Steelers on brink of losing key player

[Shawn]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

[Oviedo]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Once again, up to Smith. He can choose to resign with the Steelers now on their terms or play the season and see how things pan out. If he gets hurt during the season he will be worth a lot less than $40. If its me, I take the sure thing.

I do agree that Essex or Starks will be our LT next year. Probably Essex because of price. I think he will be adequete, but not great.

[papillon]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Ben was guaranteed 36 million, there's no way on God's green earth that an LT is going to get the same guaranteed amount as Ben and, that's from any team.

Pappy

[Shawn]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Once again, up to Smith. He can choose to resign with the Steelers now on their terms or play the season and see how things pan out. If he gets hurt during the season he will be worth a lot less than $40. If its me, I take the sure thing.

I do agree that Essex or Starks will be our LT next year. Probably Essex because of price. I think he will be adequete, but not great.

Have the Steelers offered Smith a contract? If not how is it up to Smith?

[Shawn]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Ben was guaranteed 36 million, there's no way on God's green earth that an LT is going to get the same guaranteed amount as Ben and, that's from any team.

Pappy

When did I say guaranteed?

Check this out.

[url]http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7859770/Jets,-Faneca-agree-to-5-year,-$40-million-deal[/url]

40 million for a Guard. Smith isn't Faneca but he is a LT. The money will be similar.

[papillon]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Ben was guaranteed 36 million, there's no way on God's green earth that an LT is going to get the same guaranteed amount as Ben and, that's from any team.

Pappy

When did I say guaranteed?

Check this out.

[url]http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7859770/Jets,-Faneca-agree-to-5-year,-$40-million-deal[/url]

40 million for a Guard. Smith isn't Faneca but he is a LT. The money will be similar.

The guaranteed amount is all that is important and when it's to be paid. Highly unlikely that Farrior sees the end of his contract, same with Ben and pretty much any other player. They either retire or renegotiate. The guaranteed dollars are the important piece.

Pappy

[Shawn]

Re: Steelers on brink of losing key player

Smith says he wants to stay. Well he needs to put his signature on the line and do a cap friendly "hometown discount" just like Farrior. It is a two way street no the burden of the front office to sign these guys. If Smith wants to stay, the only person stopping him is Smith. Just like last year with Faneca. he could have stayed in a minute, but he never wanted to stay he wanted to be paid more than anyone else at his position.

The reality is that we really have to consider Essex and Starks as possible options for next year at LT. We will not have a bad enough record to have any chance of drafting one of the top LT who would remootely have the ability to start. Those couple of players will be gone in the top 5-10. We also won't have the option in free agency because LT get premium prices.

I'd love to resign Smith and have him play LT and eventually move to RT when Hills is ready (I think he will be as he is getting better). But bottom line, it is totally up to Smith.

The big difference here is Smith on the open market is worth around 40 million. Farrior...not even close. Farrior did take some discount to stay but 33 y/o LBs don't sign their own paychecks. It will take at least 35+ million to sign Smith...even at a discount.

I agree with the sentiment that we should wait and see...then at the end of the season if he played well, has a healthy back, and Essex proves to be a chump...franchise him and draft a first round LT. But, my suspicion is Essex will continue to grow...they let Smith go...and Essex is our starting LT next season. Just a gut feeling.

Ben was guaranteed 36 million, there's no way on God's green earth that an LT is going to get the same guaranteed amount as Ben and, that's from any team.

Pappy

When did I say guaranteed?

Check this out.

[url]http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7859770/Jets,-Faneca-agree-to-5-year,-$40-million-deal[/url]

40 million for a Guard. Smith isn't Faneca but he is a LT. The money will be similar.

The guaranteed amount is all that is important and when it's to be paid. Highly unlikely that Farrior sees the end of his contract, same with Ben and pretty much any other player. They either retire or renegotiate. The guaranteed dollars are the important piece.

Pappy

Anyway you want to describe it...Smith will get Faneca money. The Steelers will not pay Faneca money. Smith is a Cardinal. Essex starts next season.