View topic - Steelers Offseason Decisions and Analysis

[ibleedBLACKandGOLD81 Profile]

UFAs:
Charlie Batch
Willie Parker
Travis Kirschke
Nick Eason
Casey Hampton
Rocky Boiman
Deshea Townsend
Anthony Madison
Ryan Clark
Tyrone Carter
Jeff Reed

Willie Colon

RFAs:
Matt Spaeth
Darnell Stapleton
William Gay
Sepulveda

I've read conflicting information regarding whether or not Colon is a UFA or RFA. Can somebody clear this up for me please? He's played for 4 seasons so in past seasons this would make him a UFA. I'm going to assume he's a UFA. I think it's highly likely the Steelers will tender all 4 of the above RFAs. Here are players currently on our roster/IR (not practice squad) under contract for next season along with our RFAs:

QB
Ben Roethlisberger
Dennis Dixon

RB
Rashard Mendenhall
Mewelde Moore

FB
Frank Summers
Sean McHugh

WR
Hines Ward
Santonio Holmes
Mike Wallace
Limas Sweed
Tyler Grisham (practice squad likely)

TE
Heath Miller
Matt Spaeth (RFA)
Sean McHugh
David Johnson (practice squad likely)

T
Max Starks
Tony Hills

G
Chris Kemoeatu
Ramone Foster
Trai Essex (can also play T)
Keith Urbik (might be able to play T)
Darnell Stapleton (RFA)

C
Justin Hartwig
Doug Legursky

DE
Aaron Smith
Brett Keisel
Ziggy Hood
Ra'Shon Harris

NT
Chris Hoke

OLB
James Harrison
Lamar Woodley
Andre Frazier
Patrick Bailey

ILB
James Farrior
Lawrence Timmons
Keyaron Fox

CB
Ike Taylor
William Gay (RFA)
Keenan Lewis
Joe Burnett

FS
Ryan Mundy

SS
Troy Polamalu

K
None

P
Daniel Sepulveda (RFA)

LS
Greg Warren

KR
Stefan Logan (he'll be attending camp at the very least)

Current Practice Squad:
71 Shipley, A.Q. C 6-0 298 5/22/86 R Penn State
69 McLendon, Steve DT 6-4 280 1/3/86 R Troy
53 Williams, Johnny LB 6-2 246 2/20/86 R Kentucky
28 Vincent, Justin RB 5-10 219 1/25/83 1 Louisiana State
33 Redman, Isaac RB 6-0 230 11/10/84 R Bowie State
31 Harris, Tuff S 6-0 198 1/23/83 3 Montana
80 Bright, Eugene TE 6-4 268 4/18/85 R Purdue
13 Chery, Jason WR 5-10 185 5/31/85 R Louisiana-Lafayette

Obviously there are a lot of factors to consider when resiging players. Major considerations are price needed to resign a player and other available free agents. The Steelers will be very thin at tackle if they let Colon go however neither he nor Starks are true LTs so it's hard to justify tying up all that salary for so long on 2 RTs. Or maybe they want Colon to play Guard next year. He's a difficult decision.

I'd let Charlie Batch go because I feel comfortable with Dennis Dixon as our backup. No doubt Byron Leftwich will also be getting cut.

It's hard to predict how much interest there will be for Willie Parker in Free Agency. I'd probably let him walk and look for some lightning quick upcoming rookie RBs.

Kirschke should be done now that Hood and Harris have a year under their belts. Thanks for your services and good luck to you.

If Eason would sign a 1 year deal or 2 year deal with a very small signing bonus I would probably sign him if Lebeau is staying and we're keeping the 3-4.

Casey Hampton - I would NOT sign him to a long term deal. Too bad a work ethic. I would consider putting the franchise tag on him.

Rocky Boiman - 1 year minimum with no signing bonus for insurance against injury. Roster spot will be far from guaranteed.

Deshea Townsend - Thanks for your service as a Steeler. No longer has the speed to play corner.

Anthony Madison - exact same situation as Boiman.

Ryan Clark - I would try really hard to sign him if he doesn't want too much. 3 years 7.5 - 9 mil should do it.

Tyrone Carter - Gone. Safety help a high priority for this upcoming draft.

Jeff Reed - I definitely don't like how much he drinks alcohol but he's an accurate kicker. 2002 with Kris Brown was a nightmare.


A true LT, NT if keeping 3-4, and Safety are our highest priorities in the draft.

[ibleedBLACKandGOLD81 Profile]

I wonder how the coaching staff feels about Gay, Lewis, and Burnett at CB?

[NiagaraBalls Profile]

Are you not aware that Leftwich has been in Tampa Bay this entire season? Shipley signed with the Eagles last week, too.

[NOVAStiller Profile]

Are you not aware that Leftwich has been in Tampa Bay this entire season?

I think he's saying he'll be available again and should be picked up during the offseason to replace Batch.

[ibleedBLACKandGOLD81 Profile]

Yeah I don't think there's any doubt that the Buccaneers will get Leftwich's salary off their books. I think the Steelers are comfortable with Dixon as the number 2 guy now so I don't know how interested they'll be in Leftwich anyways.

[NiagaraBalls Profile]

I think Batch will re-sign for maybe another yr. or two for a minimal contract as a 3rd string QB. He's very popular in Pittsburgh and w/ the team and probably would be willing to take on a reduced role in order to retire as a Steeler. He'd be about the only 3rd stringer w/ multi-yr. starting experience.

[m1k3 Profile]

I've read conflicting information regarding whether or not Colon is a UFA or RFA. Can somebody clear this up for me please? He's played for 4 seasons so in past seasons this would make him a UFA. I'm going to assume he's a UFA. I think it's highly likely the Steelers will tender all 4 of the above RFAs. Here are players currently on our roster/IR (not practice squad) under contract for next season along with our RFAs:

It has to do with the CBA. Basically, under the current CBA, next year will be uncapped. But at the same time, all of these guys (like Colon) that were due to become UFAs are now RFAs.

[SteelTank Profile]

m1k3 has it right.

In an uncapped year, players can become UFA after 5 years of service not 4 years. So, Colon will be a RFA.