Ed: A Free Agent the Steelers Could Like

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 07:48

Written by Ed Bouchette

Good morning,
    Almost always when a “name” player is released by his team, we can count on questions – usually through Twitter – from readers who want to know if the Steelers might be interested in signing him.
     Almost always, the answer is no. They are not in the habit of taking other team’s castoffs.
      Steve Breaston could be different. He was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday, mainly because he played so little last season (reportedly having gotten himself in the doghouse of then-coach Romeo Crenel) and because he was due to earn a salary of $3.8 million, and he caught just seven passes for 74 yards last season. The Chiefs had signed him to a five-year, $23 million contract in 2011 and guess who their head coach was at the time? Todd Haley. He had Breaston in Arizona and no doubt was influential in the Chiefs signing him. The Steelers can use more receivers with Mike Wallace headed out and, provided Breaston, a Pittsburgh native, would not command a hefty ticket, he could be a good fit here and he’s only 29.

He caught 61 passes for 785 yards in 2011 in KC. His best season was 2008 when he caught 77 passes in Arizona for 1,006 yards.
     Breaston did not live up to his contract in Kansas City, and the fact he was used so little last season could allow the Steelers to get him for a good price. He’s worth the minimal risk because he does not have to come here to start.
      Remember, Leonard Pope.
Onto some stuff:
--- People question why the Steelers would want to have Larry Foote back. Other than the fact he did his job last season as the team’s second-leading tackler with four sacks, that he did not miss a game, that he calls the defensive signals, that he would be cap-friendly and that there is no good replacement for him, what’s their not to like? And the fact he is the only one of their free agents known to be in discussions for a new contract also is not surprising. They are not going to talk about contracts with many of their free agents until they become free agents March 12.
--- Ryan Clark raised the prospect the Steelers locker room might be “fractured” because of a statement a teammate made about LaMarr Woodley. There was evidence of it much of last season, including the game against San Diego at home a prime example.
--- If you want a numbers breakdown of what Mike Wallace is worth, look here: WARNING, may not be suitable for the weak of statistical heart.
Click here: Estimating the Value of WR Mike Wallace - Over the Cap
       
--- Onto your questions:
--- YOU: Why do you think the Steelers keep Redman over Dwyer? I’ve seen you write that a few times now. Something the coaches said? Money? Dwyer is 5 year younger. There stats seem to be about the same. From my outside point of view, I think Dwyer is the one they would keep if they kept one.
ME: The team feels it can count more on Isaac Redman than Jonathan Dwyer, plus if neither is going to be the top dog, then Redman is better suited as a complimentary back. Hey, they might keep both.
 --- YOU: Thanks for printing the crazy You and Me emails. It makes me feel sane. But the last crazy one was spot on. The Steelers should have 8 Lombardi’s from the last 8 years. And so should the Patriots. And both teams that Peyton Manning played with. And let’s not forget the Saints and the Packers. So I now realize that it is the NFL that is crazy, not the Steelers fans. So my question is, when will the NFL get a clue and give out multiple Lombardi trophies every year to the teams that deserve it instead of giving only one trophy to the team that wins the game?
ME: Yes, give a trophy to everyone, because those players probably grew up with that practice when they were 10 years old.
 --- YOU: How about Chris Ivory as a potential free agent signing at RB? He’s young, won’t be expensive, weighs 225, and has a knack for breaking tackles. Sounds like a Steeler RB all the way. Your thoughts?
ME: Interesting. He’s an RFA. The Steelers have never landed one of those (they did sign 49ers punter Andy Lee as RFA but SF matched and kept him). Since he was undrafted, the Saints would have to put a higher tender on him to protect him or else maintain merely the right to match. I just don’t see the Steelers doing this.
--- YOU: How many scouts do the Steelers have in Canada? The CFL may be an extra source of talent. The Patriots seem to think so. The Steelers need all the help they can get. Recent drafts have been horrible, as we all know.
ME: The Steelers may have some connections in Canada, but no scouts in their employ. Their pro scouts are charged with keeping tabs on CFL players. I’m not ready to agree with you that recent drafts have been horrible.
--- YOU: What do you think of the Steelers trading with the Saints for Mark Ingram? He's only 23 and has two years left on his contract at what seems like reasonable numbers of less than $1.4M per year. He does not seem to fit the Saints offense and may not require a lot in return.
ME: As you know, the Steelers rarely trade for a player and when they do it usually involves a low draft pick (Allen Rossum, 7th; Bryant McFadden, 5th). Ingram has done little in the two seasons since the Saints drafted him in the first round. He’d have to come cheap, but what would the Steelers have seen in him the past two seasons to make them want him as their No. 1 back? He started nine games and has 1,076 yards rushing and a 3.9-yard average in his two-year career with 17 receptions. I’m looking for a reason the Steelers might want him other than what he did in college and I cannot find it.

--- YOU: Heath Miller is going on 31 and suffered a major knee injury at the END of the season. Deception being a not-so-subtle art form leading up to the draft -- there are two excellent TEs in the draft worthy of first-round grades: Tyler Eifert and Zach Ertz. Considering how important the position is to the offense, this could be an immediate need. And it's not like they couldn't use two good TEs once Miller returns.
ME: I don’t dispute the need for a tight end, but I would be surprised if they took one on the first round.