Array title="Born2Steel has a reputation beyond repute">
I think Hightower would be a great addition to the Steelers. Will he cost too much? That depends on what you think he's worth. $10Mil/year, for me, is right in line with what he should make. We made our offer so let's see what he chooses. Most are betting he returns to the Pats. Guess we'll see.
Array title="DesertSteel has a reputation beyond repute">
It would shock the world if the Steelers got him (me anyway)
sometimes waiting is out of the question , you must have said car to get back to work with and without it you lose your paychecks ....Originally Posted by AtlantaDan
nobody wants to over pay , however one could argue we have targeted players whom ....
A) have been out of our price range
B) have shown a desire of playing elsewhere
C) really add nothing in terms of value over whom they would be replacing but at a higher price tag
one could argue we should be kicking the tires on someone like Patrick Robinson ,Sam Shields,..... ( Robert Mathis , Dwight Freeney or Elvis Dumervil on a 1 year deal to rotate with Harrison until we get a rookie worthy of snaps) perhaps investigate Erik Walden and find out if his troubles are behind him ( he quietly put up 11 sacks last year ) .... Deshawn Shead has always been impressive when I catch a Seahags game and he is 28 so should have a few good years left ...... Jared Odrick is still under 30 get some medicals on the kid and see how the elbow is ( the only reason he lost his job last year ) but we do not hear any of these guys associated with Pittsburgh ...
or better yet we could be bringing in free agents to talk to who have been healthy, wont come at a ridiculous cost, and have very obvious upside to thrive here *cough cough* Zach Brown and Connor Barwinsometimes waiting is out of the question , you must have said car to get back to work with and without it you lose your paychecks ....
nobody wants to over pay , however one could argue we have targeted players whom ....
A) have been out of our price range
B) have shown a desire of playing elsewhere
C) really add nothing in terms of value over whom they would be replacing but at a higher price tag
one could argue we should be kicking the tires on someone like Patrick Robinson ,Sam Shields,..... ( Robert Mathis , Dwight Freeney or Elvis Dumervil on a 1 year deal to rotate with Harrison until we get a rookie worthy of snaps) perhaps investigate Erik Walden and find out if his troubles are behind him ( he quietly put up 11 sacks last year ) .... Deshawn Shead has always been impressive when I catch a Seahags game and he is 28 so should have a few good years left ...... Jared Odrick is still under 30 get some medicals on the kid and see how the elbow is ( the only reason he lost his job last year ) but we do not hear any of these guys associated with Pittsburgh ...
Array title="SteelerFanInStl has a reputation beyond repute">
I agree. No reason to not at least bring those guys in.
“I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play!” - Jack Lambert
Array title="tube517 has a reputation beyond repute">
http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/201...connor-barwin/
(Not sure if this was posted alredy)
Array title="Born2Steel has a reputation beyond repute">
If we brought in Hightower for legitimate offer, we should be bringing in Brown and Barwin also. Hightower is not expected to sign here. Hopefully calls are being made and meetings are being scheduled. I would still like to know what the Revis camp is asking on a 1-2 year deal.
Why would Barwin come here?
He puts up sacks whenever he isn't asked to play 4-3 DE. He can go to the Rams, reunite with Wade Phillips and START. Or he can come here for back-up money and randomly rotate according to the whims of the DC? Heck, he might play 4th fiddle to Dupree, Deebo, and a shiny new rookie.
Everyone wants us to sign this guy or that guy and then have them be back-ups. C'mon man!
Dear Random FA,
We realize that you were a starter on your previous team. However our vision is that you sign for a low salary to be a back-up on the Pittsburgh Steelers. We have polled our fans and they believe this would be the best way for you to become a member of Steelers Nation and chase a ring.
Thanks,
Kevin Colbert
That is not much of sales pitch.
Array title="Born2Steel has a reputation beyond repute">
If Barwin did come here to back up, he would be behind James or Bud, not both. Chickillo/Moats would play behind the other. OR as you said in another post, Moats could move back inside to his natural position. Barwin/Harrison would be a deadly combo on that side. Money IS the big issue though. Why would he take back up money is still a nagging question. He probably wouldn't.
Who said he would be a backup? If Dupree makes the leap, fantastic. He is reaching his pedigree. If he doesnt, Connor will step right in and provide great all-around play for us. James Harrison is 38. You dont grow dependent on players that old. Sure, he isnt your typical human being but thats a dumb gamble to make. Harrison essentially played starter snaps for a little over half the season the past 2 seasons. I dont want to bet on him having the same production for the duration of a full season. What are the chances that Dupree doesnt make the leap OR Harrison declines? What are the chances of both happening? Those scenarios have decent chance of coming to fruition. If one doesnt keep their arrow up, Barwin steps in seamlessly and we dont skip a beat. If both of them excel, we now have an extremely dangerous pass rush platoon + we can keep our OLB's fresh. Win win in my book.
Harrison is making super cheap back up money as it is anyways and Dupree is on his cheap rookie contract. We can absorb a Barwin contract just fine, especially if were so willing to throw competitive money at Hightower. Barwin is coming off a down seasons because he's been playing 3-4 OLB his whole life and then the eagles switched him to a DE in a wide-9 scheme. Thats a really awkward transition. He's been healthy virtually his whole career and was productive before that so i dont see any reason why that wouldnt continue. Barwin is also known as a really good off the field guy. Contract wise, he said he was willing to take a paycut in Philly to stay there...in a system that would lose him money because he doesnt even fit in. That doesnt sound like an expensive free agent to me. Staying intra-state for a championship caliber team is something he's never had, sounds like now might be the time. His "down year" was a fluke from the looks of it and that will drive his price down. And dont get me started about Barwin's age (30), were looking at Harrison as a starter next season so
3 years, $15 million with $7 million guaranteed is something I feel like he could bite on if we show him as much love as Hightower
Luke Kuechly money....
Barwin won't start. Dupree will get every benefit of the doubt and will play unless he is broken. That is the Steelers developmental pattern with young players - force feed them snaps and hope for the best.
They are going to draft a pass rusher because Deebo is ancient. That rookie will follow the same development plan as outlined above for Dupree.
So Barwin is rotational unless injury. Again, why would he agree to that if he can go and start for the Rams and since they are the shitshow that is the Rams they are going to pay him a crappy franchise tax markup.
More money, an almost lock on a starting spot, and his old DC? Hard to beat is my point.
Connor Barwin is visiting the Bengals of all teams. This guy is willing to play completely out of scheme a 2nd year in a row. And the bengals already have their starting lineup at linebacker established for next season that schematically make sense: Vincent Rey, Rey Maualuga, and Vontaze Burfict.
Steelers, Bengals, Rams are very competitive choices in my opinion. Steelers: Can offer the opportunity to finally play for a superbowl contender, strongly contend for a lot of snaps at worst, offer competitive money with the other suitors, stay intrastate in Pennsylvania, play in his natural position again and be productive again. Bengals: Play for college alma mater, offer competitive money with the other suitors (they have $10 million more in space than us, but the jets have twice as much space as us and we've still been taking Donta Hightower to overtime), but play with 3 other linebackers who are already starting and have been in the system. Rams: play in natural position again, offer probably the most money, play for old DC again (but play for perennially losers)
doesnt that seem like something that requires some time to think over?
Exactly and backups play special teams. Barwin hasn't played special teams in years...and probably isn't willing to...
Enthroned Into The Good Old Boys Club - 2024
Hightower has returned to the Pats.
Not surprising...I think we all expected as much...it's what NE does.
Via Rapoport: 4 years, $43.5M, $19 guaranteed
How long before he gets traded? 2 years?
4 years 43.5 million with 19 million guaranteed
Array title="SteelerFanInStl has a reputation beyond repute">
Yea, I'm not surprised either. I think it's actually better that we didn't sign him as long as we work to fill that position with someone who's capable of bringing heat and dropping into coverage. It saves us cap room.
I'd like to see us show some interest in Zach Brown though.
“I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play!” - Jack Lambert
And now Zach Brown is visiting the Raiders ($35 million in cap space). They also lost a starting inside linebacker. I bet we wont even field a call
The league should collude to not even host a Patriots free agent. If they are ready to let them go , they will cut them or trade them anything else is just you doing Thier negotiating work for them. Just like we did years ago with Andy Lee. F the Patriots
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Merry Christmas
Via Dale Lolley, they were offering a contract in the range of $8mil per season.
Array title="DesertSteel has a reputation beyond repute">
I'm encouraged that they were willing to go after a top tier guy. In some ways, I think it's best that it didn't work out. I'd rather have an OLB or CB. Most of the top shelf guys are gone, but perhaps there's still somebody out there. I need to check the board.
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I have a hard time believing that. I've got to think that would've been a short conversation. I bet it was $10M.
Array title="AtlantaDan has a reputation beyond repute">
Damn! I was hoping he would sign.
Array title="Shoes has a reputation beyond repute">
He has now added Bills portrait to the remaining rooms of his house.
Array title="SteelerFanInStl has a reputation beyond repute">
I agree. I don't know where Lolley was getting that info but everything that I read said that the Pats offered him $10M/year originally.
“I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play!” - Jack Lambert
Well at least NE was finally forced to open the check book for a player.
from what I understand he signed for what they had offered prior to him hitting the road fielding other offers .... if that is the case they only opened as much as they where initially willing ..
Array title="AtlantaDan has a reputation beyond repute">
Belichick's response after Hightower returned from visiting the Steelers and Jets to ask what offer would be made above what the Pats agreed to pay initially
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