Kernan L says the Steelers made...

[Mister Pittsburgh]

That's pretty rad. Hope he is back!

[fordfixer]

[url]http://sulia.com/channel/pittsburgh-steelers/f/9462f59c-c163-434d-af72-e538524ef423/[/url]



Will Keenan Lewis Be In A #Steelers Uniform Next Season? He'd Like To Think So.

One of the most important unrestricted free agents of the Steelers was involved in a bit of controversy Tuesday.


Keenan Lewis took to the social media airwaves to clear up his future intentions with the team.


He posted this to his personal Twitter (@KeenanLewis23) account: "I just want to clear this up: I never said anything about @steelers making a mistake by not signing me last season. I love the Rooneys, Organization & fans. I only stayed that my agent will handle the contract talks."


He said further: “I was misquoted by a reporter saying it was a mistake not to give me a contract last year. Try to make my image look bad, but here Wat it is, I'm not money greedy, I had my exit meeting today and it went great. I know we in the right direction as far as a contract, I believe strongly I would be apart of Steeler Nation next season. To do a three peat as the number one pass defense period. Here we go."


The reporter in question Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Trib Total Media. He had reported that “Keenan Lewis plans to test free agency. He told #Steelers "they made a mistake" by not offering multi-year deal before 2012 season.”


It's a good sign that Lewis is looking at it positively, because the Steelers will need him. He ended his season with 71 tackles, 23 pass defenses and a forced fumble.


As Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter of Washington (Pa.) tweeted from his Twitter (@dlolleyor) account: "I'll be shocked if the #Steelers don't make a serious play to keep Keenan Lewis. Played outstanding this year and is perfect fit for scheme."

[Mister Pittsburgh]

For comparisons sake, what level CB & what type of contract would be fair in today's NFL?

[hawaiiansteel]

For comparisons sake, what level CB & what type of contract would be fair in today's NFL?

I read somewhere that Keenan Lewis would command about an $8 million/year contract.

[jj28west]

Just cant win. Remember all those years with Tim Mccyer (sp), Willie Williams, Washington, etc. We had Bookends that would harass the QB all day. Now, our Pass defense is awesome and we struggle to get to the QB.
Wonder if there is a Carnell Lake factor going on or have we become that good in grabbing the player with the right tools in the draft?

Lewis and Allen looked great overall. I still wonder what Green would have done had Ike been healthy but then again Green is elite and I would definately trade him straight up for Wallace.

I know I am being overly critical and this defense could play against anyone this year but I am just saying.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Don't worry about the cap. When you go 8-8 sitting on vets, the ugly business side of the game shows up. Timmons, Woodley, & BB will restructure. Miller is a perfect canidate for a restructure/extend to lower his 2013 8 mil hit. If need be, You make a decision on Troy to hold on to your young players. The decision is you convert some of 2013 to bonus to lower his 10 mil hit in 2013. Cut him & Taylor in 2014 and eat the dead money. Harrison and possibly Keisel will be cut this year. Mendy will test the market if he doesn't like what the Steelers show him. Guys like Hampton, Foote, Pope, Starks, Batch, & Lefty will be on the street and hoping the Steelers will give them a call after it is all sorted out. It isn't a question of "IF" the housecleaning is coming next year & 2014. The question is how competitive will the Steelers be through it. Just don't but any vet jerseys over the next year.

[phillyesq]

For comparisons sake, what level CB & what type of contract would be fair in today's NFL?

According to Wexell:

James C Wexell @jimwexellOn Keenan Lewis, good source says he'll take 5 yrs $35 million to get a deal done. It's reasonable.

That does seem pretty reasonable. He led the league in pass breakups, but did not create a lot of turnovers and does not have a long track record. He's also a great fit for the Steelers system and may be more valuable in Pittsburgh than he would be elsewhere.

I hope that he is retained so that the secondary, a weakness for so many years, will continue to be a strength.

[SidSmythe]

Just cant win. Remember all those years with Tim Mccyer (sp), Willie Williams, Washington, etc. We had Bookends that would harass the QB all day. Now, our Pass defense is awesome and we struggle to get to the QB.
Wonder if there is a Carnell Lake factor going on or have we become that good in grabbing the player with the right tools in the draft?

Lewis and Allen looked great overall. I still wonder what Green would have done had Ike been healthy but then again Green is elite and I would definately trade him straight up for Wallace.

I know I am being overly critical and this defense could play against anyone this year but I am just saying.

We went to a SuperBowl with Willie Williams. He was pretty good but didn't get respect b/c of his size (ala Deshea Townshend)

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

You lock up Lewis. Franchise or Transition tag him & get him to agree to principle March 9. Then work on Wallace.

[steelz09]

My only concern with Lewis is that he's only proven himself for 1 year as a starting CB. With that being said, the FO has had a strong track record on deciding whether to sign a player or let them walk.

IMO, I think Lewis and Cortez Allen will be the #1 and #2 CBs on this team for years to come.

[BigRob]

My only concern with Lewis is that he's only proven himself for 1 year as a starting CB. With that being said, the FO has had a strong track record on deciding whether to sign a player or let them walk.

IMO, I think Lewis and Cortez Allen will be the #1 and #2 CBs on this team for years to come.

Lewis had a good year last year in a different role. It's all about confidence and Lewis has gained it. He is going to hit his stride over the next two years in his prime at 26.

[hawaiiansteel]

James C Wexell @jimwexell:

On Keenan Lewis, good source says he'll take 5 yrs $35 million to get a deal done. It's reasonable.

[url]https://twitter.com/jimwexell[/url]

[Steelerphile]

Lewis led the NFL with 23 passes defensed. I don't remember a Steeler DB having a number that high. I think the next step for him is to get in position to bring some of those down for INTs. Since he is around the ball, I think it is very likely that he can improve that stat. I think he will be back to the Steelers, personally. No reason for him to leave the Steelers, which are a premier organization where he is now an established starter and try to get established somewhere else. I think he is smart enough to see that and whatever deal he gets, it will be more more than he can spend anyway.

[SS Laser]

Lewis led the NFL with 23 passes defensed. I don't remember a Steeler DB having a number that high. I think the next step for him is to get in position to bring some of those down for INTs. Since he is around the ball, I think it is very likely that he can improve that stat. I think he will be back to the Steelers, personally. No reason for him to leave the Steelers, which are a premier organization where he is now an established starter and try to get established somewhere else. I think he is smart enough to see that and whatever deal he gets, it will be more more than he can spend anyway.

Guess who 2005: Ivan Ike Taylor

Career Stats[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/players/iketaylor/careerstats?id=TAY288150"]more[/URL]
Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2012	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	12	12	32	25	7	0.0	--	13	1	3	3.0	3	0	0
2011	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	16	44	34	10	0.0	--	14	2	29	14.5	29	0	0
2010	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	15	66	52	14	1.0	--	11	2	9	4.5	9	0	1
2009	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	16	62	53	9	1.0	--	13	1	20	20.0	20	0	0
2008	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	16	65	50	15	0.0	--	14	1	0	0.0	0	0	0
2007	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	16	80	69	11	1.0	0	16	3	56	18.7	51T	1	1
2006	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	11	69	60	9	0.0	--	15	2	34	17.0	34	0	0
2005	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	15	91	75	16	0.0	--	23	1	0	0.0	0	0	0
2004	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	13	1	16	10	6	0.0	--	4	1	0	0.0	0	0	0
2003	[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/URL]	16	1	32	26	6	0.0	--	3	--	--	0.0	--	--	0
TOTAL				557	454	103	3.0	0	126	14	151	--	51	1	2

[Shawn]

If this is true and Lewis is bent on getting paid, then let him walk, restructure Ike and draft Dee Milliner or Jonathan Banks to replace Ike in 2014.

Bird in the hand...and Lewis is exactly that. IMO he is better than Ike at this stage. Why would we let him walk, only to waste a draft pick to replace a position we already have filled with a solid player? Pay Lewis 7 mil per and be done with it. Use the pick on anther position of need.