View topic - Identifying core players

[stillchest Profile]

I can't help but to be concerned about potential FA's. Miller, Holmes, Woodley, McFadden have been key components to our Championship run. Do not want to lose any of these players. At this point, the O line is garbage so tossing any serious cash at, any of those current players is senseless.
What is the probability of keeping the aforementioned core players? Colbert has done a fine job of keeping skill position players around Ben so I am hopeful.

Thank's guys.

[McLovin Profile]

McFadden the only pressing FA for this off season. McLovin would sign him up ASAP, but starting corners usually cash in big on the open market...especially Super Bowl champion corners. Colbert would have to actually use what is known as the "franchise tag" if the offers for McFadden get out of hand. Miller, although grossly underutilized in the Arian's offense, has the potential to be a top 5 TE so McLovin would welcome extending him a year before his contract up. Holmes although a Super Bowl hero, might be expendable as was Plax a couple years back...remember you can't sign everybody. Re-signing Woodley might require him to be the second highest paid player in franchise history to Ben if he keeps up his playoff tear of destroying qbs. Unfortuanately,Colbert RARELY signs an impact FA from another team, two that could come at a reasonable rate that McLovin' would like to see signed are RT Jon Stinchcomb from the Saints and DE Chris Canty from the Cowboys. Should be a fun off season getting that shit Oline straightened out!

[El Nino Profile]

whatever we do we need to keep woodley, that guy is probably the guy we can least afford to lose, if we can afford it i think we should extend his contract now sooner than later

sign kemo to a deal if he doesn't command too high of a price tag. he still has some upside and has proven to be at least serviceable this year.

[McLovin Profile]

whatever we do we need to keep woodley, that guy is probably the guy we can least afford to lose, if we can afford it i think we should extend his contract now sooner than later

sign kemo to a deal if he doesn't command too high of a price tag. he still has some upside and has proven to be at least serviceable this year.

McLovin could see Colbert signing Kemo only if on the cheap...could also see Starks getting another 1 yr deal...hopefully at a lot less than $7mil. With any luck the Steelers make a move for one o 5 potential first round LTs with Michael Oher and Ebon Britton in range of a trade up from the 32nd pick. That makes Starks a valuable insurance policy since Steelers don't like to rush rookies into starting roles. If no OT available in rd 1 take a center like Alex Mack...Steelers have nice history at that position that has been tainted by Sean Mahan...Hartwig adequate but he's no Ranger, Webster, Dawson, or Hartings. Rebuilding the line will take time but as McLovin said in another post...here's a doable upgrade for next yr and beyond:

LT: Starks--1 yr--Then Oher or Britton era
LG: Kemo--can't get rid of all of them
C: Hartwig--stopgap until wood or other rookie OC is ready
RG: Wood--played some C and RG at Senior bowl...lucky if there rd 2
RT: Jon Stinchcomb--avg RT...but average a major upgrade over Willie Colonoscopy