27, has not started a game, they didn't want to lose what they believe is a good, young player the way they did with Mike Vrabel in favor of an older one.
"We felt that Brett was going to be a full-time player on our team," Colbert said.
They also forced Jerame Tuman's hand by inviting free-agent tight end Aaron Shea for a visit. Tuman learned of it, quickly placed a call and told them he wanted to sign their latest contract offer.
Those moves also mean that, other than cornerbacks Deshea Townsend and Ike Taylor, all of the Steelers' starters are signed through the next two seasons.
"We're not in a situation where we have to tear it up," Colbert said about the Super Bowl champions. "When you look at our team, we have a lot of guys under contract for a minimum of two years. We're kind of caught up right now."
There is still the matter of their starting cornerbacks. Taylor has attracted interest from several teams, but has no visits set and is unlikely to receive a contract offer from elsewhere -- another team would have to send the Steelers a first-round draft pick in return. Even three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper brought just a second-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings this week.
The Steelers are hopeful they will lure Townsend back, but they also have a young cornerback in Bryant McFadden who looks as if he is ready to start.
The loss of Randle El could hurt, but they lost Plaxico Burress last year and won the Super Bowl.
They have two plans to replace Randle El -- with Cedrick Wilson and possibly undrafted 2005 rookie Nate Washington, and there's also the draft.
Washington, who has the size (6-1) and speed to play split end, made two key plays in the AFC championship game that kept their first scoring drive alive. On third-and-7, Washington caught a 13-yard pass to keep the drive going. He then broke up a potential interception in the end zone before Jeff Reed put the Steelers in front -- for good as it turned out -- with a 47-yard field goal.
"We feel good about Nate," Colbert said. "Nate was a kid coming out of small college, and he had to adapt. He had to make a more dramatic leap than a kid coming from a bigger school. Throughout the year, he got better and better and better, to where he helped us win a playoff game. You look at him and say, OK, this kid's got a chance to develop."
The Steelers have no further visits by free agents scheduled but will continue to look for value in the market. Colbert believes the club's reputation along with winning a Super Bowl could tip the decision their way for other signings, including their own free agents.
"They feel good about the organization, the team, the coaching staff and the city. I think it's a good place to play. I think the Super Bowl put that feeling over the top, but I think that feeling existed before that.
"For guys coming from the outside, as Ryan is, he's looking at it and saying, wow, that's a Super Bowl team and they want me to be part of it. I think that helps, definitely, in the recruiting process."
(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.)
No comments:
Post a Comment