The Pittsburgh Steelers will not lose one player...

[Dee Dub]

...that they want to keep!!! Would some of you guys chill out?! You act as if you just became Steeler fans. I know it's the off-season but give it a break would ya?!

[Shawn]

Agreed. Based on history the Steelers don't lose young talent unless they are a locker room cancer. That's why I believe Lewis will be our DB for many seasons to come.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I agree. Lewis should be our primary target, even if we have to sacrifice a veteran Steeler mainstay to make it happen. I highly doubt that the team will just let a talented young guy just walk out the door like that.

[BigRob]

...that they want to keep!!! Would some of you guys chill out?! You act as if you just became Steeler fans. I know it's the off-season but give it a break would ya?!

I agree with you for the most part. However, that doesn't mean they won't fail in their plan.

There a quite a few teams that need a decent CB that have huge amounts of cap space in our division. Cleveland and Cincinatti. I could see Cinci going after Lewis.

If Lewis does leave, it may not because the Steelers intended it to happen that way. Of course they have contingencies in place, but it doesn't make them perfect at everything they do.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I don't agree. I think they'll lose at least a couple of players that they'd really like to keep. Whether or not they admit it is another matter.

The upcoming draft will be really important, as will whatever lower-level free agent signings they can manage.

[AkronSteel]

The Steelers are currently about 14.2 million over the cap as we sit right now. I don't see James Harrison returning which will save the team 5.1 million. If Willie Colon is cut it will save the team 1.2 million. That's 6.3 million into that cap. The team will probably also rework deals for Ben, Antonio, Lamarr, and LT which will save anywhere between 18-22 million. That gives the team approximately 10 million to spend. If a contract is structured right for Keenan the team should be able to resign him and also possibly Legursky and Warren, while also being able to bring in a free agent TE to hold the position until Heath is healthy. I would say a fair contract for Lewis should be somewhere between 6-8 annually for 5 seasons. Khan is a master at getting this team in a position to work within the cap space. They will lose players like Foster and Starks which I'm sure they would rather not but it will just not work within the confines of the cap. Losing players like Wallace, Mendenhall, Hampton was all anticipated by the team. I agree for the most part that the team will not lose most players they want to keep but they will lose some. Saying all that they will be fine. This team is built through the draft and I would expect an OLB, WR, RB, and S to be addressed early in April.

[pittpete]

Lewis for the next 5 years or Troy for the next 2?
Who would you rather have?

[Oviedo]

I agree. Lewis should be our primary target, even if we have to sacrifice a veteran Steeler mainstay to make it happen. I highly doubt that the team will just let a talented young guy just walk out the door like that.

Like Mike Wallace?

[Oviedo]

Lewis for the next 5 years or Troy for the next 2?
Who would you rather have?

Lewis. No confidence Troy plays 32 games over two full seasons.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Lewis. No confidence Troy plays 32 games over two full seasons.

$$$$$
I love Troy and all that he's done for this team, but at this point, the priority has got to be signing Lewis.
Maybe Troy will decide he's made enough money and will come back for a cut-rate deal...otherwise, I think he's gone, and probably should be. Same with James Harrison. It will hurt to lose him this coming season, but unless he comes back for cheap, I don't see him playing with the Steelers in 2013.

[phillyesq]

I agree. Lewis should be our primary target, even if we have to sacrifice a veteran Steeler mainstay to make it happen. I highly doubt that the team will just let a talented young guy just walk out the door like that.

I agree. I think Lewis stays unless somebody offers him an obscene contract.

[Shawn]

Like Mike Wallace?

When a player half azzes a season after turning down 10 million a year, it's fair to say the Steelers won't be so eager to sign that young talent.

[BigRob]

The Steelers are currently about 14.2 million over the cap as we sit right now. I don't see James Harrison returning which will save the team 5.1 million. If Willie Colon is cut it will save the team 1.2 million. That's 6.3 million into that cap. The team will probably also rework deals for Ben, Antonio, Lamarr, and LT which will save anywhere between 18-22 million. That gives the team approximately 10 million to spend. If a contract is structured right for Keenan the team should be able to resign him and also possibly Legursky and Warren, while also being able to bring in a free agent TE to hold the position until Heath is healthy. I would say a fair contract for Lewis should be somewhere between 6-8 annually for 5 seasons. Khan is a master at getting this team in a position to work within the cap space. They will lose players like Foster and Starks which I'm sure they would rather not but it will just not work within the confines of the cap. Losing players like Wallace, Mendenhall, Hampton was all anticipated by the team. I agree for the most part that the team will not lose most players they want to keep but they will lose some. Saying all that they will be fine. This team is built through the draft and I would expect an OLB, WR, RB, and S to be addressed early in April.

It may have already been addressed, but you are not factoring in for the rookies that will be drafted. You have to have about 3-5 million in room on your cap to do this.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I believe past is past. The Steelers will lose people they wanted back. They may even cut a few they would have liked back for 2013. They just lose the "insurance" policy and put their faith in the young guys behind them. Really though...It isn't a big deal. It has to happen now or sometime soon.

[Slapstick]

I believe past is past. The Steelers will lose people they wanted back. They may even cut a few they would have liked back for 2013.

I disagree...

I think the OP's point is that there is a difference between "wanting" a player back and a player they "would like to have"...

The latter is a luxury...the former is a necessity...

If the Steelers decide that they really want a player, they will work it out...