View topic - Who should the Steelers go after in FA?

[McLovin Profile]

Not that Colbert ever signs any big names but who interests you guys? Of course Albert Haynesworth would look awesome in the middle of Steeler defense but not going to happen! Jordan Gross? Pipe Dream. McLovin realizes that Harrison should be extended and McFadden re-signed but who else could help ensure a Super Bowl repeat?

Two guys McLovin wants: First, Jon Stinchcomb RT of the Saints. Sure he's an average RT, but Average is a HUGE upgrade over Willie Colon! Second guy on McLovin's wish list is 6'7 DE Chris Canty of the Cowboys. He plays RDE and would add youth and depth to the DL. Colbert took Fred Gibson in round 4 in 2005...Cowboys took Canty one pick later. Bad miss on Colberts part especially since Heath Miller of UVA just like Canty went in first round. Surely scouts saw this guy...he did have eye injury senior year maybe that scared them off. Anyway, those are two names McLovin likes...who would you like to see added?

[SteelPower Profile]

How about Khalif Barnes? Starting left OT for the Jags.

[Teegre Profile]

Pipe-dream or not, it makes sense. ONE premier LT is better than re-signing THREE scrubs.

$12 million for Grosss > $12 million for Starks, Kemo, & Essex.

[McLovin Profile]

Pipe-dream or not, it makes sense. ONE premier LT is better than re-signing THREE scrubs.

$12 million for Grosss > $12 million for Starks, Kemo, & Essex.

The pipe dream is not in the finances rather that Colbert does not sign franchise type players from other teams...never has never will

[McLovin Profile]

How about Khalif Barnes? Starting left OT for the Jags.

What happened to Barnes? He started out great as a rookie LT, great in pass pro, but this year he and the rest of their line hit with injuries and played like ass. Colbert would have to go back to last year and look at this guy. McLovin feels that if he were franchise LT the Jags would've extended his contract going into the season to prevent him from even becoming a FA in the first place. That said, he's an AVERAGE OT which is an assload better than the two worst OTs in the league in Starks and Colon. Sign him up!
Another OT that has kind of played a few positions on a bad team until of late is Vernon Carey of the Phins. McLovin believes Wandstedt drafted this guy in the first round and moved him all over the OL. Carey and the rest of the line had a great year under the tuteledge of Tony Sporano. Sign him up too!

[Steel Keeper Profile]

Pipe-dream or not, it makes sense. ONE premier LT is better than re-signing THREE scrubs.

$12 million for Grosss > $12 million for Starks, Kemo, & Essex.

first of all Starks Kemo & Essex won't cost $12M per.

second you forgot about the guys we'd have to pay to replace kemo and essex

so it's more like $13.5 for Gross + 2 guys worse than Kemo & Essex as replacements vs. $9M for Starks, Kemo, & Essex

So yeah, I'll take the latter.

Sweet straw man argument

[Teegre Profile]

McLovin
True...while it might make sense, Colbert would never even consider it.

RE: Khalif Barnes
I had heard that he was in Del Rio's dog-house (for whatever reason). Ergo, he did not receive an extension. That said, he was still starting....which makes me think that he has talent. That might be a possibility.

Keeper
Alright, you got me...my math skills were not "exact."
That said, I still say that Gross would be worth the money...even if he were double the amount of Starks, Kemo, & Essex. I would rather have one All-Pro and two rookies than three "average" players.

$15 million for Gross and two rookies > $7 million for Starks, Kemo, & Essex

Simply, Gross solidifies Ben's blind- side. And, the two rookies would be cheaper than, and likely better than, Kemo & Essex.

[McLovin Profile]

McLovin
True...while it might make sense, Colbert would never even consider it.

RE: Khalif Barnes
I had heard that he was in Del Rio's dog-house (for whatever reason). Ergo, he did not receive an extension. That said, he was still starting....which makes me think that he has talent. That might be a possibility.

Keeper
Simply, Gross solidifies Ben's blind- side. And, the two rookies would be cheaper than, and likely better than, Kemo & Essex.

McLovin had not heard Barnes in Del Rio's doghouse. Not necessarily that uncommon down there though as Mike Peterson, Byron Leftwich, and Fred Taylor frequented that doghouse as well. McLovin thinks Del Rio a bit of an asshole so not going to write off Barnes because Del Rio doesn't like him.
As for Gross, McLovin agrees his signing alone improves the OL to AVERAGE status, however this morning on Atlanta sports talk show they had Falcons beat writer on and he said Falcons have a shot at FA Julius Peppers because Panthers are going to franchise Gross. Colbert has too many of his own players to extend anyway. Barnes an interesting possibilty as Teegre suggests to keep the seat warm until a 1st or 2nd round LT prospect is developed.

[Hagerstown Steelman Profile]

I am not too worried about us when it comes to negotiating contracts for the guys currently on the team. Over Colberts tenure we have not really lost anyone who really came back to bite us. Sure it would have been nice to keep Faneca but not for what he wanted. Plus I have heard he was a cancer in the locker room Tomlins first year. Porter? not when replaced by harrison for a song.

To me this year Colber, Tomlin and the organization will be put to the test with what games to play on the O-line. This will have to be a real ballet as so many things come into play. How players come back from injury, what players ask for in FA, what FA are available, and the draft.

The o-line can go so many different directions it is anyones call. However, knowing Tomlin, Colbert, and the organization you can bet it will get better and without breaking the bank.

[Snockered Pedestrian Profile]

Barnes is in DelRio's doghouse b/c he was going to get Garrard killed and he was in trouble with the law. Gross will be franchised by the Cats. Is Stinchcomb any better than Trai Essex? Methinks of the OLs who are UFAs, Essex will be the only one the FO keeps; MSmith's back can't be counted on anymore and Kemo & Starks are substandard OLs. Transitioning Starks turned out to be a good move but, hopefully, that won't happen again.

[JumboHeadYouks Profile]

Our best FA will be Max Unger or Alex Mack, one of which will be our 1st rounder. I cannot see the Steelers signing anyone of significance in the FA market. If Unger and Mack are gone...maybe we get lucky and Percy Harvin slips to 32? Ward, Holmes, Harvin, Sweed? Ben would have a field day with that squad.

[Todd Profile]

Max Starks, Bryant Mcfadden, and Vernon Carey.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

list of free agents both UFA's and RFA's

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2009/falist2330.htm

[Steel Keeper Profile]

Keeper
Alright, you got me...my math skills were not "exact."
That said, I still say that Gross would be worth the money...even if he were double the amount of Starks, Kemo, & Essex. I would rather have one All-Pro and two rookies than three "average" players.

$15 million for Gross and two rookies > $7 million for Starks, Kemo, & Essex

Yikes. I really disagree. 3 average players are better than 1 Pro Bowler and 2 sub-par guys, especially on the line. And Gross is going to get way too much money. If you sign Gross then you lose McFadden. Now we are in desperate need of a CB. Gay could be a decent CB2, but Townsend is probably done after this year. So you force the Steelers hand by having to reach for a IOL/CB combo in the first two rounds. Maybe they get lucky and can take Alphonso Smith in round 1 and Eric Wood in round 2, but now you can't address the DL until round 3. But you'll probably have to take another IOL to provide depth. Jarron Gilbert probably won't be there at 3.98. So what you've done is upgrade (not nearly as much as you would think, though. Gross had a rough start and a shitty playoff game with some very good performances in the middle) at LT, a short term downgrade at IOL and depth. Potentially screwed our once amazing DB depth and forced us to draft specifically for positions and guys who can contribute immediately.

Starks is an above average LT. He had a very good year, especially considering the preparation he had. He's got years left in the tank. You don't need Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson. You need Max Starks' b/c they are not nearly as overpaid and you can retain talent in other places without too much of a drop off.

You have to bring back Essex and probably Kemo. While he is not even an average starter he is better than the alternative. Believe me, it can get much worse than Kemo. We could get the equivalent of Sean Mahan at LG. If you re-sign those 3 OL you can return with the same OL that was just good enough to win a Super Bowl but needs to be improved. And you can improve it at your leisure in the draft. If Tyson Jackson is there at 1.32, take him we need to re-build the DL. We can ignore the secondary and linebacking corp because we have quality and youth there (although Farrior/Clark replacements are eventually needed). No reaching for Darius Butler or Max Unger. Settle on a starting line-up that can get by in FA and improve your weaknesses, short and long-term in the draft.

[LambertoCincoOcho Profile]

There might be injury concerns with some of these but I like the following players.
If we could sign Asomugha we would have by far the best CB tandem in the NFL. I like Leonhard from the Ravens he's a up and coming player and we could give Anthony his walking papers. Others...
Dunta Robinson
Napaoleon Harris for Foote
Tra Thomas
Devery Henderson to replace Nate
Brookings and Dawkins probably stay put.

[Lawman Profile]

Brandon Jacobs wouldn't be a bad pick up if he's around. I know the stable's full with Parker, Mendenhal, and Moore, but Jacobs would be a nice bruising back to have. Nice size 6'4/265.

[Teegre Profile]

Keeper
First off, your points are all valid & logical.
Especially, about not breaking the bank for the O-line...at the expense of the D-line (which also needs ot be addressed).

That said, allow me to explain my thinking. You still might not agree, but I at least want to try to clarify.

1. I do not see McFadden being re-signed. He will cost way, way too much.
1-a. Fret not, for Gay played pretty darn well for the four games that McF was out, and Gay had to cover: Roy Williams, Chris Chambers, & Wes Welker.
1-b. The problem arises, not with the starting CB, but the 3rd CB. Gay was an amazing 3rd CB. But, if he moves into the starting role, then the 3rd CB becomes Deshea...who is aging as we speak.
Summation:
Gay can start. Then, draft a 4/5 round pick to play the 3rd CB spot.

2. Jordan Gross is a pipe-dream...I admit that. Regardless, let's dream.
2-a. The two O-linemen who the Steelers would bring in would be two picks from R1 - R3. These players, I do not see being "sub-par"...but, actually better than Hartwig, Kemo, & Essex. The O-line would like like such:
LT - Gross
LG - R3 pick
OC - Hartwig...and eventually Eric Wood/Alex Mack/Max Unger
RG - Stapleton
RT - Colon...and eventually Tony Hills.
Summation:
Use free agency & the early portion of the draft to upgrade the O-line from "average" to "elite."

3. Use the other R1 - R3 pick that was not used on O-line to draft a DE.

R1 - OC
R2 - DE
R3 - OG
R4 - CB...(who can also return punts)

[No l Gravity l Profile]

Keeper
First off, your points are all valid & logical.
Especially, about not breaking the bank for the O-line...at the expense of the D-line (which also needs ot be addressed).

That said, allow me to explain my thinking. You still might not agree, but I at least want to try to clarify.

1. I do not see McFadden being re-signed. He will cost way, way too much.
1-a. Fret not, for Gay played pretty darn well for the four games that McF was out, and Gay had to cover: Roy Williams, Chris Chambers, & Wes Welker.
1-b. The problem arises, not with the starting CB, but the 3rd CB. Gay was an amazing 3rd CB. But, if he moves into the starting role, then the 3rd CB becomes Deshea...who is aging as we speak.
Summation:
Gay can start. Then, draft a 4/5 round pick to play the 3rd CB spot.

2. Jordan Gross is a pipe-dream...I admit that. Regardless, let's dream.
2-a. The two O-linemen who the Steelers would bring in would be two picks from R1 - R3. These players, I do not see being "sub-par"...but, actually better than Hartwig, Kemo, & Essex. The O-line would like like such:
LT - Gross
LG - R3 pick
OC - Hartwig...and eventually Eric Wood/Alex Mack/Max Unger
RG - Stapleton
RT - Colon...and eventually Tony Hills.
Summation:
Use free agency & the early portion of the draft to upgrade the O-line from "average" to "elite."

3. Use the other R1 - R3 pick that was not used on O-line to draft a DE.

R1 - OC
R2 - DE
R3 - OG
R4 - CB...(who can also return punts)

I kind of like Tone back there...Maybe someone else to return kick offs.

[JumboHeadYouks Profile]

Hey..one can dream.

On a more realistic tip...

Dunta Robinson anyone?