Kemoeatu re-signs with Steelers

February 27, 2009
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/steelers/

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Left guard Chris Kemoeatu turned down an offer from the New York Jets and re-signed Friday with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who would have been depleted on the offensive line without him.

Kemoeatu's contract is worth $20 million over five seasons and pays him a signing bonus of nearly $4 million, which is believed to be less than the Jets were offering. Nearly $6 million is guaranteed Kemoeatu, a former backup who started only two games during his first three Steelers seasons from 2005-07.

The Steelers released former starting right guard Kendall Simmons on Thursday. Losing Kemoeatu -- who helped them win a Super Bowl in his first season as a starter -- would have left them with former undrafted free agent Darnell Stapleton as their only experienced guard. Stapleton also was a first-year starter last season.

The Jets wanted Kemoeatu as the replacement for right guard Brandon Moore, but Kemoeatu preferred to stay with a team that has a chance to win a third Super Bowl in five years.

Last year, the Jets signed longtime All-Pro guard Alan Faneca from the Steelers, creating a starting job for Kemoeatu in his fourth season in Pittsburgh.

Kemoeatu was a Steelers sixth-round pick in 2005, likely dropping in the draft because of a 2003 incident in which the former Utah lineman kicked an UNLV player in the face while his helmet was off. Kemoeatu had been suspended for the first half of that game following an on-field dispute with a San Diego State player the week before.

Kemoeatu's contract is the same length as the $24 million, five-year deal Simmons signed in August 2007, only 18 months before Pittsburgh released him.

Simmons' contract included a $7.85 million signing bonus, of which the remaining $4.71 million will count against the Steelers' 2009 salary cap. The Steelers do not have to pay Simmons his non-guaranteed salary of $3.1 million.

Simmons missed the final three months of the regular season and the playoffs last season after tearing an Achilles tendon against the Ravens. The former first-round draft pick also sat out the 2004 season with torn knee ligaments that occurred during training camp.

Simmons' departure means the Steelers probably will be without two longtime starting offensive linemen who missed most of last season with injuries. Former starting left tackle Marvel Smith became a free agent Friday and is likely to leave following the decision to make Max Starks the franchise player.

Starks moved in at left tackle after Smith developed back problems for the second successive season. Smith was limited to five games in 2008, a year after back surgery caused him to miss the final month of the 2007 season.
Another Smith also got no guarantees from the Steelers -- guaranteed money, or a job.

Anthony Smith, the safety who unwisely guaranteed a victory over the then-unbeaten Patriots in 2007, became an unrestricted free agent Friday after the Steelers didn't tender him a contract.

The Steelers gave up quickly on Smith, whose career in Pittsburgh declined rapidly after he was a third-round pick from Syracuse in 2006. He angered coach Mike Tomlin not only by guaranteeing the Steelers would beat the Patriots a season later, but by getting beat for two touchdowns during New England's 34-13 victory.

Smith's playing time dwindled last season, and he was deactivated for all three playoff games.

By failing to make a $1 million, one-year qualifying offer to Smith, the Steelers won't receive a draft pick in compensation if he signs elsewhere.