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What Free Agents Steelers Should Keep, Ignore

By Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 9 years ago

Good morning,

Teams can begin negotiating with the agents for impending free agents tomorrow (although, as we’ve seen in the past, many already have illegally taken those steps).

The signing period begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. Here is one opinion on what approach the Steelers should take regarding their own free agents:

--- LB Jason Worilds: Try to sign him to a multiple-year contract, but that seems to have failed so far. He’s likely headed elsewhere.

--- CB Ike Taylor: Thank him for all of his efforts and tell him the podium awaits when he wants to “retire a Steeler.’’

--- TE Matt Spaeth: It may be time to move on, but a vet minimum signing is not out of the question to cover their tracks at the position.

--- LB Arthur Moats: He should be signed already. He played well in a supporting role and could start barring other signings.

--- CB Brice McCain: Same as Moats. Sign him already.

--- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: Thank him for the special teams help and move on.

--- S Will Allen: A one-year, vet minimum deal should be done, in case Shamarko Thomas does not cut it.

--- S Robert Golden (RFA): Tag him, then try to sign him to a lower deal.

--- TE Michael Palmer: Either he or Spaeth should be signed to a one-year deal as security.

--- FB Will Johnson (RFA): Tag him, he does too many things.

--- CB Antwon Blake (RFA): Tag him, then follow the Golden rule.

--- LB James Harrison – I would have signed him by now, but the Steelers seem intent not to.

--- DE Clifton Geathers – They can do better.

--- RB Ben Tate – Same as Geathers.

Onto some more stuff:

--- Want a job working at Heinz Field? Here’s how, from the Steelers:

Positions will be posted between March 9-22, and applicants must be 18 or older to apply. Heinz Field will begin an online hiring event on March 9 for anyone interested in part-time, event-day employment opportunities.

Information and access to the online hiring event can be found here.

Event-day positions work all Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh football games, as well as concerts and other events that take place at Heinz Field. Available positions include guest services, ticket takers, ticket sellers, seat attendants, suite attendants, club attendants, elevator operators, gate announcers and others.

--- Dr. James Bradley, the Steelers orthopedic physician the past 27 years, was named one of the top 59 surgeons in the country by Becker’s Spine Review. He also was co-captain of the Penn State football team in 1974. Here is a good story on him at StateCollege.com by Mike Poorman.

--- Kevin Colbert, in a Q/A in Forbes, explained what makes a good coach-GM team:

“In a general manager and head coach relationship, it’s so critical that you have to work together. If you don’t, you have no chance. You have to speak one language, which the ownership teaches you. You can’t be afraid to make suggestions or present ideas that may not challenge what you’ve done in the past, but maybe enhance what you’ve done in the past, and hope it works.

Read the whole thing here.

--- YOU: Do you happen to know anything about safety prospect Ibraheim Campbell from Northwestern?

ED: He has decent size to him at 5-11, 208. He’s extremely smart. He missed four games last season to injuries. Does not have great speed. He’s considered a mid-round prospect, possibly third after some good senior bowl workouts.