Steelers sign Joe Haden to a three year deal

[polamalubeast]

[Born2Steel]

Well, somebody called it on the 3 year deal. Need to see the specifics over time. Welcome aboard the train Joe Haden.

[polamalubeast]

[AtlantaDan]

$7 million?

Well that's the last piece in the Super Bowl puzzle

Maybe the Steelers can waive the rule that you have to be retired for three years before being inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor and Mel Blount or Rod Woodson can be told to step aside so Haden can be inducted during the Green Bay game in late November

I hope that is not money that was earmarked for signing Tuitt to a new contract

[polamalubeast]

On paper, the only position that the steelers are weaker than last year is the inside linebacker with the loss of Timmons

For the rest, it is the same or better.

[BlackAndGold]

doubt year 2 or 3 is guaranteed.

[Iron Steeler]

YESSSSSS!!!

[SteelerFanInStl]

Welcome to the Steelers Joe Haden!!! He's going to be great for our young guys to learn from.

[BlackAndGold]

On paper, the only position that the steelers are weaker than last year is the inside linebacker with the loss of Timmons

For the rest, it is the same or better.

I've posted about this a couple of times, but they should try to go after Mychal Kendrick. Him and Shazier will be one hell of a paring at ILB.

Eagles would need to retain some of his salary though.

[steelreserve]

Well that's a shitload of money, honestly I didn't expect it to be that much - but I guess we had a pretty significant amount of cap space still open, so there's probably not much better use of it. Seems like they have him in mind as a likely starter for that kind of commitment. If we just solved our two biggest nagging problems in two days, it's worth it.

This officially confirms that we are in "WIN NOW" mode with 2-3 years as the window before we are looking for a new QB.

[RunNGun]

Curious to see who gets cut at CB for Haden's roster spot. Starting to think Ross Cockrell is the odd man out.
Burns, Haden, Sutton, Hilton, Sensabaugh, and Gay.
To me it comes down to Cockrell or Gay. If we could now trade Cockrell for a 4th round pick that would be ideal. Keeping Gay could prove valuable with his veteran leadership.

[polamalubeast]

Curious to see who gets cut at CB for Haden's roster spot. Starting to think William Gay is the odd man out.
Burns, Haden, Sutton, Hilton, Sensabaugh, and Cockrell.
To me it comes down to Cockrell or Gay. If we could now trade Cockrell for a 4th round pick that would be ideal.

I think Cockrell will be cut...

[Iron Steeler]

yesss!!!

[AtlantaDan]

To me it comes down to Cockrell or Gay. If we could now trade Cockrell for a 4th round pick that would be ideal.

Any team that wanted to try to sign Cockrell this offseason would have been required to give up a 4th round pick under the terms of his tender offer. No takers then and I doubt any takers now after his abysmal preseason since Cockrell might be released with the logjam at CB.

I doubt the Steelers could get a bag of donuts in return for Cockrell.

[86WARD]

Trade Cockrell for a 6th round pick. Any pick actually.

Love the Haden signing. Like both moves the last two days!!!

[SteelerFanInStl]

I've posted about this a couple of times, but they should try to go after Mychal Kendrick. Him and Shazier will be one hell of a paring at ILB.

Eagles would need to retain some of his salary though.

The Eagles tried to give him away last year and no one wanted him. He makes too much $$ for his talent. He also wouldn't work well with Shazier. They're too similar. Kendricks is too much of a freelancer. He needs to be paired with someone who's going to "clean up" after him when he's out of position. He's fast but he's not really that good.

[Born2Steel]

This may boost Cockrell if it allows him to play more zone coverage than being forced to mirror.

[BlackAndGold]

The Eagles tried to give him away last year and no one wanted him. He makes too much $$ for his talent. He also wouldn't work well with Shazier. They're too similar. Kendricks is too much of a freelancer. He needs to be paired with someone who's going to "clean up" after him when he's out of position. He's fast but he's not really that good.

He had a down year last year, but he was looking like a stud in year before. He's has played great so far in the preseason, bounce back year?

As I wrote, Eagles would have to retain his salary because no way the Steelers would take on that contract.

[RunNGun]

I think Cockrell will be cut...

You're probably right. Would be nice to get something out of him, but I can see teams not taking the bait. Especially, with how he's performed in the preseason. Cockrell is as good as gone. They like what Hilton has done, as well as his potential, so they're not getting rid of a guy with more upside.

[Mojouw]

So who ends up on the outside looking in? Figure they keep 9 DBs (I think that is about the # they usually head into the season with):

Burns
Mitchell
Davis
Haden

That's 4

Hilton plays the slot -- that's 5.

Sutton is a lock. That's 6.

Golden and Dangerfield/Some other random safety. That's 7 and 8.

So that leaves Gay, Cockrell, Sensabaugh, and Allen on the "bubble".

Allen sneaks to the PS - although that just seems waaaaaay to risky for my tastes.

That means Gay makes the roster because he is the most position flexible and veteran of the remaining?

[RunNGun]

So who ends up on the outside looking in? Figure they keep 9 DBs (I think that is about the # they usually head into the season with):

Burns
Mitchell
Davis
Haden

That's 4

Hilton plays the slot -- that's 5.

Sutton is a lock. That's 6.

Golden and Dangerfield/Some other random safety. That's 7 and 8.

So that leaves Gay, Cockrell, Sensabaugh, and Allen on the "bubble".

Allen sneaks to the PS - although that just seems waaaaaay to risky for my tastes.

That means Gay makes the roster because he is the most position flexible and veteran of the remaining?

I think we keep 6 corners this year. Burns, Haden, Sutton, Hilton, Gay, and Sensabaugh. Cockrell was solid for a season or 2, but I don't think they're going to make the Cortez Allen mistake twice in a row. When a guy is underperforming, give someone else an opportunity.

[Hawkman]

Love it if could have him ready for the first game against his old team.

[st33lersguy]

Hopefully he returns to pro bowl form, if he does, it could push them over the top

[43Hitman]

If Allen can play ST, we don't need to try and stash him. I honestly think with his measurables, that there is a snowballs chance in hell he stays on the PS. Someone will definitely scoop him up.

[ALLD]

The good news is the Steelers want to win this year. The bad news is if they do not we will be down for awhile with Ben's impending retirement. It's no joke now. Steelers never brought in this much FA $ in awhile.

[RunNGun]

If Allen can play ST, we don't need to try and stash him. I honestly think with his measurables, that there is a snowballs chance in hell he stays on the PS. Someone will definitely scoop him up.

I just don't think Allen has showed enough to warrant a roster spot. I presume he will get more reps in the finale so they can really get a good look at him. He goes to the practice squad, IMO.

[Mojouw]

I think we keep 6 corners this year. Burns, Haden, Sutton, Hilton, Gay, and Sensabaugh. Cockrell was solid for a season or 2, but I don't think they're going to make the Cortez Allen mistake twice in a row. When a guy is underperforming, give someone else an opportunity.

I can see that. I just can't shake the team's own comments that Willie Gay keeps them from going man. For better or worse, they do seem to view Cockrell as a man cover guy.

Maybe Gay gets the pink slip? Or keep the "team" guy and give Sensabaugh the axe?

[pczach]

If Allen can play ST, we don't need to try and stash him. I honestly think with his measurables, that there is a snowballs chance in hell he stays on the PS. Someone will definitely scoop him up.

No doubt.

That's my biggest fear.

[polamalubeast]

[Mojouw]

I just don't think Allen has showed enough to warrant a roster spot. I presume he will get more reps in the finale so they can get really get a good look at him. He goes to the practice squad, IMO.

Good point. If Shamarko Thomas could soak up a roster spot all last season, why not Allen?