Apr 7, 2002 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to terms with linebacker James Farrior a three-year contract for about $6.7 million to replace Earl Holmes, who is heading to the Cleveland Browns. Farrior’s agent, Ralph Cindrich, said the package includes base salary, play time and bonuses. Cindrich declined to elaborate on the deal because Farrior was in Florida and hadn’t reviewed the contract papers Friday night.

“He just really felt at home (with the Steelers),” said Cindrich. “He loved the defense’s style and this was certainly at the top of his list.”

Farrior, 27, started every game for the New York Jets last season – the first time he’s done that in his career – as the team’s leading tackler.

He’ll be filling big shoes as Holmes, 28, who led the Steelers in tackling last season, signed a five-year deal with the Browns on Friday.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Holmes averaged more than 100 tackles a season since becoming a starter in 1997, but hurt his knee twice last season. A strained posterior cruciate ligament forced him to miss the AFC title game loss to the New England Patriots.

Holmes told a Pittsburgh newspaper for Friday’s editions that he flew to Pittsburgh on Thursday so the team could see that his knees had healed. He also said he met with coach Bill Cowher, and that both men agreed Holmes should return to the Steelers next season.

“He told me I’m the man,” Holmes told the newspaper.

Cindrich said Friday that Holmes and his agent Tom Condon didn’t meet a Steelers deadline to come to terms by Friday.

“He was wanting to come back to Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh – particularly Coach Cowher – wanted that, and the team indicated (Holmes) was going to get first crack” at signing a contract before Farrior, Cindrich said.

When that deal didn’t come together quickly enough, the Steelers turned to Farrior, Cindrich said. He said he had no doubt that Farrior could replace Holmes.

“We see him as a very good fit,” Cindrich said. “We’re all hopeful he’ll be able to fill in and even exceed” Holmes’ performance.

Cindrich said he and the Steelers expect Farrior, a 6-foot-2, 244-pound outside linebacker, to make the transition to Holmes’ inside spot easily. Farrior is also expected to play every down, whereas the Steelers didn’t always use Holmes on passing downs, Cindrich said.

Holmes started in 79 of 81 games while in Pittsburgh and was an integral part of the league’s top-rated defense last season.

His chances of signing with the team were dimmed somewhat after the Steelers gave All-Pro linebacker Jason Gildon a five-year contract worth $23 million. The Steelers also signed John Fiala, who replaced Holmes in the AFC Championship when Holmes was injured.

Holmes was originally drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round in 1996 out of Florida A&M.

Farrior, a University of Virginia star, was the Jets’ first-round pick in 1997 and started 15 games as a rookie. He started just 11 games over the next three seasons before blossoming in a new scheme introduced by defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell last season.