Steelers sign LB Kion Willson

[Slapstick]

The linebackers in Philly have been horrible. Demeco Ryans were improvements on a unit that was a weakness during almost the entirety of Andy Reid's tenure.

When Reid hired Juan Castillo as DC and Jim Washburn as D-Line coach, it was simply a bad fit all around for the personnel they had...

Washburn famously lines up his DEs very wide...the infamous "wide nines"...when you line your DEs up that far out, you can become vulnerable to the run...that's why, when Washburn was at Tennessee, they needed a first round thumper like Keith Bulluck at MLB...the Eagles had nobody like that at LB...Rolle included...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

A well needed dose of perspective. Nobody signed to a futures contract provides any insight about what the Steelers think about anybody on the current roster. It merely means that they find something interesting in the player that leads them to want to kick the tires.

There are times where a team liked someone in a draft or as an UDFA who chose to go elsewhere. Ended up getting cut or part of a numbers game and left on the street. Sometimes teams load up at a position depth wise where they feel a roster may be set on these future deals. This gets them players who have went through camps and have some experience next preseason. The monies aren't guranteed or up front so it is better than spending a draft choice if you will have to release them.

You are not penciling in roster spots or starting positions on guys signed to future contracts. Very seldom someone surprises to make a 53 but some make the PS. A guy like Rolle who is 24 and started 13 of the 20 games he was active in over the last 2 years has a good shot as any ILB that will be under contract behind Timmons & Spence going into 2013.

[lloydroid]

This guy started 13 games in the NFL...I would definitely bet on long odds...my return would be fantastic...

For every feel-good story about a dude who has been out of football for a year or two, returning to make a team, there are 1,000 stories, or more, where they just can't cut it after being a year removed.

[Slapstick]

He hasn't been out of football for a year...

[Chadman]

Given that Rolle will be competing against Marshall McFadden, Kion Wilson & Stevenson Sylvester for an ILB position... Chadman thinks that the 'long odds' on him making the roster are worth having a lazy $20 on...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Given that Rolle will be competing against Marshall McFadden, Kion Wilson & Stevenson Sylvester for an ILB position... Chadman thinks that the 'long odds' on him making the roster are worth having a lazy $20 on...

Seeing him run around the field for the Eagles his rookie year makes me think that "long" shouldn't precede "odds" unless the Steelers draft some competition early. If Foote returns, there is really no experience behind either Timmons or Foote especially if Spence starts on the PUP.