Steelers Welcome Back Randle EL

**Jooser** · 03-10-2010, 10:04 AM

Per PPG:

Steelers welcome back Randle El
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Not long after wide receiver Limas Sweed was walking out of the Steelers office, Antwaan Randle El came strolling in, wearing a straw fedora and the look of a man happy to be back home again.

Four years after he left to sign a seven-year, $31 million contract with the Washington Redskins, Randle El officially rejoined the team he helped lead to victory in Super Bowl XL Tuesday -- a move that creates a logjam at wide receiver and brings into question the future of Sweed, who, like Randle El, was once a No. 2 draft choice.

After signing a three-year, $7 million contract that included a $900,000 signing bonus, Randle El pronounced himself thrilled to rejoin former teammates such as Hines Ward and Casey Hampton, players with whom he exchanged phone calls and text messages the past couple days.

"The bottom line is, it came down to coming home to a more comfortable situation for me and, certainly, [having] some history here," said Randle El, one of 10 players released Thursday by the Redskins. "It was one of the things that got me back here. I totally enjoyed playing before here and I know I will enjoy it now."

He also said he was brought in to be a wide receiver and not a punt-returner -- a role he performed with great success in his first stint with the Steelers from 2002-05. Randle El holds the club record for career punt returns for touchdowns (4), including two during his final season with the team.

"We haven't delved into the return; we just talked about being a No. 3 [receiver] and, if Hines or Santonio [Holmes] go down, then, of course, being outside," Randle El said. "The focus is being the No. 3 receiver right now. That's what I want to come in and do. And be productive at it. Punt returns, that's lying in the woods. It's not something I want [to do]."

Before anyone thinks Randle El (5 feet 10, 185 pounds) will replace rookie sensation Mike Wallace as the team's No. 3 receiver, understand this: The Steelers have several offensive packages in which the third receiver can be either Wallace or another player, depending on the formation. It was that way last season and it will continue to be that way next season with Randle El.

Randle El's signing comes one day after the Steelers signed free-agent wide receiver Arnaz Battle from the San Francisco 49ers to a three-year, $3.9 million contract. The addition of Randle El and Battle gives the Steelers seven receivers, including Sweed and Tyler Grisham -- two more than they kept on their 53-man roster last season.

The Steelers also signed offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, who started eight games last season with the Buffalo Bills. Scott, who signed a one-year, $545,000 contract, could be used as a backup for Willie Colon and Max Starks.

"We had other teams [who were interested], but we told [the Steelers], hey, you know, I'd like to be there, so let's get some things worked out." Randle El said. "It happened pretty quickly. I'm glad I'm here."

While

he was gone

Antwaan Randle El's numbers in four seasons with Washington:

Category No.

Games 63

Games started 48

Receptions 186

Yards receiving 2,202

Yards per reception 11.8

Total touchdowns 9

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**Oviedo** · 03-10-2010, 10:32 AM

He should be an asset. I just don't see him as an improvement in the return game anymore.

I think Logan (if he stays) or a rookie RB (wonder who?), DB or WR could be better.

**calmkiller** · 03-10-2010, 10:46 AM

I don't want him anywhere near PR or KR. Has everyone forget him running east and west? Drove me insane!

**Chadman** · 03-10-2010, 04:40 PM

There's something that just feels 'right' about having Randle El back.

**RuthlessBurgher** · 03-10-2010, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Chadman

There's something that just feels 'right' about having Randle El back.

Some guys get drafted by the Steelers, stay for a short time, then get paid to go somewhere else (guys like Hardy Nickerson, Chad Brown, and Leon Searcy come to mind). Randle El could have been one of those guys. But this made him a legend in Steeler lore:

He would have been a Steeler-for-Life in my mind anyway (apologies to Dee Dub

), but it sure is great to have him back home.

**hawaiiansteel** · 03-10-2010, 05:04 PM

El Yea!

By Harvey “Mr. Steeler” Aronson

There is not a lot of noise being made bout the coming home of Antwaan Randle El, but for me, I believe this could be one of the most significant free agent additions the Steelers have made ever. The man still has game left and he provides an additional return threat as well as a very proven number three or four receiver. Simply said, he’s another offensive weapon. For Randle El, he’s excited about returning to the ‘Burgh.

“The bottom line is, it came down to coming home to a more comfortable situation for me and, certainly, having some history here. It was one of the things that got me back here. I totally enjoyed playing before here and I know I will enjoy it now. We haven't delved into the return; we just talked about being a No. 3 receiver and, if Hines or Santonio Holmes go down, then, of course, being outside. The focus is being the No. 3 receiver right now. That's what I want to come in and do. And be productive at it. Punt returns, that's lying in the woods. It's not something I want to do. We had other teams who were interested, but we told the Steelers, hey, you know, I'd like to be there, so let's get some things worked out. It happened pretty quickly. I'm glad I'm here. It happened pretty quickly. There were a couple of other teams, but the bottom line is coming home was a more comfortable situation for me. I certainly enjoyed playing here before, and I know I'm going to enjoy it now. I had a chance to talk to Hines. Me and Casey were texting back and forth. It's been a little bit of a reunion. They were happy too. They were calling and texting me, saying, 'I think it's going to work out.' It's exciting.”

As for taking over the backup to Ward and Holmes, I don’t think so. That’s Mike Wallace’s job to lose and after the superb performance of 2009, I don’t think Wallace will be taking a step backward. But for having four receivers on the field at one time, you have to salivate at the thought of Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, and Antwaan Randle El taking the field at the same time.