stillers4me
03-01-2012, 06:00 PM
Add another special chunk to the Steelers growing discard pile: They plan to release Aaron Smith, another of their longtime vets and maybe the most popular among teammates since the venerable Dermontti Dawson.
Considered the best defensive end in their 30-year history of running the 3-4, Smith and his agent learned yesterday from the Steelers that they would release him – something Smith predicted would have to happen because he would never know when his time was up unless he was told. The Steelers have had no announcement yet on Smith’s status.
“We talked today at length,’’ Schaffer said of his telephone call with coach Mike Tomlin. “We’re celebrating 14 years of having the privilege of playing for the Steelers, and Aaron is celebrating having more time with his five kids and wife. There are no hard feelings.”
The move long has been expected when Smith had neck fusion surgery after playing only in the first four games last season. He turns 36 April 19 and has not been able to play more than six games in each of the past three seasons. He had a torn biceps, a torn triceps and rotator cuff surgery in three different seasons. He played only in the first six games of 2010, only the first five in 2009 and was injured for much of the 2007 season, although he managed to play in 11 games.
Unlike Ward, however, don’t expect Smith to try to play elsewhere..........
Read more @
http://burgh.us/d5r
Considered the best defensive end in their 30-year history of running the 3-4, Smith and his agent learned yesterday from the Steelers that they would release him – something Smith predicted would have to happen because he would never know when his time was up unless he was told. The Steelers have had no announcement yet on Smith’s status.
“We talked today at length,’’ Schaffer said of his telephone call with coach Mike Tomlin. “We’re celebrating 14 years of having the privilege of playing for the Steelers, and Aaron is celebrating having more time with his five kids and wife. There are no hard feelings.”
The move long has been expected when Smith had neck fusion surgery after playing only in the first four games last season. He turns 36 April 19 and has not been able to play more than six games in each of the past three seasons. He had a torn biceps, a torn triceps and rotator cuff surgery in three different seasons. He played only in the first six games of 2010, only the first five in 2009 and was injured for much of the 2007 season, although he managed to play in 11 games.
Unlike Ward, however, don’t expect Smith to try to play elsewhere..........
Read more @
http://burgh.us/d5r