Steelers match patriots offer sheet

[SteelBucks]

The only way this is a good move if they WIN the Superbowl this year OR they sign him to a long term deal.

I agree. It's only a good decision if he signs long term. If not, the Steelers lost a draft pick and have a rental player for a season.

[flippy]

Great news.

I've felt all along that Sanders is the one with the most potential out of Wally, Brown, and Manny. He goes all out every play. He's a fighter. He brings a Hines like violence to his game and gets inside CBs heads. Now that he's past his injured foot, he can stop thinking and just executing and it will be clear to everyone just how good he is.

Now it's time to work out a long term deal. It's a shame we gave Brown all the money. It's only a matter of time til Manny proves he's worth more.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

I like that we're either going to win Lombardi 7 this year, or go all out trying. No cautious half-a**ed, "Well we're going to rebuild but if we happen to do well, umm, that is always our goal, barf". Call me naive and irresponsible, but to me that is what separates the Steeler Way from, say the Bucs or SeaHags. If we happen not to do it, sure we'll be rebuilding even more next year, but it's like that guy in Seven Spanish Angels strapping on his gun for one last fight - we're going all out, come what may.

[hawaiiansteel]

I agree. It's only a good decision if he signs long term. If not, the Steelers lost a draft pick and have a rental player for a season.

but hey, at least Ben is happy...

[steelz09]

I agree w/ most here.... if he isn't signed long term, this is another dumb FO move.

[papillon]

Okay, so many of us think it's only good if we can sign him long term. Lets hear the numbers and terms that the Steelers can fit under the cap (after June 1st when Colon comes off the books) and that Sanders will accept (this is key). I doubt Sanders signs a long term deal unless it's above his market value. He's one 16 game season away from unrestricted free agency, I'm sure he can avoid contact (and catches) just like his running mate from young money crew Mike Wallace and then try to cash in next off season.

Would anyone here sign a long term market value or slightly less this year if you were in Sanders shoes? Or, would you take the 2.5 million and play out the season and test free agency?

Pappy

[hawaiiansteel]

I agree w/ most here.... if he isn't signed long term, this is another dumb FO move.

I think if it weren't for Ben lobbying so hard to keep Sanders that Manny would now be in New England.

[papillon]

I think if it weren't for Ben lobbying so hard to keep Sanders that Manny would now be in New England.

I don't know, they really haven't listened to Ben very much up to this point in his career. Why would they take Ben's word on an oft injured 3rd round pick?

Pappy

[Chadman]

To be honest- given how many significant players have left the roster this season, losing 'the next guy in line' at WR might have been a massive blow to the football team. At least now the Steelers are not forced into drafting WR in Round 1.

[Djfan]

I agree with FF. What did AB say? I didn't hear it either.

[Chadman]

I agree with FF. What did AB say? I didn't hear it either.

Brown came out a day or 2 ago saying that the Steelers 'don't like guys not doing things the way the FO likes' or something along those lines, in relation to signing contracts. Basically, it looked like Brown was having a shot at Sanders & Wallace about contract negotiations.

[Chadman]

The Quote:

"I don't think that they (the Steelers) really like guys that don't do things their way," said Brown. "There's a certain professional way that they go about their business and I don't think that they make decisions with guys that don't go about things in the way that they should. So in my opinion, I don't think he'll come back. It's just not smart to get a guy for one year at a price that you can get a guy for four years."

[squidkid]

i have a feeling this is gonna be wallass 2.0

[fordfixer]

The Quote:

"I don't think that they (the Steelers) really like guys that don't do things their way," said Brown. "There's a certain professional way that they go about their business and I don't think that they make decisions with guys that don't go about things in the way that they should. So in my opinion, I don't think he'll come back. It's just not smart to get a guy for one year at a price that you can get a guy for four years."

Thanks........

[hausparty]

I love this signing for the simple reason of Big Ben.

We all witnessed what happens when Ben doesnt buy into something. I've followed the Steelers since I was a young boy and I already knew last year was going to suck because of Todd Haley. Everyone bashed BA for the longest time and again good or bad our QB drank his kool-aide and had some amazing success running that system. Todd Haley could of been GOD last year and even maybe this year but until BIG BEN beleives and buys into it our offense is going to suck. Letting go of Sanders would of caused the same reaction again this year with Big Ben and again you might hate that attitude on him but its who Ben is as a player. He will let it be known when he's not happy with something and after last years Pick 6 against Dallas he started to point those huge fingers of his to Haley. Bringing in a Haley boy Breaston would of been a HUGE mistake and again fingers would of started to be pointed.

Allowing Ben to have Brown, Sanders, Crotchery, and Plex gives him a sense that he got his way and hopefully he can work together with Haley.

Sometimes it's not about the numbers, the money, or the draft picks. We are the Pittsburgh Steelers and we have won a crap load of Super Bowls for just being a close knit team! We dont build fantasy football dream teams in Pittsburgh. We build a group of guys who will fight for each other and to know our QB wanted him to stay is all the signs i needed to know that this is a good decision. If for anything else to keep our QB confident in who he has around him on Sunday.

For being a crappy coach though BA sure has made it pretty far since leaving Pittsburgh! Probably a good reason why Tomlin and Ben wanted him to stick around. Oh well lets move on and hope Haley and Ben can work together or we will have yet another 8-8 season.

I'm glad #88 is staying in Pittsburgh even if its just for a year.