View topic - Bye Bye Nate Nate?

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Don Banks, of SI.com, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers may allow impending free-agent WR Nate Washington to leave if another team offers him a sizable contract this offseason.

Thoughts?

[El Nino Profile]

i dont think he gets any big offers, he's capable of the home run but way too inconsistent. he will probably come out next year only in the 4-wide formations, im predicting sweed will win the job over him

[SteelTank Profile]

I think Nate must stay, but at only the right price. I don't think he will get too many huge offers though.

I think the stillers can make him a exclusive rights or transition player as well, can't they? So, the long and the short of it is Nate will be here at least another year. Maybe we need to see what he can do as a number 2 with Ward taking a step back next year so he can healthy come playoff time.

Sweed is too much of an unknown to let Nate walk this year.

[Still Furnace Profile]

I just don't see Nate getting the big offers, although Super Bowl victories tends to generate irrational offers from the rest of the NFL's lesser franchises trying to prove they're really trying by signing ring bearers to their rosters at inflated prices.

Nate, IMO, finally started to come around the final 3rd of the season -- That was right about the time I threw in the towel with him, concluding that the only thing reliable about Nate were his in-the-hands drops regularly burning out 1st and 2nd quarter drives. I kept saying that he's going to cost us big in the playoffs.

Then, the final 1/3rd of the season, the drops ceased, and Nate seemed to become (finally) reliable. That said, if he slips under the radar due to many high profile early season drive killing drops, he'll probably come in at a reasonable price worth resigning to confirm he's finally gotten beyond the dropsies.

On the other hand, some other teams may have noticed the turnaround and be willing to gamble with a high $$ contract knowing he was sitting 3rd behind two Super Bowl MVPs.

Limus is still an unknown commodity, although far from a bust. Let's see what he does his 2nd season.

[Steel Holiday Profile]

Sweed is/should be the future for Pgh. Washington's chance to shine was this year. He had some great games, and he had some poor games. Nate was a little to inconsistent to earn a big pay day probably. Contract offers will probably resemble those of top #3 receivers around the league. Paying him as a #2 just wouldn't be a wise business decision. As has been the case for a couple seasons now, Nate Washington has all the tools, but is yet to put it all together yet.

[GodfatherofSoul Profile]

Nate had 2 TD routes that Ben underthrew him on. Probably because of pressure, can't remember.

[Still Furnace Profile]

I re-watched XIII last night and the under-throw was no doubt an under-throw on Ben, but Nate's way of dealing with it was the polar opposite of how a Fitzgerald would go after that ball. Nate just kinda slowed down and waited for the ball to drop into his arms, while Cromartie closed the gap, jumped up and met the ball. Nate didn't even give himself a chance. He's gotta have the presence to step up and meet and fight for that ball, if not to catch it, to at least make sure cromartie doesn't get a pick.

His poor ball meeting skills have been a problem since day one. No doubt he can get open, but between his drops and this...

[mikeyg Profile]

your thread title is correct - for the 1000th time, I ask: WHEN have we ever kept a UFA that another team has wanted? Once these guys (the better guys) hit the market, they are gone. That includes Nate and BMAC this year, Starks too.

There is NO THING as a hometown, or 'play for the steelers' discount - at least not when you hit FA. They want to get paid and paid as much as they can - next year may be any of their last years and they need guaranteed money

[Hagerstown Steelman Profile]

Would be nice to keep Nate but I agree only at the right price.

Last year we put some type of transition tag on him. Signed him to I believe a 1yr 1.5million $ contract. If another team wanted to offer the same or more they could but then we would have gotten a draft picks (no idea what rnd but 3rd seems to stick in my head).

Would be nice to keep him with Wards age and in case of injury to someone next year. However, Sweed will be better next year and with the other weapons over paying for him would be stupid.

I say 60% chance he is back next year.

[mikeyg Profile]

Would be nice to keep Nate but I agree only at the right price.

Last year we put some type of transition tag on him. Signed him to I believe a 1yr 1.5million $ contract. If another team wanted to offer the same or more they could but then we would have gotten a draft picks (no idea what rnd but 3rd seems to stick in my head).

Would be nice to keep him with Wards age and in case of injury to someone next year. However, Sweed will be better next year and with the other weapons over paying for him would be stupid.

I say 60% chance he is back next year.

100% chance if they franchise / transition tag him, 10% if not. Some DUMB team will look at his highlight reel and overpay him (and he ought to take it - it will be the biggest contract he has ever seen)

[El Nino Profile]

Would be nice to keep Nate but I agree only at the right price.

Last year we put some type of transition tag on him. Signed him to I believe a 1yr 1.5million $ contract. If another team wanted to offer the same or more they could but then we would have gotten a draft picks (no idea what rnd but 3rd seems to stick in my head).

Would be nice to keep him with Wards age and in case of injury to someone next year. However, Sweed will be better next year and with the other weapons over paying for him would be stupid.

I say 60% chance he is back next year.

100% chance if they franchise / transition tag him, 10% if not. Some DUMB team will look at his highlight reel and overpay him (and he ought to take it - it will be the biggest contract he has ever seen)

it'll be that team's worst mistake, this guy's route running is worse than sweed's and it's his 3rd year. and imo, bad route running is a bigger problem than being prone to drop passes. unfortunately he's got both of those problems.

[mikeyg Profile]

Would be nice to keep Nate but I agree only at the right price.

Last year we put some type of transition tag on him. Signed him to I believe a 1yr 1.5million $ contract. If another team wanted to offer the same or more they could but then we would have gotten a draft picks (no idea what rnd but 3rd seems to stick in my head).

Would be nice to keep him with Wards age and in case of injury to someone next year. However, Sweed will be better next year and with the other weapons over paying for him would be stupid.

I say 60% chance he is back next year.

100% chance if they franchise / transition tag him, 10% if not. Some DUMB team will look at his highlight reel and overpay him (and he ought to take it - it will be the biggest contract he has ever seen)

it'll be that team's worst mistake, this guy's route running is worse than sweed's and it's his 3rd year. and imo, bad route running is a bigger problem than being prone to drop passes. unfortunately he's got both of those problems.

I agree but it happens all the time - SB players leave for the big pay check. Nates fits great in our system - now - if a team is paying him as a 3rd receiver, than we have a chance, but I bet someone pays him like a starter

[Snockered Pedestrian Profile]

Sweed will move up to #3 and BR7's bud Nance (on the practice squad) will come onto the
active roster. Don't be surprised to see the FO draft a WR on Day 2. Nate will say his farewells at the ring ceremony; someone will overpay him. For all of 85's big plays, the drops will end
his tenure here.

[SteelerPower Profile]

I think Nate should stay but now for more money. he is a homerun hitter and I beleive Sweed will grow in experience and become a great reciever. He needs to improve over the offseason and train hard to become the third wide out.

[Todd Profile]

Nate wont receive an offer from the Steelers. Beyond the issue of money, how is Sweed going to develop into a #2 receiver in this league if Nate is taking all the #3 reps? On top of that, if Sweed IS a bust, it would be good to know this season so that we can draft Dez Bryant or Arrelious Benn in 2010. Both are just unbelievable studs.

[prowlin Profile]

Do you want to see something really scary?

Do you?

Rewatch the winning Holmes catch from the QB view, and watch what would
of happened if Ben forces that ball to Nate instead of Holmes.

Now that is scary.

[punum123 Profile]

My bet says Nate is gone this year...it's unfortunate as I really like him.

That's my $0.02

[toomuchmerrilhoge Profile]

It's real hard to tell. Nate was able to prove this year that he is a deep threat and can get behind defenses. But with all the other FA and higher priority players to deal with, I don't see him returning next year. I think he knew as soon as the SB ended that it was his last game with the Steelers. Did anyone else notice when Santonio was on the sidelines hoisting his arms up in celebration after the Warner fumble, Nate was right next to him, looking hugely depressed?? It was a rather odd moment.

Check it out:
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/43/videos/ ... 5d80e85a1f

Watch the very end of the video with Nate...