Dan Conner

[Bluto]

He signed today for 715,000 with giants. I know wwe are tight on money. But probably would have been okay with him at that price compared to Foote. I know Foote deal is not to bad. But if we need to sign some other guys or have flexibility think Conner and Foote are a push.

[Siggy00]

We needed Matt Spaeth for some reason.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Initially I raised my brow at the Spaeth signing, but then read from a couple different sources he was the #1 TE in the NFL at pass blocking.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

For him (Conner) signing that cheap my guess is he was simply brought in for leverage against Foote. Wonder if bringing Vic Butler in was intended to try and have Harrison return on the cheap. Pretty sure Butler remains unsigned.

[steelerkeylargo]

Butler wants 3.5M

[Siggy00]

But Foote got $2.5 million and Connor got $715K, so what exactly did the Steelers GAIN by pursuing Connor?

[Rara]

Give it to him.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

But Foote got $2.5 million and Connor got $715K, so what exactly did the Steelers GAIN by pursuing Connor?

Maybe they knew Foote wanted to stay here, but he was holding Arizona over their heads so they showed him they would entertain moving on from him. Who knows.

[phillyesq]

Butler wants 3.5M

Good info. I'm guessing the Steelers are waiting to see if his price will drop?

[Oviedo]

The answer with Connor is clear. He'd have to wait a year or two before he would be deemed knowledgeable enough to play in the defense so they did what they always do--default to the player who "knows" the defense whether he has less talent or not.

[phillyesq]

The answer with Connor is clear. He'd have to wait a year or two before he would be deemed knowledgeable enough to play in the defense so they did what they always do--default to the player who "knows" the defense whether he has less talent or not.

By what measure is Dan Connor the more talented player? He has 123 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack and 2 passes defensed - in 4 years.

[URL]http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConnDa99.htm[/URL]

He has also never started 16 games. He has either a talent problem or a durability problem. He might have been a decent depth signing, but Foote, for all his flaws, is still the better player.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

By what measure is Dan Connor the more talented player? He has 123 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack and 2 passes defensed - in 4 years.

[URL]http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConnDa99.htm[/URL]

He has also never started 16 games. He has either a talent problem or a durability problem. He might have been a decent depth signing, but Foote, for all his flaws, is still the better player.

And an experienced starter on this D. That has to count for something.

And as to whoever earlier said that he signed for $2.5, that is incorrect, that is the guaranteed money. He will count $1.83M against the cap each season he is on the team. That is a number that allows him to either start at tremendous value, or be a backup at a reasonable price. If we cut him after the season, the hit is only $666K, after the following year only $333K

Like him or not, this contract is a good deal for the team. It allows a starter to be brought in via draft or FA, or, if your starter is only on the cap at $1.83, it allows money to be spent elsewhere.

[Ghost]

Foote: (from Bleacher report - the seventh worst rating is from profootball focus)

"The re-signing of Larry Foote does little to help fortify the interior of the Steelers’ defense. In addition to bringing a nearly 33-year-old player back to the NFL’s [URL="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2012/introducing-snap-weighted-team-age"]oldest[/URL] defense on a per-snap basis, Pittsburgh also gave another go to 2012’s [URL="https://www.profootballfocus.com/data/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2012&pos=IL B&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=0&numgames=1"]seventh-worst[/URL] inside linebacker at stopping the run. Even playing next to one of the league’s [URL="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1517898-why-was-steelers-ilb-lawrence-timmons-ignored-in-2012"]best[/URL] inside linebackers may not be enough to conceal Foote’s weaknesses."