Thoughts on Expansion Exposure List
Coming off one of the worst defeats in
franchise history, the Stillers now must quickly get to the next task at hand
-- submitting a list of 5 players to be exposed to the NFL expansion
draft.� The list is due to the NFL on
Tues., Jan. 29th.�
There is a bit of "calculus" to
consider in compiling such a list.�
Remember, no impending UFAs or IR players can be exposed on the list,
nor can kickers/punters (there goes the idea of exposing Kris Brown or Josh
Miller.)�� Because of the salary cap
implications, which can be favorable if the Texans select one of your
high-priced vets, you ideally would like to expose high-cost vets who have
little or no on-field value to your future plans.�� With that thought in mind, here's the list I'd submit�..
- Jerome Bettis.�� The Tubby
Tailback would have been #1 on my list, long before the Patriots fiasco on
Sunday.��� The Patriots game merely
reinforces this move.�� Besides his
hefty appetite for food, Bettis eats an enormous amount of salary cap money.� And in return, the Stillers get a
1-dimensional RB who cannot run wide, does little in the passing game, and is
so disinterested in maintaining his weight and conditioning that he has easily
weighed over 270 pounds the past 3 seasons.��
On top of that, the Stillers have two backs who are much younger --
Chris Fu and Amos Z. -- and much cheaper.��
If 2001 showed us anything, it was that the Stillers can still win, and
score points, and run the ball, without a 270-pound RB.��
- Mark Bruener.� Another no-brainer,
even more so than Bettis.�� Bruener is a
cap-killer who will eat $4M worth of our cap in '02.� And in return, we'll get "the best blocking TE in
football", which is akin to being "the best pick-setting point guard
in the NBA" or "the best defenseman at taking faceoffs in the NHL".�� Jerame Tuman and Matt Cushing filled in
admirably for Bruener, at about 5% of the cost.�� Amazingly enough, the world never did come to an end when
Bruener was lost for the season in mid-November, despite the perpetual cries
of, "Bruener is the key to our power offense."�� On top of that, Bruener has now suffered
his 3rd season-ending injury.�� Without
question, Bruener should be a sal-cap cut this June, but we'd get a better
break from this expansion draft.� If
Capers and the Texans take the boot-footed TE -- and his outrageous salary --
off our hands, we all should send Capers a truckload of Iron City to express
our sincere gratitude.�
- Roger Duffy.�� The Duffer
has served his purpose here, but it's time for this team to move on and start
grooming youngsters like Okobi, Vincent, and Nkwenti.�
- Chris Combs.� Combs has
little cap hit, but he has little effect on our future plans.�� Combs dressed less than Francois Leroux
during his last season with the Penguins.�
- Lee Flowers.��� Lethon has
a fairly pricey cap hit, and while a great hitter, is the worst coverage-man of
our top 6 DBs.�� If Flowers were to get
selected by Texas, the Stillers could simply move Logan into the starting
lineup to play safety alongside Brent Alex.�
Others to consider:
- Jon Witman.� Witman
serves no purpose on this team and has no usefulness.� Problem is, Capers probably thinks the same thing for his Texans
team, and he isn't likely to take a stiff like Witman when he can easily do
better without too laborious a search.�
- Troy Edwards.� Because of
his hefty salary as a former #1 draft choice, Troy may have already been on
thin ice for this expansion list.� And
that was before the moronic penalty that nullified the 64-yard punt, which was
then followed by a rather heartless effort by Troy to get even 5 feet off the
line of scrimmage on the ensuing punt, which Troy Brown took to the house.�� Cowher might still be fuming, and use this
expansion list as an easy method of discarding Eddie.�� Prior to the Patriots fiasco, Edwards had shown immense grit,
toughness, and maturity as a spec teamer and a #3 WR, and all in all, I'd just
as soon keep him.
- Mike Logan.� Logie has a
somewhat high price tag for a backup, but Logan is a far better cover-man than
backup safeties like Boo Bell, and Logan impressed me immensely with his
toughness and football instincts.��
Logan is a winner and a true football player.�� If the team wants to keep Flowers, Logan could unfortunately be
the odd man out, and I can assure you that Dom Capers will grab Logan off that
list faster than you can dump Enron stock.�