Biggest Steelers’ moves may be those who leave, not those who arrive
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the NFL free agent signing period Friday with a less-is-more approach. Compared to a year ago, they’ve got less room under the salary cap to make moves and, probably, less inclination to tie up their own players, as they did by spending $40 million-plus on signing bonuses last year.
This time, the biggest news is expected to be who leaves rather than who stays – and the biggest move may have already taken place with the release of quarterback Kordell Stewart.
Two other former key starters also are about to become former Steelers: left tackle Wayne Gandy and strong safety Lee Flowers, as the team made no move to retain either player.
Flowers, a defensive co-captain who is strong against the run, was deficient in pass coverage as the Steelers slipped from No. 4 in pass defense in 2001 to No. 20 in 2002.
Once opponents began moving the ball with spread offenses, the Steelers adjusted by playing Flowers in man-to-man coverage much more frequently than before. He struggled visibly in the role, especially as the Steelers allowed their final three opponents to throw for 1,076 yards and score 98 points.
To replace Gandy, Marvel Smith may switch to the left side alongside All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, with backup Oliver Ross taking over at right tackle. Chris Hope, a third-round pick from Florida State, is expected to replace Flowers.
“When you look at some of the deficiencies we had, you have to look and see what the answers are,” Cowher said. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time looking at what we were doing and who were doing it with.”
Not everybody is leaving, though. The Steelers retained negotiating rights to four restricted free agents by making $619,000 qualifying offers Thursday to defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, linebacker Clark Haggans, fullback Dan Kreider and cornerback Hank Poteat.
Of the group, only Kreider is currently involved in multiyear contract negotiations. However, a de-emphasis of the running game lessened Kreider’s role and often kept him off the field on key downs, so the Steelers may not be willing to pay him the going rate for a starting fullback.
The Steelers rarely used their fullback as anything but a blocker, and Kreider ran only 14 times for 69 yards and a touchdown and averaged a relatively low 6.8 yards on his 18 receptions last season.
The offer to Poteat was somewhat of a surprise. Poteat also struggled in pass coverage, and was targeted so frequently by the Browns in their 36-33 playoff loss that he played much less the following week in the season-ending loss at Tennessee.
The Steelers do have some needs, namely a veteran backup quarterback, a tight end and maybe a defensive back. But they are only about $1.8 million under the $73 million salary cap, so they aren’t expected to be active in the big-ticket free agent market.
A year ago, they signed free agent linebacker James Farrior and kicker Todd Peterson, who went on to miss 9 of 21 field goal tries and was released Thursday.
The Steelers also aren’t expected to be as active in re-signing their own players, as they were when they reached new deals last year with Jason Gildon, John Fiala, Deshea Townsend, Joey Porter, Aaron Smith, Amos Zereoue, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Mark Bruener, Tommy Maddox and Faneca.
Among the players entering the final year of their contracts are Smith, defensive end Rodney Bailey, running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, safety Mike Logan and offensive linemen Mathias Nkwenti and Chukky Okobi.