Keisel released

[one side only]

Been a great run, but it was time to call it quits. Next stop Tennessee?

[Drazo85]

I know its a must, but this is a sad day for me. One of my favorite guys and Steelers of all time. Thank you for all.

[Steeldude]

It's for the best.

[Psycho Ward 86]

if keisel goes while cam stays...im going to flip shit

[86WARD]

Cam should be right behind!!

[Count Steeler]

Cam should have been first. Then fumigate the locker room.

[Dwinsgames]

Cam should have been first. Then fumigate the locker room.

this

[stillers4me]

Cam should have been first. Then fumigate the locker room.

[Count Steeler]

The spirit is willing but the body is old.

[tube517]

Cam should be right behind!!

I forgot about him.

[fansince'76]

Thanks for the memories, Brett!

[smokin3000gt]

I know all good things must come to an end but sad to see Kiesel go.

[Devilsdancefloor]

great player but a better man thank you for all the memories da'beard!

[Steelerette]

Getting older happens to the best of us.

(except for me)

[KeiselPower99]

Obviously Im sad to to see Keisel go but we knew it was going to happen. I just dont understand how Cam still is employed. Anyways thank you Beard for the past 13 years of awesome gritty moments.

[st33lersguy]

Obviously Im sad to to see Keisel go but we knew it was going to happen. I just dont understand how Cam still is employed. Anyways thank you Beard for the past 13 years of awesome gritty moments.

Yeah you release a longtime Steeler great but keep the guy that signed last year that was utterly useless? Keisel was better than Thomas

[Lady Steel]

This really makes me sad. Brett is a wonderful man, but his time has come.

Good luck and best wishes to him.

[katmandu]

The spirit is willing but the body is old.

Perhaps I'm in the minority here or I was just totally phuching blind last year, but I thought Keisel was playing at a pretty high level last year. Certainly worth $1.5 Million and certainly miles above Thomas.

Yeah, he got hurt, but it was a muscular injury. Now "IF" he's rehab was NOT going well or on schedule (perhaps the case here... I dunno), THEN I could see kicking him to the curb. But if he is healthy, for $1.5 Mil (cheap!) I'd keep Keisel around. For depth and lockroom leadership at least.

Folks totally underestimate the real value of a great leader IMHO. A real leader elevates the attitudes, moral and play of all those around him. Keisel is a great leader. Look what happened (in the lockerroom) when the Bus retired!

If he's still hurt, I get it. But if his old body IS able to play, I hope the hell the Steeler's bring him back later in the season.

[steelreserve]

I have no idea why Thomas is still on the team and Kiesel isn't. Kiesel was at least still a decent rotation player. Thomas brings absolutely nothing to the table. He makes Ziggy Hood look good by comparison. I hope this doesn't mean they plan on actually keeping him, or worse yet, actually giving him significant playing time again.

[katmandu]

I have no idea why Thomas is still on the team and Kiesel isn't. Kiesel was at least still a decent rotation player. Thomas brings absolutely nothing to the table. He makes Ziggy Hood look good by comparison. I hope this doesn't mean they plan on actually keeping him, or worse yet, actually giving him significant playing time again.

x2. I think they're hanging on to Thomas because he can play NT as well as DE. Keisel can't play NT. We're mighty thin at DT amongst other slots.

[st33lersguy]

Cam Thomas is more useless than Gomer Pyle from Full Metal Jacket, he should definitely get cut

[Steelerette]

Maybe we're going to try and trade him. Cutting Keisel early gives him the chance to decide whether he's going to pursue a last hurrah in Tennessee; I suppose we owe him that much.

I was going to argue that maybe it simply made the most sense to cut Thomas after June 1, but he's a free agent next year so there's nowhere to hide his signing bonus, we're on the hook 500k no matter when we cut him. Maybe there's a plan in the works regarding the D-line and we don't want to tip our hand.

[steelreserve]

x2. I think they're hanging on to Thomas because he can play NT as well as DE. Keisel can't play NT. We're mighty thin at DT amongst other slots.

Right, but NT isn't as high of a need in the draft as LB, even though we've got seven of them with starting experience and are debating whether to overpay an eighth.

I'd seriously take Keisel playing NT over Thomas. No, it's not his position at all, but shove him in there and he'd probably do a better job if he had to. Thomas just flat-out sucks at every position. What's the sense in keeping a guy just for depth when if he ever actually has to play, you're screwed anyway?

IMO he is most likely still on the team because of someone's personal pride - like, this was Tomlin or Colbert's pet project because they "saw something" in the guy, and giving up and cutting their losses would cause a bruised ego.

[Steelerette]

Honestly I saw the potential in the signing when we made it, but early in the season it was clear it wasn't working out. I don't know why this bruised ego has to come into play - I'd rather have a GM who tries and says "oops" than one who tries and then make believes it worked.

[steelreserve]

That's why I think it's more likely it's the coach.

But even Tomlin last year was not so hesitant to bench guys or get rid of them outright when they weren't effective. Maybe everyone is just blind as a bat, or they're scared of the dirty dick.

[one side only]

Someone should call Steven A. Smith.

[86WARD]

Tomlin doesn't like white players. Kiesel, Polamalu...

[KeiselPower99]

Maybe it has to do with if Keisel is on the team they feel obligated to play him more and cut into Tuitt and Heywards playing time. In all honesty I thought Keisel played good last year and was worth a 1.5 million investment for 2015.

[Lady Steel]

[Hawkman]

DAMN!! Makes me sad.