Steve McLendon

[Pahn711]

Re: Steve McLendon

But see thats what sparked this conversation, the Steelers ineptitude at letting go of overpriced vets. I don't think it will be as easy as you imply, but lets hope so.

The Steelers are very "ept" at letting go of high priced vets...

The vets that they keep are either still productive or important for other reasons...

Other reasons? What other reasons are there that warrant spending so much money?

[Slapstick]

Re: Steve McLendon

Other reasons? What other reasons are there that warrant spending so much money?

Read, my friend!

[url="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2011/10/24/2510414/better-loved-ye-cannot-be-aaron-smith-and-the-pittsburgh-steelers?ref=yahoo"]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/20 ... ?ref=yahoo[/url]

[Northern_Blitz]

Re: Steve McLendon

If the Steelers want to retain Wallace and he's willing to give a little bit, he'll be a Steeler. If he isn't willing to give a little (Ben did, Woodley did, Harrison definitely did) then he'll probably be playing in a different uniform.

Pappy

It's not like players do this out of the goodness of their hearts.

Wallace will get a fair, long term offer that will make him (and his family) set for life. OR, he can take the 1 year tender (still good money) and roll the dice that he doesn't get hurt so he can get a bigger long term deal as an UFA.

I just think that most people will take option 1...and his agent will want to get paid now too, so that doesn't hurt our cause.

[fezziwig]

Re: Steve McLendon

I really don't think the Steelers will allow Wallce to walk unless he and his agent expect the Steelers to be as stupid as the Cardinals front office.
How they get the money I really don't know but, if there is any glimps of them pulling it off, they will.


My bet, Wallace will be signed to a multi year deal by the Steelers.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steve McLendon

Steelers Notes: McLendon solid in first start

Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
By Mike Bires [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]



Jaguars running back Deji Karim is tackled by Steelers Troy Polamalu and Steve McLendon (90) during the third quarter Sunday.

Little did Steve McLendon know, but in recent weeks some of his teammates talked about him behind his back.

"Our offensive linemen ... this is one guy they whispered about," coach Mike Tomlin said. What those whispers said, according to Tomlin, was that "he's a tough guy to block."

That's quite a compliment for McLendon, a virtual unknown until recently forced into the defensive line rotation due to injuries to NTs Casey Hampton and Chris Hoke.

On Sunday as Hampton and Hoke watched from the sidelines, McLendon made his first pro start and played well. LB LaMarr Woodley led the team in tackles with six solos and one assist. McLendon, a second-year pro, was next with four solos and an assist.

Before Sunday, McLendon had played sparingly in 11 games the past two years and recorded just three solo tackles.

"He represented himself quite well," Tomlin said.

An undrafted free agent out of Troy, McLendon spent most of the 2009 season on the Steelers' practice squad. Last year, he bounced back and forth from the practice squad and active roster.

This year, he opened the season on the roster and figures to stay there the rest of the year now that DE Aaron Smith has been placed on injured reserve. Because of his position flexibility, McLendon is now a valuable reserve at both nose tackle and D-end.

"Before (Sunday's) game, I was kind of nervous," McLendon said. "But that's to be expected when you have a young guy like me getting his first start. But I calmed down and started to get comfortable. All I was trying to do was play quick, play hard and play smart. I think I did ok, but I have to get better."

PRAISING AARON

Aaron Smith won't play again for the Steelers this season. He may never play another down because of his latest injury. And no Steeler is taking the news harder than DE Brett Keisel.

"It's going to be tough," Keisel said. "Aaron, in my mind, is the greatest. He's my mentor and someone who taught me this game. He will be missed in the locker room. But I think he's still going to be around and hopefully still be a part of our leadership in the locker room."

Smith, 35, was placed in the season-ending injured reserve list Saturday due to a neck injury that will require surgery. He also suffered a sprained foot in the Oct. 2 game against Houston and hasn't played since.

Because he's been injured in four of the last five seasons, there's a good chance Smith will retire.

"We all love Aaron and wish him the best," Keisel said.

TOMLIN ON 5-2

After a 2-2 start, when the offense was inconsistent and critics calling the defense called too old and too slow, the Steelers have gotten back on track with three straight wins. But Tomlin isn't ready to say the Steelers are playing their best.

"I don't over-analyze it," he said. "They have been winning performances and that is what is required of us in order to be the kind of team that we desire to be. We are perfect by no stretch. I think we are improving and finding ways to win. The arrow is pointed up, and we need to continue moving in that direction."

The next three games will go a long way in determining just how good the Steelers are.
This Sunday they host the Patriots (5-1), who lead the AFC East. On Nov. 6, the Steelers play the Ravens, who were 4-1 and leading the AFC North going into their Monday night in Jacksonville (1-5).

Then on Nov. 13, the Steelers travel to Cincinnati to play the 4-2 Bengals.

"I don't think we're there yet," added QB Ben Roethlisberger. "But we're getting closer."

[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/steelers-notes-mclendon-solid-in-first-start/article_eee397d7-75ce-5434-86d6-dc69d6accdf3.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... ccdf3.html[/url]

[Shoe]

Re: Steve McLendon

He had a nice game. But shouldn't we wait until we play an actual good team before we say that we don't miss Big Snack & Hokie?

No one's talking about Hoke. The guy makes no money as far as the salary cap is concerned, and certainly doesn't take up the (cap) space that Hampton does. Plus, Hoke is practically undefeated as a starter in the NFL!

Everyone is referring to that fat (figurative and literal) Hampton. He is so overweight, that his ONLY role right now is in short-yardage &/or 1st downs. He offers zero in pass-rush, he can't make any plays in pursuit... and he gets paid premium money (AND he's not an IRONMAN or anything.)

I was a Hampton fan in his prime, but that time is clearly passed. Being he's only good for one down, and his enormous salary, and the apparent fact that Hoke/McLendon can at least be adequate there... it's a no-brainer to me.

[papillon]

Re: Steve McLendon

If the Steelers want to retain Wallace and he's willing to give a little bit, he'll be a Steeler. If he isn't willing to give a little (Ben did, Woodley did, Harrison definitely did) then he'll probably be playing in a different uniform.

Pappy

It's not like players do this out of the goodness of their hearts.

Wallace will get a fair, long term offer that will make him (and his family) set for life. OR, he can take the 1 year tender (still good money) and roll the dice that he doesn't get hurt so he can get a bigger long term deal as an UFA.

I just think that most people will take option 1...and his agent will want to get paid now too, so that doesn't hurt our cause.

They may not do it out of the goodness of their hearts, but at the end of the day the Steelers have signed a lot of their FA players for less than they would have received on the open market. Why? I don't know, I guess the bird in the hand is worth two in the bush or deep down they really would rather play as a Steeler for a little less than they could get elsewhere.

Not all see it that way, El, Burress, Chad Brown et al and the Steelers are fine with that too. It's business and they stick to business model better than any other team, save for maybe the Patriots.

Pappy

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steve McLendon

By Mark Kaboly, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Wednesday, October 26, 2011


Tomlin's takes

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on ...

-- The development of defensive tackle Steve McLendon:

"He's a much bigger guy than he was two, three years ago when he first got here. You always see him and Ziggy Hood working together. They've got a nice work ethic for some young guys. He's made himself a bigger, stronger, faster player, and he deserves credit for that."

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_763779.html#ixzz1bqsGttsw"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1bqsGttsw[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steve McLendon

PUBLISHED Thursday, Nov 10, 2011

by Gerry Dulac


Notes: Backup nose tackle Steve McLendon played so well when Casey Hampton and Chris Hoke were injured that he has moved ahead of Hoke on the depth chart. Hampton has returned from his injury, but Hoke was inactive against the Ravens even though he is fully recovered from a neck injury. McLendon came to camp bigger and stronger this year, allowing him to play more stout at the point of attack.

[url="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-11-10/pittsburgh-steelers-team-report-roethlisberger-says-sore-shoulder-wont-affect-hi#ixzz1dN9CWTeI"]http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2 ... z1dN9CWTeI[/url]

[skyhawk]

Re: Steve McLendon

PUBLISHED Thursday, Nov 10, 2011

by Gerry Dulac


Notes: Backup nose tackle Steve McLendon played so well when Casey Hampton and Chris Hoke were injured that he has moved ahead of Hoke on the depth chart. Hampton has returned from his injury, but Hoke was inactive against the Ravens even though he is fully recovered from a neck injury. McLendon came to camp bigger and stronger this year, allowing him to play more stout at the point of attack.

[url="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-11-10/pittsburgh-steelers-team-report-roethlisberger-says-sore-shoulder-wont-affect-hi#ixzz1dN9CWTeI"]http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2 ... z1dN9CWTeI[/url]

Isn't Hoke like 16-1 as a starter?

[phillyesq]

Re: Steve McLendon

Other reasons? What other reasons are there that warrant spending so much money?

Read, my friend!

[url="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2011/10/24/2510414/better-loved-ye-cannot-be-aaron-smith-and-the-pittsburgh-steelers?ref=yahoo"]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/20 ... ?ref=yahoo[/url]

I know you posted this a while ago, but I just saw it now. Great link - thanks for sharing.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Steve McLendon

The Steelers, typically, do not lose any soon to be free agents to free agency, unless, they aren't in their plans. I'm guessing the best deep threat in the game is in their plans even though Ben doesn't throw a good deep ball.

Just in the past decade, the Steelers lost Plaxico Burress, Antwan Randle El, and Nate Washington to free agency (and probably would have lost Santonio Holmes too if he got that far). I think my concern about the Steelers not paying big name wide receivers is pretty warranted.

El and Washington were #3 receivers here who were paid as starters by other teams. In the case of ARE he never amounted to a starting receiver. Washington has started but has not stepped up as what you would call a quality starter. He has neither topped 50 receptions nor 700 yards since leaving the Steelers.

Burress was a starter, but it was just a case of the team not wanting that personality on their team. Not speculating as to why they did not want him, but it was not strictly a money issue. They did not make him an offer even after he was sitting out there without a job for awhile. Is was only when the Giants came back to him a second time that he was signed.

There is no reason to believe that Wallace belongs in the category of any of these three. He is substantially better than either Washington or ARE, and nowhere near the headache that Burress was.

[Northern_Blitz]

Re: Steve McLendon

If the Steelers want to retain Wallace and he's willing to give a little bit, he'll be a Steeler. If he isn't willing to give a little (Ben did, Woodley did, Harrison definitely did) then he'll probably be playing in a different uniform.

Pappy

It's not like players do this out of the goodness of their hearts.

Wallace will get a fair, long term offer that will make him (and his family) set for life. OR, he can take the 1 year tender (still good money) and roll the dice that he doesn't get hurt so he can get a bigger long term deal as an UFA.

I just think that most people will take option 1...and his agent will want to get paid now too, so that doesn't hurt our cause.

They may not do it out of the goodness of their hearts, but at the end of the day the Steelers have signed a lot of their FA players for less than they would have received on the open market. Why? I don't know, I guess the bird in the hand is worth two in the bush or deep down they really would rather play as a Steeler for a little less than they could get elsewhere.

Not all see it that way, El, Burress, Chad Brown et al and the Steelers are fine with that too. It's business and they stick to business model better than any other team, save for maybe the Patriots.

Pappy

It's because we generally don't let good players get to the open market. By negotiating with players before they are UFAs (RFAs or guys with a year left on their contracts), the team retains some leverage. Guys can get long terms and signing bonuses now so they don't have to risk a season of poor performance or injury that would hurt their FMV. They pay for that security with lower salaries.

The one exception I can think of is Ike because we let him get to UFA. But, I don't know if our plan would have been different without the lockout (or if Ike had hands).