2 more big names FA tackles now available

[D Rock]

Houston has released Eric Winston and San Diego has let go of Marcus McNeill.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Marcus McNeill has neck issues and still has not received clearance from doctors to resume any football related activities. Since he was also due a roster bonus shortly, it made sense for them to cut him loose. San Diego replaced him with Jared Gaither last year, and are looking into keeping Gaither moving forward (but he's also a free agent).

The Winston release is more puzzling. The Texans have a solid line, and Winston was a big piece of that, and he is right in the prime of his career. They already extended Arian Foster, so you'd think they'd want to keep the guys in front of him that open holes for him. Perhaps they are making room in an effort to bring back Mario Williams (who many thought would sign as an unrestricted free agent elsewhere since the Texans would likely have been unable to afford both Foster and Williams). Or, possibly (a long shot), they are making a run to add Peyton Manning now (although getting rid of your left tackle in order to bring in the immobile Manning following 4 neck surgeries makes little sense.

[D Rock]

All of the team execs are publicly stating they have no interest in Manning and are very happy with Schaub at QB. The only idea so far I've seen is the same as yours...making room for Mario Williams. But why wait til now to do this? It's too late if that is the case and he will have HUGE money thrown at him verrrryyy soon.

McNeill could be a good one to keep an eye on if more mid-season injuries occur, but right now he has no value.

[Chadman]

OG Travelle Wharton got released too. Not a bad option at LG- then focus on LT in the draft....

[D Rock]

OG Travelle Wharton got released too. Not a bad option at LG- then focus on LT in the draft....

I think Gilbert can hold down LT.

[Chadman]

I think Gilbert can hold down LT.

Certainly possible. That said, if the Steelers could get a LT in the draft (Adams- hint, hint) & sign Wharton- an OL that reads Adams-Wharton-Pouncey-Colon-Gilbert starts to look pretty good...

[Oviedo]

Certainly possible. That said, if the Steelers could get a LT in the draft (Adams- hint, hint) & sign Wharton- an OL that reads Adams-Wharton-Pouncey-Colon-Gilbert starts to look pretty good...

Adams won't start at LT as a rookie. He isn't that good no matter what his physical measurements may be.

[Chadman]

As a rookie? Probably not. But he's more talented than Max Starks ever was. He's a LT- and if coached right, a potentially dominant one.

[pfelix73]

We drafted Gilbert to be our LT. He's the LT now. Gotta listen to what the FO is saying. They invested a 2nd round pick in him last year, Chadman.

Also, this isn't NFL Madden Football on Wii. It's the worst thing for an OL to be shuffled around like you are saying.. Cohesion along the OL is important. All of last years injuries prooved that...

[Chadman]

We drafted Gilbert to be our LT. He's the LT now. Gotta listen to what the FO is saying. They invested a 2nd round pick in him last year, Chadman.

Also, this isn't NFL Madden Football on Wii. It's the worst thing for an OL to be shuffled around like you are saying.. Cohesion along the OL is important. All of last years injuries prooved that...

Agree that OL reshuffles are bad- but Gilbert is moving from RT to LT, Starks is gone, Kemo is gone, Colon goes from IR to RT...it's not like we go into 2012 with the same line as 2011...who starts at OG? Line cohesion begins in Training Camp- not at the beginning of FA.

[pfelix73]

Current depth chart has Gilbert- Legs- Pouncy- Foster- Colon as our 2012 starting OL. Colon has been our RT in the past before injuries and the LG,C, and RG are in the same spots. Only different one in a new spot is the LT, who knows the system anyway by playing RT all last year.

Your lineup was a new LT from outside, a new LG from outside, Pouncy- Colon- who has never played G in the NFL, and Gilbert- so ok- you had 2 listed at the same position from last year.

I just prefer the way they have the depth chart now. If a 2nd or 3rd round rookie comes along to compete at OG, so be it. Competition is a good thing. Of that starting 5, Foster is the weak link at RG. He could use some competition- Maybe someone like Zeitler in the 2nd round would give him some. The team will have workouts before training camp starts. The earlier the better.

[Chadman]

Fair enough. Hey- Chadman had Gilbert in his mock draft last year, so as far as Chadman is concerned- Gilbert's good.

But if the opportunity came up to get an even better prospect...well, as much as your OL has cohesion, Chadman's is simply better.

[NJ-STEELER]

gilbert's played a total of a few games at LT, in his senior season at florida. the rest of his playing time has been at RT

let's hope he's good enough to be the LT next year. thats not a resume to be giving absolute truths on the position

[pfelix73]

True. Let's hope he can be successful at it like Marvel Smith was. And Starks. Well, I hope he's more successful at it than Maxie.

Good pick then Chadman- did not know you had him on your mock. Which round? 2nd?

[Chadman]

True. Let's hope he can be successful at it like Marvel Smith was. And Starks. Well, I hope he's more successful at it than Maxie.

Good pick then Chadman- did not know you had him on your mock. Which round? 2nd?

Would you believe yes? Had a number of posters say Chadman had him over-valued, but after the Steelers sent Kugs to work him out at his Pro Day, Chadman just 'got a feeling'. That said- had every other pick wrong, so it's most likely Chadman just got the lucky dart throw on that one.