Mathis tells Steelers why they should sign him
PITTSBURGH – The Detroit Lions’ all-time leading receiver visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, and the Atlanta Falcons’ all-time leading receiver visited Wednesday. Terance Mathis certainly sounded a lot like his predecessor, Herman Moore, in that, no, he isn’t looking for money or playing time. He’s looking for a championship.
So which veteran receiver do the Steelers sign?
Mathis stepped into Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert’s shoes and broke it down neatly for reporters.
“First of all,” Mathis said, “you have to sit down and say, ‘Well where do these guys fit in? What are these guys going to give you? What have these guys done over their careers? I know we lost a Bobby Shaw. Bobby Shaw was a slot receiver and at times he could play out wide and was a big plus for us. Now let’s look at these other two guys. Herman Moore, for instance, is a big receiver. He’s played all of his career on the outside. OK, but can he play inside? Maybe, maybe not. But he’s a big plus because he’s a big receiver and a big target and that can be a plus for any team. Then you go to a Terance Mathis. This guy has been in the slot. That’s where he started his career, basically, in the slot. He can play out wide. He can do a lot of things. He can be your first. He can be your starter. He can be your third guy. He can be your fourth guy. Whatever is asked of him, he can do it – out wide, in the slot, in the backfield, whatever.’
“You have to ask yourself, ‘Where do these guys fit?’ And of course, if I’m the GM, I’d pick me.”
Perhaps scouting is in Mathis’ future, but the 12-year veteran doesn’t believe his playing days are close to being over. Last year, in fact, he caught 51 passes for 564 yards and two touchdowns. In his career, he’s made 573 receptions and 57 touchdown catches. And even though the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Mathis just turned 35, he makes the argument that he’s actually younger than the 32-year-old Moore.
“My first four years with the Jets, I probably averaged 10 plays a game,” Mathis said. “Sometimes, I didn’t even play. My first four years I learned a lot of football but didn’t play a lot of football. So, actually, I just finished my eighth year in the NFL, so take it at that.”
The Steelers are expected to make a decision on either – or perhaps neither – veteran receiver within the next week.