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polamalubeast
04-14-2013, 05:18 PM
Pitt has matched the RFA offer sheet on Emmanuel Sanders. First RFA to get offer in 3 years


http://twitter.com/JordanWoy/statuses/323559382371680256

Steeltreal
04-14-2013, 05:25 PM
So is he Batman or Robin?

venom
04-14-2013, 05:25 PM
Ben is happy

Dwinsgames
04-14-2013, 05:27 PM
meh

steeldawg
04-14-2013, 05:31 PM
So is he Batman or Robin?

We have 2 Robins.

Steeltreal
04-14-2013, 05:34 PM
Patterson looks like a real option at 17 now that they have a year to develop him.

X-Terminator
04-14-2013, 05:35 PM
I'd rather they'd have let him go and take the pick, but oh well. Sanders at least gives them another viable option and lessens the need for another high WR draft pick this season, IMO.

Count Steeler
04-14-2013, 05:51 PM
Now lock him up long term. 5 year, 15-20mil. 5mil guaranteed. 6mil signing bonus, 1mil this year salary, balance spread out over remaining 4 years. Or something like that. Let's not let him walk next year.

stillers4me
04-14-2013, 05:57 PM
E and AB were my faves.... Both of them had the right attitudes. Let's hope the feet problems are behind him.



Emmanuel Sanders: When a Dream Becomes Reality (https://www.facebook.com/TheNextGreat88?ref=stream)

Glad the business side is out of the way. Now its back to playing football and bringing number 7 back to Pittsburgh. Love!!!

Mistah Q
04-14-2013, 05:59 PM
Yes, I was fine with him having walked to NE but now that it's not happened, we better lock him up long term

stillers4me
04-14-2013, 06:06 PM
I think the Wallace situation on top of a new offense were huge factors in last years performance. Now they can just get down to business. I hope the 4 of them and Ben get some workouts in together on their own now that this is settled.

Seven
04-14-2013, 06:07 PM
It was the right move. Chances of drafting a receiver in the third round as good as Sanders weren't great, and chances of drafting a receiver in the third better than Sanders were slim. It's not an exciting move, but practically, it's a slam dunk.

Count Steeler
04-14-2013, 06:12 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but compensatory picks would be applied the year after the signing. So if Sanders walked, we would get NE's 3rd round pick next year.

Again, I may be wrong.

Craic
04-14-2013, 06:14 PM
I know there's a lot of people who say, "We could get just as good a quality in a third round pick."

The problem is that we'd first have to bring him in, develop him, let him get used to the speed of the game, learn the offense, get used to catch passes from Ben, learn how to react on the route tree in comparison to the other receivers, especially when Ben starts playing sandlot ball, and then he'll put up Sander's numbers.

That's two or three years out, and another two or three years of Ben's career gone. My guess is that he only has 4-6 years left. I really don't want to throw that much of his time left away.

Count Steeler
04-14-2013, 06:16 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but compensatory picks would be applied the year after the signing. So if Sanders walked, we would get NE's 3rd round pick next year.

Again, I may be wrong.

Look's like it would have been this year's draft pick.

polamalubeast
04-14-2013, 06:17 PM
I'd rather they'd have let him go and take the pick, but oh well. Sanders at least gives them another viable option and lessens the need for another high WR draft pick this season, IMO.

Roethlisberger would have been very upset if the Steelers would not keep Sanders

Mistah Q
04-14-2013, 06:19 PM
It was the right move. Chances of drafting a receiver in the third round as good as Sanders weren't great, and chances of drafting a receiver in the third better than Sanders were slim. It's not an exciting move, but practically, it's a slam dunk.We'll see. It's a bad move if he walks after this season. If they get him extended and the foot is no more issue, then it's closer to your assessment. I love Sanders' potential but no way would I rent him for one year at cost of a third rounder (and cap space). Here's hoping for an extension.

stillers4me
04-14-2013, 06:25 PM
Look's like it would have been this year's draft pick.

Yes, it would have been this year's pick. Which wouldn't have broke my heart as much as seeing James in orange stripes is going to do.

But I don't think the FO would have done this if they weren't confident of getting the long term deal done with him. And I think Preacher is spot on with the Ben theory. I'm just shocked they actually listened to Ben this time. :chuckle:

- - - Updated - - -

:toofunny:
Emmanuel Sanders‏@E_Sanders8811 Apr (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/E_Sanders88/status/322458004458991618)

Lame duck huh? lol ok... JUST DISRESPECTFUL �� RT @EdBouchette (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/EdBouchette): reasons #Steelers (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23Steelers&src=hash) should let #Patriots (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23Patriots&src=hash) have Sanders :http://sulia.com/my_thoughts/63574b63-c7c8-4805-af23-0727fee0b191/?source=twitter … (http://t.co/gSigyFymK6)

Emmanuel Sanders‏@E_Sanders8811 Apr (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/E_Sanders88/status/322458523705409537)

This guy @EdBouchette (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/EdBouchette) is the funniest guy I know. Lol #whysoserious (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23whysoserious&src=hash)

GBMelBlount
04-14-2013, 06:28 PM
I am glad we signed him.

Best case lock him up long term on the cheap.

Worst case it gives us a year to develop a hopefully suitable replacement.

Texasteel
04-14-2013, 06:29 PM
Could we find a WR in the draft that could take his place? Don't know and now we don't have to find out. I am happy Sanders is staying, as long as we can extend his contract 3 to 5 years. I have an idea that the Steeler think they can, or I don't think they would have matched this contract.

Glad your still a Steeler Sanders, now give the year we are hoping for.

Shoes
04-14-2013, 06:40 PM
I still think the PG should fire Bouchette and draft Chidi. :chuckle:

stillers4me
04-14-2013, 06:42 PM
Could we find a WR in the draft that could take his place? Don't know and now we don't have to find out. I am happy Sanders is staying, as long as we can extend his contract 3 to 5 years. I have an idea that the Steeler think they can, or I don't think they would have matched this contract.

Glad your still a Steeler Sanders, now give the year we are hoping for.


We have way too many other needs in the draft....I wouldn't be surprised to take a WR if the right one falls into our laps, but it clearly has now dropped on the priority list.

- - - Updated - - -


I still think the PG should fire Bouchette and draft Chidi. :chuckle:

:drink:

steeldevil
04-14-2013, 06:43 PM
Well I would have rather had the 3rd rounder and saved the money for Bradshaw and/or Breaston.

But this is fine.

As long as we sign him longterm before the season. If we dont Im gonna be pissed.

stillers4me
04-14-2013, 06:47 PM
Dejan Kovacevic‏@Dejan_Kovacevic2m (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/Dejan_Kovacevic/status/323582380252205057)
Last thing: Worried about cap room? Seriously? Are people saying this news to #Steelers (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23Steelers&src=hash)/Omar? If they want Ahmad, they'll sign him.

st33lersguy
04-14-2013, 06:59 PM
I would have preferred they used that money to sign Ahmad Bradshaw and take the 3rd round pick, especially since they won't have any cap space to re-sign him next year with all the re-structured contracts, but this makes perfect sense in terms of continuity, plus hopefully it will decrease the chances the Steelers draft overrated prospects in Patterson or Austin if either is available

Steeltreal
04-14-2013, 07:16 PM
Could we find a WR in the draft that could take his place? Don't know and now we don't have to find out. I am happy Sanders is staying, as long as we can extend his contract 3 to 5 years. I have an idea that the Steeler think they can, or I don't think they would have matched this contract.

Glad your still a Steeler Sanders, now give the year we are hoping for.

Wouldnt he still have to get in line behind Hood, extending Pouncey, Worilds if he has huge year, same with Dwyer..

steeldawg
04-14-2013, 07:20 PM
Do we have to extend sanders? if not i would wait and see how he performs.

86WARD
04-14-2013, 07:41 PM
No way anyone should be behind a Ziggy Hood extension. No one...

Agree with the idea it would be a bad move if its one year and out...but then again, they did that with Wallace...

Count Steeler
04-14-2013, 07:44 PM
No way anyone should be behind a Ziggy Hood extension. No one...

Agree with the idea it would be a bad move if its one year and out...but then again, they did that with Wallace...

What's the alternative on Hood? Keep him as a back up at least.

steeldawg
04-14-2013, 07:51 PM
What's the alternative on Hood? Keep him as a back up at least.

We could whack him.

zulater
04-14-2013, 07:52 PM
Whether it was the right move or not is debatable.

But what's not is that this is a big FU to Bill Bellicheat and the entire Cheatriots organization! And for that how can you not be happy?:bounce:

katmandu
04-14-2013, 08:01 PM
Do we have to extend sanders? if not i would wait and see how he performs.No, but look what happened with Wallace last year when he did get a big Contract. He played the lame duck card. Wouldn't want to see that again.

- - - Updated - - -


Whether it was the right move or not is debatable.

But what's not is that this is a big FU to Bill Bellicheat and the entire Cheatriots organization! And for that how can you not be happy?:bounce:That makes all the better !!!!

Shoes
04-14-2013, 08:02 PM
Whether it was the right move or not is debatable.

But what's not is that this is a big FU to Bill Bellicheat and the entire Cheatriots organization! And for that how can you not be happy?:bounce:

I'm thinking Bill thought he had this one wrapped up...... :chuckle:

Devilsdancefloor
04-14-2013, 08:03 PM
I am happy he staye di relaly think he runs great routes and is going to have a break out year in haelys offense short quick passes!!

Texasteel
04-14-2013, 08:04 PM
We have way too many other needs in the draft....I wouldn't be surprised to take a WR if the right one falls into our laps, but it clearly has now dropped on the priority list.



I would agree if Sanders turns out to be the difference in making it to the playoffs. It wasn't just a choice of signing him, it was signing him and not getting an extra 3rd round pick, which would of aloud us to draft one more WR. The Steelers normally don't make moves targeting just the next year, but the year after that and the year after that. If we were to hunt for a replacement I think it would have been better done this year when the WR draft depth is so great. Then again we don't know right now how this will turn out, or how it would have turned out had we not signed him. Fact is, we did sign him and I trust what the team does, I just have a feeling that there will be a part 2 to this.

Carolina Steelers
04-14-2013, 08:04 PM
Im glad Sanders is staying around but we must sign him to long term contract and like others have stated hopefully before season starts we could get him alot cheaper because if he puts up numbers like 1000+ yds and like 8 td's or so he could demand more money. Lets do what we did with Brown.

Texasteel
04-14-2013, 08:10 PM
Wouldnt he still have to get in line behind Hood, extending Pouncey, Worilds if he has huge year, same with Dwyer..

Just my thinking, but I beleave this shows that we have made a comittment to Sanders. I think this may put him close to the top of the list.

zulater
04-14-2013, 08:12 PM
[/B]
I'm thinking Bill thought he had this one wrapped up...... :chuckle:



http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z211/vestkap/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/vestkap/media/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg.html)

Oh you just know that sonofabitch thought he had us over the barrell on this one! :lol:

Shoes
04-14-2013, 08:23 PM
http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/belichick-palpatine.jpg

Oh you just know that sonofabitch thought he had us over the barrell on this one! :lol:

Here ya go Zu... :chuckle:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z211/vestkap/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/vestkap/media/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg.html)

Texasteel
04-14-2013, 08:23 PM
Bellyboy may have been thinking it two parts. That we let one of our starting WRs leave the team, or that we sign him and in the end not be able to sign Bradshaw. Still have to see how the last part works out.

steeldawg
04-14-2013, 08:27 PM
No, but look what happened with Wallace last year when he did get a big Contract. He played the lame duck card. Wouldn't want to see that again.

- - - Updated - - -

That makes all the better !!!!

But what kind of extension is he worth?

Seven
04-14-2013, 08:28 PM
Dejan Kovacevic‏@Dejan_Kovacevic2m (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/Dejan_Kovacevic/status/323582380252205057)
Last thing: Worried about cap room? Seriously? Are people saying this news to #Steelers (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23Steelers&src=hash)/Omar? If they want Ahmad, they'll sign him.

The cap issues are always overplayed. Every offseason they are blown way out of porportion. Despite countless examples of the Steelers working around tight cap space, fans still seem to think it's impossible.

zulater
04-14-2013, 08:32 PM
Here ya go Zu... :chuckle:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z211/vestkap/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/vestkap/media/belichick-palpatine_zpsd127824e.jpg.html)

I was in the proccess of fixing it when my computer crashed. I think Bellicheck may have crashed my computer? :lol:

Seven
04-14-2013, 08:34 PM
So is he Batman or Robin?

Who cares. The days of number one receivers are disappearing. It's rare to find guys like Reggie Wayne and Chad Johnson who will only always play X or Y anymore. This league is about Quarterbacks and defense. Give your QB as many weapons as possible and let the other team's gameplan dictate who your "batman" is week to week.

Shoes
04-14-2013, 08:52 PM
I hope he has a great year!

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000056571/Sanders-37-yard-TD-catch

Craic
04-14-2013, 08:52 PM
I just had an evil little thought.

Anyone want to bet that the Patriots now try to trade up into our spot, knowing that we don't have as much cap room to sign a higher number one pick and also keep some cap cushion for the season?

Seven
04-14-2013, 08:58 PM
I just had an evil little thought.

Anyone want to bet that the Patriots now try to trade up into our spot, knowing that we don't have as much cap room to sign a higher number one pick and also keep some cap cushion for the season?

Interesting thought Preacher. I don't think it will happen though. As I said before I really don't see the tight cap space as a major obstacle. Rookie contracts really aren't that taxing on your bottom line anymore and I think for the Steelers to match the offer for Sanders they probably have already thought about the implications it'll have on the draft. But that plan would be evil and could be in the Patriots back pocket :chuckle:

Count Steeler
04-14-2013, 09:04 PM
I just had an evil little thought.

Anyone want to bet that the Patriots now try to trade up into our spot, knowing that we don't have as much cap room to sign a higher number one pick and also keep some cap cushion for the season?

Wouldn't mind the Steelers trading down or even out of the first round. Get a second and third, at least. More depth in this draft than top heavy.

Godfather
04-14-2013, 09:29 PM
Wouldn't mind the Steelers trading down or even out of the first round. Get a second and third, at least. More depth in this draft than top heavy.

Trouble is that will make teams less willing to trade up.

86WARD
04-14-2013, 09:40 PM
What's the alternative on Hood? Keep him as a back up at least.

I wouldn't extend him before Pouncey or Sanders and maybe not even Worilds at this stage...

steelerdude15
04-14-2013, 10:47 PM
Dejan Kovacevic‏@Dejan_Kovacevic2m (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/Dejan_Kovacevic/status/323582380252205057)
Last thing: Worried about cap room? Seriously? Are people saying this news to #Steelers (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23Steelers&src=hash)/Omar? If they want Ahmad, they'll sign him.

We'll see.

86WARD
04-15-2013, 02:52 AM
I don't believe extending him can change his cap number other than raising it...his cap charge will be $2.5M no matter what deal is offered to him, according to the new CBA. I could be wrong though...but I thought unread it somewhere that a players matched offer can't change.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 06:31 AM
I don't believe extending him can change his cap number other than raising it...his cap charge will be $2.5M no matter what deal is offered to him, according to the new CBA. I could be wrong though...but I thought unread it somewhere that a players matched offer can't change.


this ...

if the number changes it can only go up in the first year of any extension with a RFA

Austin87
04-15-2013, 06:52 AM
Glad he is back. Can't wait to see what he can do this year as a starter.

Spike
04-15-2013, 07:20 AM
Ben has his slot receiver on a 1 year rental plan, at least he's happy.

Spike
04-15-2013, 08:43 AM
Whether it was the right move or not is debatable.



We can still go after any WR we want in the draft - now we have an insurance policy - that's how I see it.

Keep Ben happy - get another hot #1 and keep Sanders in the slot

zulater
04-15-2013, 08:51 AM
We can still go after any WR we want in the draft - now we have an insurance policy - that's how I see it.

Keep Ben happy - get another hot #1 and keep Sanders in the slot

Personally I think Brown would do best in the slot. I think Sanders, if he can stay healthy can be an above average "X" receiver.

TMC
04-15-2013, 10:01 AM
It was the right move. Chances of drafting a receiver in the third round as good as Sanders weren't great, and chances of drafting a receiver in the third better than Sanders were slim. It's not an exciting move, but practically, it's a slam dunk.

I am fine with it either way, but the odds of getting a player in the 3rd as good or better are 30% (give or take a couple points). Here is why the move should ruffle feathers. If Sanders was worth keeping, the you tender him with the 2nd round tender. It would certainly scare off teams and if it did not, I think a 2nd rounder allows you to let him walk. The cost was $600k. If he is worth the $2.5M you paid, he should be worth $2M and there are no debates. Does not appear to be strategically planned well. Only thing I can surmise is something has changed since they tendered him and now. Either they banked on Breaston and it fell through or they thought they had something in the draft and now are concerned. Either way, could have been handled a little better.


Correct me if I am wrong, but compensatory picks would be applied the year after the signing. So if Sanders walked, we would get NE's 3rd round pick next year.

Again, I may be wrong.

Compensatory picks are handled in the following season. Comp picks are for unrestricted free agents and are awarded by the NFL. Sanders is a restricted free agent. If signs, teams give up their selection for the round tendered. Different system. Sanders does not get you a comp pick. The Pats basically trade a pick for his rights.


I know there's a lot of people who say, "We could get just as good a quality in a third round pick."

The problem is that we'd first have to bring him in, develop him, let him get used to the speed of the game, learn the offense, get used to catch passes from Ben, learn how to react on the route tree in comparison to the other receivers, especially when Ben starts playing sandlot ball, and then he'll put up Sander's numbers.

That's two or three years out, and another two or three years of Ben's career gone. My guess is that he only has 4-6 years left. I really don't want to throw that much of his time left away.

Maybe, maybe not. Wallace performed better in his rookie season than Sanders ever has. You can find them. Not easy. But, you can find 500-800 yard receivers in free agency. The question to me is not his production. It is more a long-term versus short-term issue. If they fail to extend Sanders, they have basically paid $2.5M and a 3rd round pick to rent him for a season. I would have rather had the pick (which I get for 3-4 years) and the cash IF it is a one year rental.


I just had an evil little thought.

Anyone want to bet that the Patriots now try to trade up into our spot, knowing that we don't have as much cap room to sign a higher number one pick and also keep some cap cushion for the season?

They lack the picks needed to move up, would have to start giving up players. Not sure they have enough to move up.


I don't believe extending him can change his cap number other than raising it...his cap charge will be $2.5M no matter what deal is offered to him, according to the new CBA. I could be wrong though...but I thought unread it somewhere that a players matched offer can't change.

Cannot go down, that $2.5M for Sanders is there. They can make space with other players though. The thing for me, get him extended. Do not pay $2.5M and a 3rd for one season. That is dumb. Either lock him down or let him go.


Wouldn't mind the Steelers trading down or even out of the first round. Get a second and third, at least. More depth in this draft than top heavy.

I usually favor a trade down, but this season I think the Steelers are in a prime position to nab one of the better players in this draft. The talent drops around pick 15-17. I would rather one of those better players than 2 of the average guys. I do not think you find a corner with the talent of Rhodes, Milliner, or Trufant later in the draft. Not sure that an average safety and an average corner would be better than what may be an elite guy. If I had a shot at Fisher, I would not trade that for a Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams.


Personally I think Brown would do best in the slot. I think Sanders, if he can stay healthy can be an above average "X" receiver.

Sanders actually has a similar skill set to Santonio Holmes. He really does. Holmes pre draft numbers were 5105, 188 pounds. He ran just under a 4.40, 38" VJ, 10'6" BJ, 4.26 shuttle, and 6.82 cone. Sanders was 5107, 186 pounds. He ran a 4.41, 39.5" VJ, 10'06" BJ, 4.10 shuttle, and a 6.60 cone. He has good RAC just like Holmes. Good hands. Sanders has been derailed by injury. He also does not carry the off-the-field baggage. The potential to be the #1 (like Holmes) is there. He won't be a Megatron or Andre Johnson, but he could fit in what Ben and the Steelers had. He has not reached that potential. The first season, he was coming on as a rookie, but the broken foot killed his 2nd season. Last year, he started to get back. His best football may be ahead of him. But, if you are willing to pay what they paid, you kind of are pushing all your chips in on this one. Might as well bet the house and ink him. I think, at worst, he is a solid slot guy. At best, he could be what we had in Holmes during the Super Bowl season.

SteelerFanInStl
04-15-2013, 11:58 AM
And it looks like Sander's agent is already acting like Wallace's agent did.

This is exactly why I didn't want us to match the offer.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/15/steelers-may-struggle-to-get-emmanuel-sanders-to-sign-long-term/


Agent Jordan Woy told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers are going to have to make Sanders a very lucrative offer if they’re going to lock him up for the long term before he gets a chance to test the market in 2014.

BlastFurnace
04-15-2013, 11:58 AM
www.profootballtalk.com

Steelers may struggle to get Emmanuel Sanders to sign long-term

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 15, 2013, 12:31 PM EDT

AP

Emmanuel Sanders will remain a Steeler for another season after Pittsburgh matched New England’s one-year, $2.5 million offer. But if the Steelers lose Sanders a year from now, they’ll regret passing on the Patriots’ third-round pick. And Sanders’ agent is talking like a man who wants to test free agency 11 months from now.

Agent Jordan Woy told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers are going to have to make Sanders a very lucrative offer if they’re going to lock him up for the long term before he gets a chance to test the market in 2014.

“We are also open to him playing the year out. It would have to be a very good deal for us to sign a multi-year agreement,” Woy said.

Woy sounds like he believes there will be multiple teams eager to offer Sanders a contract in free agency next year, in part because, he says, the Patriots weren’t the only team to make Sanders an offer this year.

“We had several teams make offers in free agency so we know there are teams who really like Emmanuel,” Woy said.

The Steelers really like Emmanuel, too — enough that they turned down a chance to get a third-round draft pick for him. But that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to afford the kind of contract that Sanders will command next year.

zulater
04-15-2013, 12:16 PM
One thing that seperates Sanders from Wallace is that Sanders will be at all the team's OTA's and at training camp. Because he has a signed contract of his own making. Therefore if nothing else you figure that he'll be focused and outside of injuries will give the team a solid 100% commitment for 2013.

Pristas
04-15-2013, 01:30 PM
One thing that seperates Sanders from Wallace is that Sanders will be at all the team's OTA's and at training camp. Because he has a signed contract of his own making. Therefore if nothing else you figure that he'll be focused and outside of injuries will give the team a solid 100% commitment for 2013.

Man I hope so. I don't like the fact that they kept him. I believe that Patterson or Austin would have fallen to us at 17. With one of those two guys, plus Brown, Cotchery and Plax, that would have been an elite group. The extra pick at 91 is still a top 100 pick!!! This is what everyone is ignoring. The top 100 this year are incredible talent wise. Add in the bone headed draft picks made by the likes of Oakland, Miami, etc.. and that garners us 4 "play now" athletes for 2013. We needed that. Now we get 3 "play now" guys, and a contract that walks in 2014 with no bonus pick.

We should be able to hit on the first two rounds with ease. The kicker is that a lot of teams are going to hit in round 3, whereas in years past this is more of a crap shoot. I love the talent I see through three rounds. It's a damn shame we didn't get that extra pick, because Ben is worried about the offense. Who lets Ben into these meetings anyway? Did Omar forget to lock the door? Was the meeting held in a bathroom in Millidgeville?

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 01:56 PM
I don't think we'll see the same thing we did with Wallace - Sanders actually sounds like he's happy to be here and excited that he got a little more money in the deal. Polar opposite reactions if you ask me. I would be very surprised if we saw a fuckass mail-it-in job from him this year.

On the extension front, I hope we get it done before the season, because his price is going to go WAY up afterward barring injury or something like that. Just by virtue of getting more chances this year, I would expect his stats to go up, and if that's the case, he not only gets paid based on that, but also picks up the "breakout year" label, which basically doubles the amount that some stupid team like the Chiefs or the Raiders will be willing to pay. If we didn't plan to bring him back long-term, I don't think we would've done this.

Agents are all scum, and I hope his gets savagely beaten on public transit and left for dead.

To all the people bemoaning the loss of the draft pick we would've gotten: You can shut up now, it's not really a big deal. I know people tend to treat draft picks with this almost sacred value like a hoarder with old magazines, but seriously, get a grip. This wasn't the first overall pick of the draft, it was a low third-round pick, really almost a fourth-round pick. Most of the time those are crap anyway. We probably wouldn't have gotten much of value with it, plus it had Patriots stink on it. I'd much rather have a guy who we know is an all right player. It sucks that we gambled trying to save $1M and it ended up costing us $1.5M, but that's really all I see in this, and the draft pick thing just distracted people over nothing.

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 02:34 PM
Just a few 3rd round picks.....Sean Spense, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Keenan Lewis,Max Starks, Chris Hope, Kendrick Clancy, Joey Porter, Mike Vrable, Jason Gildon, Joel Steed, Hines Ward. May have done nearly as well in the 3rd round as we have in the 1st.

Psycho Ward 86
04-15-2013, 02:43 PM
Just a few 3rd round picks.....Sean Spense, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Keenan Lewis,Max Starks, Chris Hope, Kendrick Clancy, Joey Porter, Mike Vrable, Jason Gildon, Joel Steed, Hines Ward. May have done nearly as well in the 3rd round as we have in the 1st.

better throw in all of the 3rd round picks we've had during the span of all that time for a more accurate picture of what were looking at. we got rid of vrabel before he was good and spense hasnt played a down yet by the way.

GodfatherofSoul
04-15-2013, 02:55 PM
meh

^^^

steel striker
04-15-2013, 03:03 PM
I still think this is a good move and, it is still difficult to find good wr's in the lower rounds. I know we did in the past but, you never know how any draft picks is going to turn out. I think Sanders is a solid player but, it's a question on the health of his ankles.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 03:20 PM
a long term deal won't come on the cheap or even reasonable according to this Sanders Agent (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000159955/article/emmanuel-sanders-had-several-offers-says-agent)

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 03:38 PM
better throw in all of the 3rd round picks we've had during the span of all that time for a more accurate picture of what were looking at. we got rid of vrabel before he was good and spense hasnt played a down yet by the way.

Vrabel still became a very good player, a 3rd round pick. Most everyone was loving all over spense before he went down, a 3rd round pick. The question was is the 3rd round important or not. If you compare our 1st rounders with our 3rd rounders I think you would find that there were nearly as many misses in the 1st round. Does that make a 1st round pick unimportant? This team likes to build through the draft and has done a pretty good job of it. 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, none of these picks are of no or little importance.

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 03:39 PM
Just a few 3rd round picks.....Sean Spense, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Keenan Lewis,Max Starks, Chris Hope, Kendrick Clancy, Joey Porter, Mike Vrable, Jason Gildon, Joel Steed, Hines Ward. May have done nearly as well in the 3rd round as we have in the 1st.

... Bruce Davis, Willie Reid, Chris Conrad, Paul Wiggins ... who knows who we would've gotten. Third-round picks are not golden tickets, they're a toss-up.

Plus, one thing a lot of people seem to be forgetting: We already have a third-round pick this year. It's not like we're going without. So the people who think we're bound to get a perennial All-Pro stud at the end of the third round can rest easy; we'll still get one.

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 03:55 PM
... Bruce Davis, Willie Reid, Chris Conrad, Paul Wiggins ... who knows who we would've gotten. Third-round picks are not golden tickets, they're a toss-up.

Plus, one thing a lot of people seem to be forgetting: We already have a third-round pick this year. It's not like we're going without. So the people who think we're bound to get a perennial All-Pro stud at the end of the third round can rest easy; we'll still get one.

Troy Edwards, Chad Scott, Huey Richardson, some would add Mark Bruener, Mendenhall, and Hood. Would this mean we should forget another 1st rounder if we can get it? Don't get me wrong, you have a better chance of getting a better player in the first round, but thats not a lock either. It's just doesn't make sence to me to say that an extra 3rd round makes no difference.

I'm glad Sanders is staying, I hope we can sign him long term, but if he doesn't you still have to take that 3rd round pick we turned down into account.

Mojouw
04-15-2013, 04:01 PM
If Sanders would have left, it wouldn't really be an extra 3rd rounder though. At least that is how I see it. Either the pick received from the Patriots or the Steelers own 3rd rounder would have had to have been used to take a WR in that scenario. Sanders for a rookie WR and some cap space is the deal. Not really an extra pick since the Steelers wouldn't have had the "freedom" to use it with a high degree of flexibility.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 04:04 PM
I just have a feeling we looked a gift horse in the mouth and slammed the door in its face ....

according to the link I provided above Sanders is not going to be cheap to lockup long term and this is as cheap as it gets , considering our cap and his injury concerns it not only would have been cheaper for this year but cheaper the next 3 years beyond this year to have drafted a guy Like Da'rick Rogers in the 3rd round ( yea I know he has off field issues but think they are behind him ) he was good enough to keep Patterson 3rd on the depth chart now Patterson is a top 15-20 pick ... tons of value in Rogers if you can keep in in line and we are going to pay Sanders as much this year as a rental what we could have paid Rogers over the first 3 years of his deal as a rookie draft pick ...

I like Sanders but think we made a grave error in matching , it is not unheard of for a rookie to tabulate the numbers sanders has put up in his best season , its not like we are talking about a Megatron type player when talking about Sanders ....

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 04:09 PM
If Sanders leaves after next year, we have traded a 3rd round pick in a year that the 3rd round is heavy in talent, for one year of service. Now I beleive we will still get a comp pick for him, but the way comps have gone for us that may be a 5th rounder. Now if Sanders turns out to be the difference make in playoff team, thats fine, but to say that a 3rd round pick is no big deal is pushing it some.

Psycho Ward 86
04-15-2013, 04:13 PM
Troy Edwards, Chad Scott, Huey Richardson, some would add Mark Bruener, Mendenhall, and Hood. Would this mean we should forget another 1st rounder if we can get it? Don't get me wrong, you have a better chance of getting a better player in the first round, but thats not a lock either. It's just doesn't make sence to me to say that an extra 3rd round makes no difference.

I'm glad Sanders is staying, I hope we can sign him long term, but if he doesn't you still have to take that 3rd round pick we turned down into account.

youre trying a little too hard to compare 1st round picks and 3rd round picks. and it doesnt matter that vrabel did well later in his career. we didnt see what the patriots saw in him so thats a failed pick for us, and a great pick up for the patriots. spence still hasnt done shit and he's on the mend with a career threatening injury. dont really care about potential if it isnt going to happen. limas sweed among other examples of such. no one said 3rd round picks dont make a difference, the chances of getting a big impact player are just clearly lower. someone posted all of the wide receivers drafted in the 3rd round in the past 3 seasons in the other emmanuel sanders thread. i suggest taking a look. there were a LOT of misses


lol i cant stop laughing at my self for defending sanders these past couple weeks :lol:

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 04:21 PM
If Sanders would have left, it wouldn't really be an extra 3rd rounder though. At least that is how I see it. Either the pick received from the Patriots or the Steelers own 3rd rounder would have had to have been used to take a WR in that scenario. Sanders for a rookie WR and some cap space is the deal. Not really an extra pick since the Steelers wouldn't have had the "freedom" to use it with a high degree of flexibility.

^^^ This is exactly what I mean. We wouldn't come out "winners" in the exchange by getting a draft pick, since we would have also lost a player and had to replace him. The only reason we'd come out ahead is if we got a rookie WR in rounds 3-7 who turned out to be as good or better than Sanders, and in this situation, he'd have to be that good immediately.

Is that something we can count on? Not envision with wishful thinking, but actually COUNT ON? Sounds more like a gamble than a certainty to me.

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 04:22 PM
youre trying a little too hard to compare 1st round picks and 3rd round picks. and it doesnt matter that vrabel did well later in his career. we didnt see what the patriots saw in him so thats a failed pick for us, and a great pick up for the patriots. spence still hasnt done shit and he's on the mend with a career threatening injury. dont really care about potential if it isnt going to happen. limas sweed among other examples of such. no one said 3rd round picks dont make a difference, the chances of getting a big impact player are just clearly lower. someone posted all of the wide receivers drafted in the 3rd round in the past 3 seasons in the other emmanuel sanders thread. i suggest taking a look. there were a LOT of misses

lol i cant stop laughing at my self for defending sanders these past couple weeks :lol:

Not comparing the 1st round with the 3rd at all. That would be like saying that a 3rd rounder is not big deal. Just pointing out that if you use misses to down grade the 3rd round you have to do the same for the 1st. Fact is that Sanders may still leave the team in a year, I hope that doesn't happen, but it could. If that does, you have to look at the 3rd rounder we don't have as a lose.

Never laugh at yourself for saying something you truly believe.

Pristas
04-15-2013, 04:39 PM
To all the people bemoaning the loss of the draft pick we would've gotten: You can shut up now, it's not really a big deal. I know people tend to treat draft picks with this almost sacred value like a hoarder with old magazines, but seriously, get a grip. This wasn't the first overall pick of the draft, it was a low third-round pick, really almost a fourth-round pick. Most of the time those are crap anyway. We probably wouldn't have gotten much of value with it, plus it had Patriots stink on it. I'd much rather have a guy who we know is an all right player. It sucks that we gambled trying to save $1M and it ended up costing us $1.5M, but that's really all I see in this, and the draft pick thing just distracted people over nothing.


If by "shut up" you are really saying "argue with me some more about this" then I will take the bait...

It was a bad decision. No two ways about it. A third round pick in this years draft could pay huge dividends. This draft IS DEEP through three rounds, not like we've seen in years past. We will lose Sanders anyway since we won't pay the kind of money for him that we paid for Brown. Sanders is Injury Prone. Sanders is a mediocre receiver with so-so production. He could prove me wrong on that last one... and I hope so since we are in bed with him for another year.

What did we accomplish by keeping him? We kept a guy who knows the system. We kept Gilreath off the field. We further screwed ourselves financially. We may have cut Redman and prevented a signing of Bradshaw. We gave Ben a hand job.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 04:45 PM
interesting a 3rd round pick is scraps these days ....

http://drafthistory.com

seems to me some pretty phenomenal players have come from the 3rd round and beyond over the years .....

Psycho Ward 86
04-15-2013, 05:02 PM
Not comparing the 1st round with the 3rd at all. That would be like saying that a 3rd rounder is not big deal. Just pointing out that if you use misses to down grade the 3rd round you have to do the same for the 1st. Fact is that Sanders may still leave the team in a year, I hope that doesn't happen, but it could. If that does, you have to look at the 3rd rounder we don't have as a lose.

Never laugh at yourself for saying something you truly believe.

well then thats an easy comparison. our 1st round picks have been much bigger impact players and long lasting stalwarts for this team than the 3rd round picks have. Yeah weve made some good 3rd round picks, but obviously the front office hasnt thought highly enough of even the good ones if they keep letting them go. Mike wallace, keenan lewis, chris hope come to mind. Well that, and the fact that we perenially suck at managing the salary cap and think its necessary to maintain an elite team, even though teams like the ravens, packers, and patriots have proven otherwise. Instead we like to make it a priority to rank #1 in the nfl in restructured contracts and let things snowball along and play guessing games with how much the salary cap will or wont go up year by year. A dangerous game to play, and its starting to catch up.

But thats just my opinion. Some people seem to think the front office is so impervious to errant decision making that releasing key players or letting them go sign with other teams is just "all part of their plan from the beginning" :lol:. Not saying thats you at all, thats just some food for thought.

I think i see where supporters who wanted sanders to walk are coming from, and i would agree with you guys, except my faith is riding on winning NOW, and for me, that means arming ben to the teeth if possible, or at least not leaving him severely under-gunned. Sadly, while i dont believe in sanders at all, i just dont think we have anything close to as good behind him so he's just here as a stopgap until we find somebody else. I think he's a career 2nd or 2rd receiver but i dont want to go into the season with a wallace/sanders/miller depleted receiving corp and anticipate that we'll draft someone who will be a good starting receiver right off the bat. every year in the future we have to wait for the other receivers to develop is another year we lose in our championship window with ben. i honestly do not expect him to keep playing at a premium level past 35. If time were a known commodity/luxury we had and ben were still in his 20's, i wouldve been all for letting sanders go, but imo thats just too risky for where we currently stand

Texasteel
04-15-2013, 05:26 PM
But thats just my opinion. Some people seem to think the front office is so impervious to errant decision making that releasing key players or letting them go sign with other teams is just "all part of their plan from the beginning" :lol:. Not saying thats you at all, thats just some food for thought.


Mistakes? Let's start with the one that got us into this mess in the first place. Not giving Sanders an offer that would have netted us a 2nd round pick. I'm begining to wonder about the good old boys theory,,,,, that the Steelers didn't think that another team would mess with one of thier player. ( Sorry Mr Goodell, just blowing of steam.)

Actually, we agree on a lot more than we disagree on.

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 05:35 PM
interesting a 3rd round pick is scraps these days ....

http://drafthistory.com

seems to me some pretty phenomenal players have come from the 3rd round and beyond over the years .....


Was that link supposed to be supporting your point, or undermining it? Because no kidding, this was at the top when I opened it:


No Clear Standout Wide Receivers from 2012 Draft

Of the 34 wide receivers drafted in 2012, only three exceeded 800 receiving yards in their rookie season and only four had as many as 50 catches. While several of the rookies showed promise, no one was a clear standout. To keep things in perspective, 800 yards averages out to just 50 yards per game and 50 receptions averages to 3.1 catches per game, certainly not awe-inspiring figures

Anyway. I don't really see any way this gets settled. Since we don't have the pick and don't know who we would've taken anyway, it's all coulda woulda shoulda. And there's no convincing the draft-is-everything people; there's always a way out. Like next offseason - people will inevitably point at whoever had the best rookie season out of all the third- and fourth-round picks and say "See! I told you! We could've had ________ instead of Sanders!!" as if it was a guaranteed certainty that's who we would've taken.

The fact is, I'd say we've been below average at drafting in recent years, as well unlucky with how things have gone with some of the ones who were initially decent - like Holmes, Wallace and Lewis to name a few. Seriously, we have something like 8 or 9 serviceable players that we've gotten in the draft since 2005 who are still on the team. One guy left from the 2009 draft. None from 2008, 2006 or 2005. 2007 is the bumper crop with one good player (Timmons), plus a guy who hogs about an eighth of our salary cap with dead weight, then two marginal guys who topped out at backup level, then left and later came back (Gay and Spaeth).

So forgive me if all this does not exactly inspire confidence in me that it'd be no problem to parlay that low third-round pick that got away into the second coming of Jerry Rice.


And by the way, people have been raving about how deep the draft is every year I can remember for about the past decade.* If not "this whole draft is REALLY deep!" then "this draft is REALLY deep at (insert position), which is great for us!" They mostly seem to turn out for the same for us.

* Yes, I know, in hindsight, they don't all turn out that way, but the hype is there.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 06:49 PM
Was that link supposed to be supporting your point, or undermining it? Because no kidding, this was at the top when I opened it:



Anyway. I don't really see any way this gets settled. Since we don't have the pick and don't know who we would've taken anyway, it's all coulda woulda shoulda. And there's no convincing the draft-is-everything people; there's always a way out. Like next offseason - people will inevitably point at whoever had the best rookie season out of all the third- and fourth-round picks and say "See! I told you! We could've had ________ instead of Sanders!!" as if it was a guaranteed certainty that's who we would've taken.

The fact is, I'd say we've been below average at drafting in recent years, as well unlucky with how things have gone with some of the ones who were initially decent - like Holmes, Wallace and Lewis to name a few. Seriously, we have something like 8 or 9 serviceable players that we've gotten in the draft since 2005 who are still on the team. One guy left from the 2009 draft. None from 2008, 2006 or 2005. 2007 is the bumper crop with one good player (Timmons), plus a guy who hogs about an eighth of our salary cap with dead weight, then two marginal guys who topped out at backup level, then left and later came back (Gay and Spaeth).

So forgive me if all this does not exactly inspire confidence in me that it'd be no problem to parlay that low third-round pick that got away into the second coming of Jerry Rice.


And by the way, people have been raving about how deep the draft is every year I can remember for about the past decade.* If not "this whole draft is REALLY deep!" then "this draft is REALLY deep at (insert position), which is great for us!" They mostly seem to turn out for the same for us.

* Yes, I know, in hindsight, they don't all turn out that way, but the hype is there.


put me down for Da'rick Rogers , Stedman Bailey , Aaron Dobson ..... I will take any of the three as a Steeler ...

after the draft and I see where each go I will take 1 based on how much playing time I feel he can get from that roster ( if Sanders was gone he would get a lot here so have to make it as fare as possible ) if my guy does not get at least 500 yards receiving I will buy you a case of beer of your choice , if he does you owe me a case of beer of my choice ) Deal ? ( you are over 21 correct ? )

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 07:22 PM
Heh, yes, I'm over 21 ... sounds like a bet I'd like to do, but with a couple qualifiers: I think the receiver in question should have to be taken no earlier than we pick in the 3rd round (17th if we stay put or trade down; if we trade up, wherever our actual pick is), since that's the theoretical round we are all arguing over. The Patriots' pick that we would've gotten was 29th in that round, but I'd be willing to give you a few spots and say we might as well have used our own. I know all three of your guys are rated as mid-round prospects, but if one of them happens to go in round 2 for some reason, then I think we can say it wouldn't have been a 1-for-1 tradeoff anymore.

Also, since we're talking about replacing Sanders' production, it ought to be 600 yards, since he had 626 yards as the #3 guy last year. In exchange for that, if I lose I'd also be willing to wear an avatar promoting Willie Parker for three months.

Craic
04-15-2013, 07:33 PM
this ...

if the number changes it can only go up in the first year of any extension with a RFA
That's interesting. Why would either side want that? I mean, it hinders a long term deal getting done for the players, and it hinders cap management for the owners.

fansince'76
04-15-2013, 07:44 PM
...if I lose I'd also be willing to wear an avatar promoting Willie Parker for three months.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200709/20070918_parker_tire_330.jpg
:chuckle:

Mojouw
04-15-2013, 07:49 PM
That's interesting. Why would either side want that? I mean, it hinders a long term deal getting done for the players, and it hinders cap management for the owners.

I'm guessing it is so a team can't take guaranteed money and push it down the road when they match the RFA offer. That way they can't "match" the RFA offer (in this case $2.5 million) and then sign an extension that now has the 2013 salary at like $ 850K and then a large cap # in a year or two that the player never sees because it is non-guaranteed and they simply cut him.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 08:10 PM
Heh, yes, I'm over 21 ... sounds like a bet I'd like to do, but with a couple qualifiers: I think the receiver in question should have to be taken no earlier than we pick in the 3rd round (17th if we stay put or trade down; if we trade up, wherever our actual pick is), since that's the theoretical round we are all arguing over. The Patriots' pick that we would've gotten was 29th in that round, but I'd be willing to give you a few spots and say we might as well have used our own. I know all three of your guys are rated as mid-round prospects, but if one of them happens to go in round 2 for some reason, then I think we can say it wouldn't have been a 1-for-1 tradeoff anymore.

Also, since we're talking about replacing Sanders' production, it ought to be 600 yards, since he had 626 yards as the #3 guy last year. In exchange for that, if I lose I'd also be willing to wear an avatar promoting Willie Parker for three months.

500 yards is more than fair IMO considering it is over Sanders career season average ( Sanders was more than a number 3 last year he had 7 starts ) and put up less than 700 yards his first two seasons combined (1290 for his career ) so 500 is well above Sanders average season to date and the draft pick I end up with may go to a shit team with no QB in place that is close to Ben's ability ( so again advantage you .. )

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 08:11 PM
That's interesting. Why would either side want that? I mean, it hinders a long term deal getting done for the players, and it hinders cap management for the owners.

It definitely seems like something that's there to cut down on funny business - signing guys with money you don't have, stealing guys from the other team through dirty tricks and such. Although you're still free to put poison pills in your offer sheets all you want, as far as I know, so ...

steelreserve
04-15-2013, 08:31 PM
500 yards is more than fair IMO considering it is over Sanders career season average ( Sanders was more than a number 3 last year he had 7 starts ) and put up less than 700 yards his first two seasons combined (1290 for his career ) so 500 is well above Sanders average season to date and the draft pick I end up with may go to a shit team with no QB in place that is close to Ben's ability ( so again advantage you .. )

Yeah, but we're talking about replacing a guy who we were counting on to be the #2 WR this year. That's OK though, I'll still take it at 500 because I like to bet. But I'm not doing the Parker avatar then.

Dwinsgames
04-15-2013, 08:39 PM
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/castnbash/Willieoverthefieldframed.gif (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/castnbash/media/Willieoverthefieldframed.gif.html)

Seven
04-15-2013, 10:14 PM
If Sanders would have left, it wouldn't really be an extra 3rd rounder though. At least that is how I see it. Either the pick received from the Patriots or the Steelers own 3rd rounder would have had to have been used to take a WR in that scenario. Sanders for a rookie WR and some cap space is the deal. Not really an extra pick since the Steelers wouldn't have had the "freedom" to use it with a high degree of flexibility.

Very good points.

86WARD
04-16-2013, 06:25 AM
Mistakes? Let's start with the one that got us into this mess in the first place. Not giving Sanders an offer that would have netted us a 2nd round pick. I'm begining to wonder about the good old boys theory,,,,, that the Steelers didn't think that another team would mess with one of thier player. ( Sorry Mr Goodell, just blowing of steam.)

Actually, we agree on a lot more than we disagree on.

The front office continues to make little (and big) mistakes and its really catching up.

In this case: If they tendered him with a second round offer, they would have saved $500,000...and now they are most likely losing $2.5M and a third round pick for a player that probably won't be with the team next year according to his agent. N

43Hitman
04-16-2013, 06:52 AM
Yeah, but we're talking about replacing a guy who we were counting on to be the #2 WR this year. That's OK though, I'll still take it at 500 because I like to bet. But I'm not doing the Parker avatar then.

lol ahh come on man, that avatar would look great on you.

NCSteeler
04-16-2013, 09:52 AM
The front office continues to make little (and big) mistakes and its really catching up.

In this case: If they tendered him with a second round offer, they would have saved $500,000...and now they are most likely losing $2.5M and a third round pick for a player that probably won't be with the team next year according to his agent. N

Why would the Steelers think anyone would jump on Sanders? He's the first to get an offer in 3 years. Then there is the argument that their real screw up is in matching the offer, based on rookie value. Hell we could have used our 3rd and the Pats 3rd to draft WRs had them both for 4 yrs at similar dollar value to the 1 for Sanders. Using both 3rds would have increased the likely hood of finding a starter. I personally was ready to move on. I just don't see the value. To me it really shows more mismanagement of the roster and cap. Quite possibly could have had Colston or Breaston on a 2yrs deal for 2.5M and a drafted WR or 2.


Old article but still relevant http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7820396/nfl-restricted-free-agency-verge-extinction

Between 2003 and 2008, 20 RFAs changed teams via an offer sheet, an average of more than three per year. Then the drought began.

2009
Four RFAs signed offer sheets with other teams; the incumbent team matched all four. This was the first year without any movement since the RFA system began in 1993.

2010
In the unique uncapped year, six years of service was required for UFAs, rather than the customary four years, "restricting" more than 200 players finishing their fourth and fifth years.

Only one RFA received an offer sheet: RB Mike Bell, who moved from the Saints to the Eagles on a modest one-year deal. This was certainly not the activity expected for the talent available. (A later NFLPA grievance filed about such inactivity was settled as part of the overall CBA resolution.)

2011
With a new CBA preserving the RFA system, not a single RFA changed teams in 2011. Part of the inactivity was due to the compressed time frame following the lockout, but the trend from 2009-10 clearly continued.

2012
We are days away from Friday's end of the RFA offer sheet period. Of 42 RFAs, none has received an offer sheet. Two talented players stand out: (1) Baltimore CB Lardarius Webb, who signed a new deal with the Ravens on April 5, and (2) Pittsburgh WR Mike Wallace, still available.

Wallace, a speedy and talented receiver entering his prime, can be had with a creative offer sheet. The Steelers restructured -- mortgaged -- virtually all of their available large contracts to stay under the cap entering 2012. A cap-rich team could take advantage of the Steelers' vulnerability with a front-loaded offer sheet for Wallace. With time running out, none has done so.

Why no activity?
This is hard to pinpoint, though as a front office executive I was hesitant to present RFA offer sheets, thinking I was negotiating the contract for the incumbent team, as it usually matches. However, as noted above, the Wallace situation finds the Steelers susceptible.

Another factor is an increased emphasis on building through the draft. With a reduced financial obligation compared to the past, especially high in the draft, these picks are more valuable than ever. Combine that with the high financial price of prying away an RFA, and teams are shying away.

Beyond these reasons, however, an overriding concern for players is that teams are spending less on players than in recent years, and RFA inactivity is a symptom of a larger malady.

Rookie contracts the end of RFA
And soon there may be no more RFAs of consequence … at all.

The new CBA requires all rookie contracts to have a term of four years. Thus, any players of value will now be under contract through their fourth seasons. The only remaining RFAs will be undrafted players or players who washed out before the fourth year. With every drafted player between 2011 and 2020 -- more than 2,500 players -- signing for four years, the NFL and NFLPA have eliminated this entire class of free agent.

With restricted free agency, for practical purposes, already teetering on extinction, its complete disappearance may be near.

Dwinsgames
04-16-2013, 01:54 PM
their real screw up is in matching the offer, based on rookie value. Hell we could have used our 3rd and the Pats 3rd to draft WRs had them both for 4 yrs at similar dollar value to the 1 for Sanders. Using both 3rds would have increased the likely hood of finding a starter. I personally was ready to move on. I just don't see the value. To me it really shows more mismanagement of the roster and cap.

THIS


we are going to draft one at some point this year anyways and am betting it is in the first 4 rounds

steelreserve
04-16-2013, 05:44 PM
Why would the Steelers think anyone would jump on Sanders? He's the first to get an offer in 3 years. Then there is the argument that their real screw up is in matching the offer, based on rookie value. Hell we could have used our 3rd and the Pats 3rd to draft WRs had them both for 4 yrs at similar dollar value to the 1 for Sanders. Using both 3rds would have increased the likely hood of finding a starter. I personally was ready to move on. I just don't see the value. To me it really shows more mismanagement of the roster and cap. Quite possibly could have had Colston or Breaston on a 2yrs deal for 2.5M and a drafted WR or 2.

I definitely see where you're coming from - maybe it's just that our front office really thinks he's going to be that good as a full-time #2 starter that it's worth it?

Or maybe (which would be much less good) they're hanging on to the idea of "We're still going to try and win it all this year somehow, and damn the consequences." I'm hoping it's the first one and not the second.

GBMelBlount
04-16-2013, 07:30 PM
Hell we could have used our 3rd and the Pats 3rd to draft WRs had them both for 4 yrs at similar dollar value to the 1 for Sanders.


The twofer argument is weak. The odds are very high that neither 3rd round receiver will make it and it takes a year or two to learn the system anyway.

Losing Sanders AND Wallace could have left us in a desperate situation.

NCSteeler
04-17-2013, 01:02 PM
The twofer argument is weak. The odds are very high that neither 3rd round receiver will make it and it takes a year or two to learn the system anyway.

Losing Sanders AND Wallace could have left us in a desperate situation.

Odds of a 3rd rnd WR not being a 40-50 catch guy is like 50/50. It's not like we signed Calvin Johnson or something. Name a #2 guy on another team you would give a 3rd round pick for? I think Sanders is getting a lot of BnG colored glasses love

steelreserve
04-17-2013, 01:25 PM
Odds of a 3rd rnd WR not being a 40-50 catch guy is like 50/50. It's not like we signed Calvin Johnson or something. Name a #2 guy on another team you would give a 3rd round pick for? I think Sanders is getting a lot of BnG colored glasses love

Since the odds are 50-50 ... I'd give a third-round pick for just about any #2 WR who catches 50 passes. There, I just eliminated a 50% chance of a draft bust. As long as the price is right, that's a good move. Whether the price is right for Sanders remains to be seen, but that's the thinking anyway.

86WARD
04-17-2013, 02:37 PM
They'd been better off taking the third. The Patriots basically laid the groundwork to go after Sanders next year with this "gesture." The Steelers won't tag him next year so he's definitely a free agent and his agent has already said he's going to test the market. New England knows this and the Steelers basically played right into their hand. He'll get his money next year and the Steelers will be out the Player and the pick.

GBMelBlount
04-17-2013, 03:00 PM
Letting Sanders go only makes sense if you don't care about this year.

I do.

Mojouw
04-17-2013, 04:34 PM
The whole Sanders thing is overblown. His agent barking about money is mostly bluster. Do you think if Sanders would have had to play on his RFA tender and no teams put in an offer sheet his agent would be shooting his mouth off? Of course he wouldn't. But after the offer sheet, an agent saw a chance to get himself more commission (yeah. right. these guys care about their clients -- look what Harrison's agent has done to his client) and he blabbed a bunch of nonsense about testing the market. I bet Sanders quietly signs an incentive based deal between the draft and the end of camp. But what do I know?

Even with Sanders back, I would still like to see at least 2 rookie WR's brought in. The positional depth chart at WR is horrifying.

GBMelBlount
04-17-2013, 04:53 PM
The whole Sanders thing is overblown. His agent barking about money is mostly bluster. Do you think if Sanders would have had to play on his RFA tender and no teams put in an offer sheet his agent would be shooting his mouth off? Of course he wouldn't. But after the offer sheet, an agent saw a chance to get himself more commission (yeah. right. these guys care about their clients -- look what Harrison's agent has done to his client) and he blabbed a bunch of nonsense about testing the market.

I bet Sanders quietly signs an incentive based deal between the draft and the end of camp. But what do I know?

Even with Sanders back, I would still like to see at least 2 rookie WR's brought in. The positional depth chart at WR is horrifying.


I agree on all of this.

...and worst case I think it was wise to keep Sanders as a stop gap measure.