My 2008 Steelers Offseason

[padgfrombf]

We are losing:
Alan Faneca - UFA
Trai Essex - RFA
Max Starks - UFA
Clark Haggans - UFA
Greg Warren - RFA
Chris Kemoeatu - RFA
Nate Washington - RFA
Nick Eason - UFA
Travis Kirschke - UFA
Marquis Cooper - UFA
Dan Kreider - UFA
 

Your point is well taken on the restructures as well as the potential re-signings.

I suspect that Faneca walks.  FWIW, Stapleton actually looked good in camp in beating out Capizzi, Philip, and draft pick Cam Stephenson for a roster spot.  If he can add about 20# of ballast, he may be able to root Mahan out of the starting OC spot.  

I would prefer that the PS let Haggans test the FA market and come back as a backup to Woodley.  He is no longer an impact player.  Agree that Farrior is going to get a restructure-or-else offer.

Starks is a must-sign, IMO, with Marvell not the most durable OT on the block.  The PS will probably get a deal done with Warren, Kemo, and Essex (aka Barrett Brooks, Jr.).

Eason was the last guy to make the team, and probably will re-up if an offer is forthcoming.  Cooper will probably be a camp invitee.  Kirschke and Krieder are probably close to the end of the line.

Washington is an interesting case.  I suspect they'll upgrade his deal and give Reid, Rossum, and Wilson the boot, especially if Bloom is for real.

Some of that cap room may vaporize if the FO tries to head off a Big Ben free agency in a couple of years.  Ditto for Heath Miller.

[schnoah]

Question... if the comp pics are the year after, and i think you are right about that, do we get anything for Hartings retiring?  

[Finnegans Wake]

Question... if the comp pics are the year after, and i think you are right about that, do we get anything for Hartings retiring?

No.

[aj_law]

Holy shit.

By my count, that was posted a few hours after the Jags game.  I didn't get to sleep until well after 4:00 either, but damn, there's no way I could've thrown anything that cogent together at that hour, under those conditions.

Props.

[schnoah]

Thanks AJ, i was so depressed by the game i had to put that energy into something. I am also thankful that you guys really liked it and i hope you got a good bit out of it.

I am currently working on a 1st round mock draft, and the concurrently the rest will follow... its just taking a lot of time. It will have everything from Vitals, 40 time, positives and negatives, team needs, and reasons why the selection.

So keep your eyes out, might be a few days, but will be here in time!

[jonzr]

They can't franchise Faneca.

[aj_law]

Uh, J...unless I'm totally missing something.  Pittsburgh can franchise Fanny (or any UFA, for that matter).

Would be costly though as the tag would probably exceed 10 million next year for an offensive lineman.

[padgfrombf]

That was the thing with the Hutchinson deal and it's contractual cousins.  Top three OG money went from about $6 to $9-10MM in one year.  That does kill the idea of the franchise tag, if it were even considered.

[jonzr]

Well, maybe I'm wrong.  But if a guy is unrestricted, then how can you franchise him?  That sounds like a restriction to me.  The man is unrestricted, he is bound in no way by any offer the Steelers make.  He's on the open market.

Hell, I'll go look it up you lazy bastards.
 

[jonzr]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foot...gue#Free_agency

Unrestricted free agent

A player who has 5 or more years of experience is eligible for unrestricted free agency, whereby his current team has no guaranteed right to match outside offers to that player. This means that players in this category have unlimited rights to negotiate any terms with any team.

So, there ya go.

 :rock: