View topic - Longterm question about former Steeler UFAs

[PSUPERCY Profile]

As Ike Taylor ponders his options I can't help but think of all of the former Steelers who departed for the promise of big money, only to be cut and banished to NFL obscurity. Is it better to ride out the current situation for five or six years at a lower pay rate than to leave for the unsecured supposed big money contracts? Barry Foster had the potential to still be at car dealership openings and sell memoibilia forever. Instead he is some guy my kids don't even know about. Heck, I wouldn't even drive to the local 7'eleven if I heard he was there sigining autographs. Compare that to the permanently cemented legacies of Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis both of whom took less money to stay in good situations. Alan Faneca could have been one of these players.

It just does not seem to work out that often.
Here's my short list of players who left and found out things were better in black and gold (yeah, I said GOLD!) Please
share thoughts and add to the list.

Neil O'Donnell
Barry Foster
Levon Kirkland
Nate Washington
Eric Pegram
Yancy Thigpen
Alan Faneca

[PSUPERCY Profile]

Richard Huntley
Carnell Lake
Chad Brown

It kinda worked out for Plaxico until BANG!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxWWJaTEdD0
I got my own feelings about Woodson in a Ravens uniform.

[Crucible-steel-kid Profile]

I totally and wholeheartedly agree. I remember being upset when Coach Noll was asked about Franco, and his reply was "who!?!". Franco went to play the last year or two out west in Seattle and then came back to the Burgh' to live as a local hero. I understand it is a business and he was probably only there to collect a check, but it just illustrates that when players leave, they usually aren't heard from anymore. Franco's saving grace was 4 s/b rings and the Immaculate Reception. That is what helped in the end.

As far as Woodson is concerned, he has the atypical I am better than thou and I know better than you attitude toward Pittsburgh, and I cannot personally stand him. He was offered a lucrative contract but they wanted to move his ass to safety since he lost a step or two after his injuries. But no, his pride was hurt and he felt that he should still be the premier starting c/b and they were trying to squeeze him out which is not the case since they were trying to use him as a safety. I think he got a s/b ring with the Raisins that year, and he probably went into the H.O.F. as a Raisin - so basically he is meaningless to the history of the Stillers as far as I am concerned in non championship seasons.

Another good example is Randle El. I knew he wouldn't do much in Dan Snyder's Foreskins, looking for a better opportunity elsewhere. As fate would have it, he came back to the Stillers-was this a good thing or not? I suppose the verdict is still out on that one.

[PSUPERCY Profile]

Nate Washington

[bigjoespompano Profile]

Yancey Thigpen

[PSUPERCY Profile]

Charles Johnson

[Steel Holiday Profile]

Kendrell Bell

[rick723 Profile]

I totally and wholeheartedly agree. I remember being upset when Coach Noll was asked about Franco, and his reply was "who!?!". Franco went to play the last year or two out west in Seattle and then came back to the Burgh' to live as a local hero. I understand it is a business and he was probably only there to collect a check, but it just illustrates that when players leave, they usually aren't heard from anymore. Franco's saving grace was 4 s/b rings and the Immaculate Reception. That is what helped in the end.

As far as Woodson is concerned, he has the atypical I am better than thou and I know better than you attitude toward Pittsburgh, and I cannot personally stand him. He was offered a lucrative contract but they wanted to move his ass to safety since he lost a step or two after his injuries. But no, his pride was hurt and he felt that he should still be the premier starting c/b and they were trying to squeeze him out which is not the case since they were trying to use him as a safety. I think he got a s/b ring with the Raisins that year, and he probably went into the H.O.F. as a Raisin - so basically he is meaningless to the history of the Stillers as far as I am concerned in non championship seasons.

Another good example is Randle El. I knew he wouldn't do much in Dan Snyder's Foreskins, looking for a better opportunity elsewhere. As fate would have it, he came back to the Stillers-was this a good thing or not? I suppose the verdict is still out on that one.

You may want to check your facts. Woodson went into the HOF as a STEELER

[PSUPERCY Profile]

You may want to check your facts. Woodson went into the HOF as a STEELER

He did go in as a Steeler, however deny that his legacy as a Steeler wasn't tarnished by playing for the Raiders and Ravens (SF) not so much.