TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Steelers left guard Alan Faneca looks for someone to block against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field, Nov. 11, 2007.
Chaz Palla/TRIBUNE-REVIEW
He makes himself accessible to reporters and quietly chats up his fellow offensive linemen in the locker room. The effort he puts into football on and off the field is one reason why his position coach said Wednesday, "I've never been around anyone like him."
Alan Faneca, in short, is no different than he has been in past seasons.
That is why the six-time Pro Bowler may be having his best season yet.
Faneca has played at his usual high level, even though he reported to training camp in July as a reluctant Steeler at best.
Faneca has softened a bit from the hard stance he took toward the Steelers in May, when he ripped into management because of his contract situation.
The member of the Steelers' all-time team is, however, resigned to the reality that he likely will leave Pittsburgh without receiving a contract offer that he considers fair or close to market value.
"It just would have happened already if it was really going to happen," Faneca said Wednesday on the possibility of he and the Steelers agreeing to a long-term contract extension. "The door's never closed, but if it was going to happen, it probably would have happened before the season."
Faneca, who is in the final year of his contract, assessed his situation matter-of-factly and without a trace of bitterness or acrimony.
That shows why he commands more respect than ever in the Steelers' locker room and the success he has had in separating his perceived slights from his professional obligations.
"My situation, I've never had to deal with or face before, but I do a good job I think of staying focused," Faneca said. "The game itself helps out so much with that. Every week you come in and you've got something new to learn, a new opponent to get ready for and you kind of get in that cycle."
Faneca has not played like someone who is distracted over his contract situation.
The left guard remains the linchpin of the offensive line, as he is its best player and vocal leader.
"Even though he wasn't voted as captain, he is a captain on this team," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "I can't say enough about the guy. He stressed his opinion to the organization and he went on from there. He's still playing at a Pro Bowl level and is the reason why we're No. 2 in the league in rushing."
Steelers offensive line coach Larry Zierlein called Faneca the "ultimate professional" because of the preparation he puts in for games, among other things.
Given how much of a loss Faneca will be to an offensive line that has been shaky at times this season, Zierlein might lobby management as hard as anyone for the Steelers to re-sign Faneca.
Faneca is arguably the most accomplished player at a position that saw its market value skyrocket last offseason, when several players that had never been to a Pro Bowl got seven-year contracts worth as much as $49 million.
And the Steelers probably won't pay the kind of money he will command, since Faneca has been in the league 10 seasons and turns 31 next month.
"His payday is coming," Ward said. "I don't think he's worried about that. Right now he wants to win another Super Bowl like the rest of us."
Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.
No comments:
Post a Comment