Tweet
Keisel signing more proof Steelers don't age discriminate
by Ed Bouchette
Two things happened over the past several days that give more insight into how the Steelers operate. One was the retirement of Marvel Smith in California, the other was the signing of Brett Keisel to a five-year contract yesterday.
Keisel will earn $18.885 million over the next five years, and the deal included a $5 million signing bonus.
Smith wanted an extension this time last year and was not happy when one was not forthcoming. At the time, many noted that the Steelers just do not give big contracts to players over 30. Smith then went out and played five games before his season ended with yet another back problem, which also prematurely ended his 2007 season.
Smith wound up signing as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, and retired over the weekend when it was apparent he no longer could play.
Keisel, who turns 31 on Sept. 19, was the player the coaches pushed the front office to sign of all those entering their final season. He also is the latest 30-something to get such a long-term deal. The others include Hines Ward, and James Harrison this year, on the heels of James Farrior's deal last year.
Aaron Smith, now 33, who signed a contract extension at age 30 and proved them right on the money on that occasion as well, believes it is just good business to keep good players such as Keisel, no matter what the age.
"I think it's proven. Seems like around the league, old isn't considered as old as it used to be. With him, it's the smart thing to do. You have a guy who is a solid player who can play for a long time and you don't have to teach him.
"You look at Keis, he started four years, he still has a young body, he hasn't taken a ton of snaps and you have a player who knows how to play the game and is a veteran, which is hard. Usually by the time you get to 30, guys have a ton of snaps and he hasn't. He still has a young body. In that case, they have a good situation with him."
The same held true with Harrison, who enters only his third season as a starter at age 31.
Others will have to wait
Keisel may be the final player the Steelers sign this year, yet none of the others is pulling a Brandon Marshall act in Pittsburgh.
Free safety Ryan Clark, among six starters who will be playing out the final season of their contracts in 2009, expressed how they likely feel about it.
"The organization is going to do what's best for them from a business standpoint, and I think they're trying to do the best they can in keeping the core together," Clark said yesterday after learning of Keisel's new deal.
"As for me, you just finish playing football. Nothing I can do. I want to be here; I made that known. I'm tired of moving, my wife is tired of moving, my son plays tailback and free safety on his little community team, I'm excited to watch that.
"We love it here, we want to be here and we'll see what happens."
The five other starters in the last year of their contracts are nose tackle Casey Hampton, halfback Willie Parker, tackle Willie Colon, center Justin Hartwig and kicker Jeff Reed.
"In this situation, I hold no cards," Clark said. "My job as husband and father is to provide for my family and this is the way I do it. I'm not going to pitch a fit and not show up. I love the guys I play with, I love this organization and more importantly I have a responsibility."
McHugh follows Stapleton?
The original fear in August that offensive lineman Darnell Stapleton might be lost for the season has come through. The fear was generated before his exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery the first week of August.
by Ed Bouchette
Two things happened over the past several days that give more insight into how the Steelers operate. One was the retirement of Marvel Smith in California, the other was the signing of Brett Keisel to a five-year contract yesterday.
Keisel will earn $18.885 million over the next five years, and the deal included a $5 million signing bonus.
Smith wanted an extension this time last year and was not happy when one was not forthcoming. At the time, many noted that the Steelers just do not give big contracts to players over 30. Smith then went out and played five games before his season ended with yet another back problem, which also prematurely ended his 2007 season.
Smith wound up signing as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, and retired over the weekend when it was apparent he no longer could play.
Keisel, who turns 31 on Sept. 19, was the player the coaches pushed the front office to sign of all those entering their final season. He also is the latest 30-something to get such a long-term deal. The others include Hines Ward, and James Harrison this year, on the heels of James Farrior's deal last year.
Aaron Smith, now 33, who signed a contract extension at age 30 and proved them right on the money on that occasion as well, believes it is just good business to keep good players such as Keisel, no matter what the age.
"I think it's proven. Seems like around the league, old isn't considered as old as it used to be. With him, it's the smart thing to do. You have a guy who is a solid player who can play for a long time and you don't have to teach him.
"You look at Keis, he started four years, he still has a young body, he hasn't taken a ton of snaps and you have a player who knows how to play the game and is a veteran, which is hard. Usually by the time you get to 30, guys have a ton of snaps and he hasn't. He still has a young body. In that case, they have a good situation with him."
The same held true with Harrison, who enters only his third season as a starter at age 31.
Others will have to wait
Keisel may be the final player the Steelers sign this year, yet none of the others is pulling a Brandon Marshall act in Pittsburgh.
Free safety Ryan Clark, among six starters who will be playing out the final season of their contracts in 2009, expressed how they likely feel about it.
"The organization is going to do what's best for them from a business standpoint, and I think they're trying to do the best they can in keeping the core together," Clark said yesterday after learning of Keisel's new deal.
"As for me, you just finish playing football. Nothing I can do. I want to be here; I made that known. I'm tired of moving, my wife is tired of moving, my son plays tailback and free safety on his little community team, I'm excited to watch that.
"We love it here, we want to be here and we'll see what happens."
The five other starters in the last year of their contracts are nose tackle Casey Hampton, halfback Willie Parker, tackle Willie Colon, center Justin Hartwig and kicker Jeff Reed.
"In this situation, I hold no cards," Clark said. "My job as husband and father is to provide for my family and this is the way I do it. I'm not going to pitch a fit and not show up. I love the guys I play with, I love this organization and more importantly I have a responsibility."
McHugh follows Stapleton?
The original fear in August that offensive lineman Darnell Stapleton might be lost for the season has come through. The fear was generated before his exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery the first week of August.
Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09244/994643-66.stm#ixzz0PrzX63V9"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09244/99 ... z0PrzX63V9[/url]
Comment