Can someone please explain just what in the wide world of sports the Pittsburgh Steelers front office is doing?
Less than a week after they decided to match a $2.5 million dollar offer by New England for number three receiver and oft-injured Emmanuel Sanders, the team is now faced with a similar situation with a guy they apparently valued a hell of a lot less than the fans and most certainly other teams. Steelers nose tackle Steve McLendon reportedly visited with the Green Bay Packers and should he sign an offer sheet, the Steelers are in no position to match. This would leave them with basically no one at nose tackle unless you count troubled second-year man Alameda Ta’amu.
Because the Steelers tendered McLendon at the ridiculously low rate of $1.3 million rather than $2 million, this means the Steelers will more than likely get nothing in return should he sign a sheet with the Packers. Had they signed him for just $700,000 more they could have at least received compensation in the form of a draft pick but not now.
The Packers must act soon as the deadline for restricted free agents is the 19th. If the Steelers were to match it would have to come with another roster move more than likely because they are less than a million bucks under the cap.
The bigger issue is something even the most die-hard Steelers’ fan must start to realize and that is that this is not your father’s Steelers’ organization. Since this team lost the AFC Wild-Card game at Denver in January of 2012, the team parted ways with offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, went 8-8 and has seen two significant departures from the coaching staff. Offensive line coach Sean Kugler and receivers coach Scottie Montgomery both left for the college ranks. New Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley has been polarizing without really even trying as those loyal to Arians balked at Haley’s short passing game offense.
Starters Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Wallace, Keenan Lewis, James Harrison and Willie Colon have departed. Sanders nearly left and now you have an up and coming not to mention potential starter in McLendon days away from leaving as well. So I ask, what is going on in the front office?
Is it Art Rooney II? Is it General Manager Kevin Colbert? Is it cap guru Omar Khan? Is it Mike Tomlin?
Actually, it appears to be all of them working together right now in a uniquely strange dance that has all of us mystified. This is not an over-reaction on my part because this is pretty tame for me and if you are sitting there saying, “I trust the Rooneys” and “everything will be fine,” then we are clearly seeing two different things at the moment. Because I question what the organization is doing does not make me an expert or a know-it-all. It makes me a realist who is unafraid to call things like I see them.
The Rooneys have long been one of the most stable and most respected owners in all of professional sports but that doesn’t mean they are safe from criticism when it is warranted. Right now, it is warranted. The mere case of McLendon’s low tender alone screams of organizations like the Lions or Browns, not the Steelers. We don’t make those types of mistakes do we?
I have news for you. Apparently we do and right now the only thing that should save the job of Kevin Colbert is a draft for the ages. The Steelers must pull players that can have immediate impacts and long-term potential or else off-seasons like this one will become the norm. If that’s the case I’d rather tumble down a ski jump while someone says “the agony of defeat….”
8 comments
you are 1000% right in your evaluation of the current steeler mgt. as i have stated earlier in replies, rooney is nothing but an accident of birth. why can’t they restructure polo.
Thanks for reading John. The problem with re-structuring Troy is that he’s 32 and has been plagued with injuries. For many of the same reasons they couldn’t re-structure Harrison, they won’t with Troy. It would be too much on the books in future years.
The problem with our young defensive players leaving is the defensive coordinator that won’t give the young guys a chance to play and show what they can do, he would rather watch a fat nt waddle around the field than a young , guy chase the qb or rb. The steelers have become the team where defensive picks and rookies go to never be heard of again as long as Lebeau is there.
Good point Jim. It’s the reason I really want to stay away from defense with our first pick.
so the ans. is no. i disagee with you.harrison is 35. champ baily is 35. when polo. retuned to line up at the end he was playing good. so good i think it’ll be a few seasons before anyone will beat him out. its a gamble tthey should take. the 2 geniouses colbert and kahn have cap so messed up it will be years before they are out hole.
Bailey doesn’t have the injury history that Troy does. Believe me, if I knew Troy could play 14/15 games per season the next 3 years I’d re-structure in a heartbeat. Just don’t see it happening.
I think you guys are having a panic attack. I know 8-8 is not the standard but considering the injuries, the distractions, along with what I thought was “not up to par” coaching the Steelers could of and should of had a much worse record. The steelers defense got better as the year progressed and the offense digressed as the season stretched out. The coaching was mediocre at best. But this isn’t the first time the steelers have held on to a core of people to long and had to rebuild again. 99, 00, 03 were exceptionally bad years and the Steelers bounced back. They also got rid of quite a few people in the process when they did. I think this is simply another retooling effort and I look forward to them winning the division 2014. I think they will be competitive this year.
Thanks for reading Jesse. I admit I’m usually a bit negative this time of year about our fortunes for the upcoming season but this offseason has been very troubling compared to past seasons. The Steelers were in a lot of games last year but couldn’t seal the deal and that speaks of poor execution and poor coaching. If they can correct those things then I agree, they could be competitive. Can they add the necessary depth and stay healthy is a major concern too.