Fernando Velasco - From NFL "Street" Free Agent to Steelers Starting Center

Note to future NFL “street” free agent offensive lineman, should the Pittsburgh Steelers contact you about joining the team in mid-season, you stand a strong chance of starting that next Sunday.

The Steelers set the precedent in 2011 with Max Starks, and now they follow it with Fernando Velasco per Gerry Dulac’s tweet:

New C Fernando Velasco will start in Cincy. Isaac Redman: “I’ve never seen anyone come in and look as comfortable in the offense so quick."
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) September 13, 2013

The Steelers waived Max Starks in July of 2011 following the NFL lockout after his weight had reportedly ballooned up to near 400 lbs. After Willie Colon tore his triceps during the Debacle in Baltimore the Steelers turned away offers from Flozell Adams and instead opted to start then rookie Marcus Gilbert.

• In 2011, the team desperately wanted to turn a new page on its offensive line.

But the Houston defense desperately overwhelmed Jonathan Scott the Steelers turned to Starks. He arrived at the South Side with his name penciled in as a back up, but within 24 hours the Steelers were talking about starting Max Starks and start he did.

The Steelers of course reached out to Velasco within 24 hours of Maurkice Pouncey’s ACL/MCL tear suffered vs. the Titans. Pro Football Focus rated Velasco as the 11th best center in 2012, but The Turk nonetheless darkened his door on cut down day.

Velasco’s experience with zone blocking attracted the Steelers, and Behind the Steel Curtain’s Steel34D film review confirmed Velaco’s ability in a zone blocking scheme, (a review which includes some success at Casey Hampton’s expense.)

Word that Velasco will start frees Kelvin Beachum to return to his role as primary backup across the offensive line and of course the new hat he wears, blocking tight end.

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Could John Malecki and Marshall McFadden Return to the Steelers?

The sting of the Steelers 16-9 opening day loss to the Tennessee Titans is not yet 24 hours old, and the news continues to get worse.

• Maurkice Pouncey is out for the year with a torn MCL and ACL
• Larry Foote has a torn biceps and will likely miss the year
• LaRod Stephens-Howling, if rumor is confirmed, also has a torn ACL

All of these players will go on injured reserve ending their seasons.

That also means the Steelers will need to replace them. Quickly. Where to turn? There are a number of possibilities.

One of the surprise cuts that the Steelers made was of John Malecki, who started one game for the Steelers and served as a back up. The Steelers cut him in favor of Cody Wallace, who didn’t even dress vs. the Titans. Malecki didn’t get picked up, and the Steelers will likely bring him back.

Larry Foote’s injury also creates another vacancy at linebacker. One candidate is Marshall McFadden, who was another surprise cut. McFadden landed on the Raiders practice squad, but the Steelers can sign him with the provision that he stays on the active roster for 3 games (which shouldn’t be a problem.)

The Steelers also need to make a move a running back.

• Could Jonathan Dwyer return?

Its possible but doubtful. Doubtful that the Steelers would seek his serveices and probably equally doubtful that Dwyer would agree to return.

Another potential move the Steelers could make would involved Max Starks. That depends on what they wish to do at center.

Kelvin Beachum had been serving as an emergency tight end and as the team’s top back up at tackle, guard and center. If he is to continue to start in front of Ben Roethlisberger at center, the Steelers will need to add depth, and Starks is currently without a job (although his experience in San Diego was terrible.)

Either way, the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 Roster is about to get reconfigured again.

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Steelers 2013 Roster Analysis: Offensive Line

Steel Curtain Rising begins its analysis of the Steelers 2013 roster with the offensive line.

Starters:  Mike Adams, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert
Back ups: Kelvin Beachum, Guy Whimper, Cody Wallace

Strengths: The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line via premium draft picks. On paper, these men have the pedigree to grow into a dominat unit....

Weaknesses:   ...And that is also the groups greatest weakness. This is a young an inexperienced line. Expect growing pains. How severe will the growing pains be?

The Skinny:  Beyond the issue of growth, the Steelers have crossed their fingers in the hopes that the injury gods do not again rain their wrath down upon the Steelers offensive line, as they did in '08, '10,'11, and '12. Because if they do, this is a unit that has next to no depth as Willie Colon is in New York and Doug Legursky is in Buffalo. Max Starks is available, but the team has not been interested in renewing the love affair yet. An injury to Gilbert or Adams could change that fast.

Click here and scroll around to read analysis of other position areas on the Steelers 2013 Roster.

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Steelers Continue Roster Moves - Cody Wallace in, John Malecki Out...

The fact that Guy Whimper's name was not alongside Jonathan Dwyer's as one of the 22 players cut by Pittsburgh Steelers was met by outcry in Steelers Nation. And the more level-headed response was, “Don’t worry, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will scour the waiver wire seeking upgrades.”

Well, Tomlin and Colbert have made their first waiver wire transaction, and it didn’t include Guy Wimper or an offensive tackle.

Instead they picked up Cody Wallace, who most recently played center and guard in Tampa Bay.

• To make room for Wallace, the Steelers cut reserve guard/center John Malecki. 

The move amounts to somewhat of a surprise, as Malecki played on the Steelers regular season roster last year, and was generally viewed as having had a good camp. And the Steelers depth on the interior of the offensive line is not seen as being nearly as suspect as it is at the tackle position.

Malecki is only listed has having played one game in 2012, although Steelers.com informs that he was added to their active roster in October of that year.

If he has dressed for less than 8 games, he is eligible to return to the Steelers practice squad. Which will be bad news for one of the 8 hopefuls who were added to that list on Sunday….

Further Steelers Roster Moves Expected

Tomlin and Colbert are not likely finished with the Steelers 2013 roster. Observer-Reporter journalist Dale Lolley expects the team to resign linebacker Marshall McFadden after they play Matt Spaeth on injured reserve.

And of course there is Max Starks. One must suppose that if the Steelers were going to resign Max Starks they would have done so already. But until that doesn't happen, rumors will persist.

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Chargers Cut Max Starks; Could Starks-Steelers Hook Up One Last Time...?

The Pittsburgh Steeerls have announced that they will make their final cuts on Saturday, but many other NFL teams are not content to wait.

The San Diego Chargers made one move that should catch the attention of Steelers Nation:

Chargers announced: Released veteran OT Max Starks.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) August 30, 2013

Ah yes, Max Starks. Earlier this year the Steelers completed one half of what has become a familiar ritual for them – informing Max Starks that he is no longer in their plans. Starks, opted to sign with the Chargers seeking starting money.

But a woeful performance vs. the San Francisco 49ers made him expendable (Starks himself is reported to say that it was the “worst game of his life.”)

• Its been widely acknowledged that the Steelers would search the wavier wire in depth to bolster their offensive line.

Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams are set as starters, although Kelvin Beachum has been rumored to challenge Gilbert. But Beachum is also a back up at guard and center.

After Beachum the Steelers have Guy Whimper, who has lived up to his surname by all reports…

…Could the Pittsburgh Steelers and Max Starks be destined to complete the cycle? Could we see Max Starks once resign with the Steelers for a final time.

• Dale Lolley of the Irwin Observer-Reporter suggests it’s a possibility.

The Steelers and Starks are very much like that couple in high school that keeps breaking up, only to get back together again. The Steelers and Starks have more break ups and reunions that The Who.

The "no we won't" "yes we will" relationship between Starks and the Steelers began before the waiving and resigning began. In 2008 the Steelers named Starks their transition player, yet Max Starks couldn’t win a starting job and couldn’t even get top back up priority over Trai Essex in 2008, making him the highest paid 4th tackle in NFL history.

• But Starks did come off the bench after a disastrous two quarter experiment with Essex at left tackle and Starks saved their 2008 season and did so again in 2011.

It could happen again. Its a good bet that his dear friend Ben Roethlisberger will lobby Kevin Colbert to bring him back.

Eagles Cut Robinson, Dixon

The danger of the Philadelphia Eagles becoming “Steelers East” appears remote, as the Eagles cut former Pittsburgh Steelers Dennis Dixon and linebacker Adrian Robinson. This move comes one week after Adrian Robison was traded to Philly.

Felix Jones on the other hand very well may have earned himself a roster spot.

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Steelers Offensive Line Depth Continues to Thin; Plaxico Burress Goes on IR

An NFL training camp injury to an undrafted free agent rookie or a player making a second stab at NFL stardom in a second training camp normally isn’t news worthy.

This sounds brutal, but they not newsworthy because:

• A big part of the value of these players is that they are expendable.

Yes, the reality is that harsh. The vast majority of these players will never see an NFL practice squad, fewer will see the 53 man roster, even less will dress, and slimmer number yet will see significant non-garbage time, non-special teams action.

With the Steelers this year, it’s is different particular on the offensive line, as Jim Wexell’s Tweet from Monday August 12th indicates:

Cheadle carted awaywith apparent right knee injury. Was the favorite to win 9th OL spot.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) August 12, 2013

• Just who is Justin Cheadle anyway? 

Well, you know the answer and do not have a personal acquaintance with Cheadle and/or California University, then you almost certainly need to revaluate your priorities in life….

Steelers Offensive Line Injuries - Too Early to Say “I Told You So,” But...

…A site called Spotrac.com tells us that Cheadle played his college ball at California and spent 2012 training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. (You can also learn on the site that he’s costing the Chiefs $3,000 in salary cap dead money, should you really want to know.)

Jim Wexell however does tell us something that we do want to know, and that is that this aspiring offensive tackle was penciled in to be the Steelers 9th offensive lineman….

It should therefore surprise no one that the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Allen Robinson got Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley on record as saying the team would look to bring in outside help.

As Steel Curtain Rising warned less than a fortnight ago, the 2013 Steelers have rolled the dice that lightning will not strike twice four times in the form of offensive line injuries.

They made that gamble when they let Max Starks walk to San Diego, Doug Legursky head off to the Bills and did not select an offensive lineman in the 2013 NFL Draft.

• They had hopes of developing an unheralded one in training camp from the undrafted rookie free agent pool.

Unfortunately one of those was Nik Embernate who is already on IR. Cheadle was apparently the next man up. Just saying.

Steelers Place Plex on IR

As expected, Plaxico Burress’s rotator cuff surgery has ended his season, and likely Burress' NFL career, as the Steelers placed him on injured reserve.

Interestingly enough, Matt Spaeth will not be placed on IR, at least yet. Spaeth was injured in practice and it was later revealed that he suffered from a Lisfrac injury.

And for those of you who’re dying to know, Jim Wexell provided Steelers Nation with its midday Cheadle health update:

@retiredmd37 No Cheadle update. I'm pretty much alone on campus now. Finishing up a McLendon feature for the Digest and then going home.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) August 13, 2013

No news, we trust, is good news….

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Batiste Signing Begs the Question – Will We Be Singing “Where did you go Maxwell Starks, Steelers Nation Turns Its Lonely eyes to you….”

It is far, far too early for Steelers Nation to begin panicking, but the injuries the Steelers have suffered thus far in training camp reveal just how little margin for error the Steelers have left themselves in 2013.

In wrapping up the Steelers 2013 off season, Steel Curtain Rising looked back at the gloom and doom predictions and preceded free agency, and complemented Kevin Colbert for pulling off the equivalent of a salary cap “Loaves and Fishes” miracle.

The premise was that, while the Steelers might have had to swallow hard watch stars on the rise like Mike Wallace and Keenan Lewis depart for greener pastures, Colbert had positioned Pittsburgh to get the most bang for its salary cap buck.

While that analysis holds true, success in such a maneuver depends on some very calculated risks.

Steelers Operating Without Safety Net

As Bob Labriola of the Steelers Digest pointed out, the Steelers in many ways are entering 2013 without much of a safety net.

• Doug Legursky a staple “next man up” philosophy on the interior offensive line is in Buffalo
• Max Starks, who bailed out the line in both 2008 and again in 2011 is in San Diego
• Instead of Keenan Lewis, to fill in for injured Cortez Allen, the Steelers instead must rely on William Gay

In no area are the Steelers more exposed than on offensive line.

While the Cortez Allen’s injury is believed to be minor and should heal well before the season, in addition to Gay, the Steelers can still count on Curtis Brown and Josh Victorian, even if Demarcus Van Dyke and 5th round draft pick Terry Hawthorne are out with injuries of unknown severity.

They also have 4th round pick Shamarko Thomas, whose versatility is already on display (in camp at least):

With Cortez Allen out and William Gay moving up to LCB, look for #Steelers to use rookie Shamarko Thomas in the nickel defense
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) August 2, 2013

The loss of Nik Embertate is drawing a lot of attention, some of that is simply because of the nature of the NFL news cycle. Fans have long demonstrated a nearly insatiable appetite for news about the NFL, and in the age of smart phones and tablets, they have the means to get it.

Websites respond in kind with “content.”

But it goes beyond that....

Steelers Tempting Fate with the Offensive Line?

....The Steelers Achilles heal in 2011 and 2012 was neither their secondary nor their inability to create sacks and force turnovers on defense. No, it was the instability on their offensive line.

In Marcus Gilbert, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Mike Adams the Steelers have given themselves a potentially strong starting front five. Kelvin Beachum gives them another solid, young back up. John Malecki also has some game experience and adds stability to the inside.

Depth gets thin, quickly at tackle. Guy Whimper is the only player with real NFL experience, and Whimper’s ability has been savaged from every where from Behind the Steel Curtain to the Steel City Insider.

The hope was that Embertate would show enough to be an option their, if not on game days then certainly on the practice squad. Mike Golic Jr. was brought in as a tackle, but word his he looks better at guard.

Jim Wexell wrote glowingly about Pittsburgh-area native Mike Farrell and of course the Steelers have Joe Long, Jake Long’s younger brother.

• But the Steelers may have tipped their hand in signing D’Anthony Batiste

Batiste has played for 3 teams in six NFL seasons and been cut loose after his only extended stretch as a starter. Yet, as Neal Coolong has observed, he’s out performed Whimper….

The injury streak suffered by the Steelers at offensive line has been uncanny. The Steelers had some hard salary cap calculations to make.

• Did they roll the dice and calculate that lightning can’t strike 3 times?

Too Early to Start Missing Max Starks? 

Steelers Nation rightly cringes at the thought of either Adams or Gilbert falling injured. The decision to sign Batiste signals that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert do too.

“Where did you go Maxwell Starks Steelers Nation turns it lonely eyes to you…” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as the famous bar from Mrs. Robinson, but hopefully those bars will not be hummed on the South Side this fall.

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Why Losing Legursky Could Leave Steelers Offensive Line in the Lurch

The Steelers are a franchise steeped in stability. Stability became the norm in Pittsburgh starting at the end of the Lyndon Johnson administration and permeates every facet of the franchise -- except for the offensive line of late.

• Unfortunately there’s reason to fear that offensive line instability will continue in 2013.

One of the most under reported stories of the Steelers 2013 off season has been the decision not to resign reserve/part time center-guard Doug Legursky.

As the Watch Tower pointed out, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune Review both ignored the move which is a mistake because the Steelers could very well end up regretting letting Legursky leave.

Steelers Offensive Line Building in the Tomlin Era:  Plug and Patch

While Mike Tomlin may not be responsible, the offensive line’s chronic instability began on his watch. First the team was unable and/or unwilling to resign Alan Faneca. That started a cascade of offensive line strategy which can only be described as “Plug and Patch.”

Steel Curtain Rising has discussed this phenomenon at length, to the point where the day after Willie Colon signed his four year contract, La Toalla Terrible predicted the Steelers would Colon him in two years. And of course that’s exactly what happened.

The impact of the Steelers decisions to sign and cut lineman, almost seemingly willy-nilly, doesn’t arrive in full until you see it visually.

Steelers Offensive Tackle Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Jonathan Scott (signed for 3 in ’10, cut before ’12)
• Max Starks (benched in ’07, transitioned in ’08, franchised then signed for four in ’09, cut in ’11, signed in ’11, signed in ’12 let to walk after starting 16 games in ’12)

Steelers Guards Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Kendall Simmons (signed in ’07, cut in ’09 off season)
• Chris Kemoeatu (signed in ’09, cut in ’11 off season)

Steelers Guard/Tackles Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Willie Colon (signed in ’10, cut after ’12)
• Trai Essex (signed in ’12 off season, cut in training camp)

Steelers Centers Signed and Released/traded in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Sean Mahan, (signed in ’07, traded to Tampa before ’08)
• Justin Hartwig (signed in ’08, resigned in ’09, cut before ’10) 

There you have it. During the Mike Tomlin era the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed an entire offensive line and released them prior to their contract’s termination.

No other position area has suffered from such schizophrenia. A “close second” doesn’t even exist.

Building an Offensive Line via the Draft is a Start, but Only That

During Bill Cowher’s tenure, the Steelers almost seemed to have an unofficial policy of using a top-three pick on an offensive lineman in every draft. The tendency was strong during Tom Donahoe’s time, but it continued to a lesser extent after Kevin Colbert’s arrival in 2000.

But for three straight drafts, 2006, 2007, 2008, the Steelers never picked a lineman before round 4. One of those was Colon, the other Tony Hills. In the 2009 Draft the Steelers picked Kraig Urbik in the third, but never got any value out of him. He now starts in Buffalo.

• The Plug and Patch offensive line personnel policy depicted above was a consequence of this cumulative neglect of the line in the draft. 

Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, Tomlin and Colbert dramatically altered course in selecting Markice Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 Draft, Marcus Gilbert in the second ground of the 2011 Draft, and David DeCastro and Mike Adams in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

For however wise and necessary the strategy shift was in on the part of the Steelers braintrust the move was ultimately not sufficient, as one statistic shows.

• David DeCastro played in 4 games and started 3in in 2012. Kelvin Beachum appeared in 8 and started 5….

In simple English: The Steelers have shown the can pick good offensive lineman in the draft. Keep them healthy? That’s another question entire.

And that’s where the Steelers likely erred in letting Doug Legursky go.

Steelers Rolling the Dice on the Offensive Line

According to the Steelers Digest, Pittsburgh started six different offensive line combinations in 2010 and nine different combinations in 2011.

And that doesn’t count in-game juggling such as what occurred in the 2010 victory over Tampa, where Mike Tomlin himself admitted to not knowing who was cycling in and out of the game. That spectacle repeated itself several times since then.

• During all of those shuffles, Doug Legursky started in four configurations as a right guard, two configurations as a left guard, and three configurations as a center for a total of 14 starts in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012 Legursky played in all sixteen games, starting in 3 at both a center and at guard.
Yet, in spite of an established track record and excellent “position flexibility” the Steelers let Legursky walk to the Bills.

• Why? Steelers Nation can only ask.

Steel Curtain Rising already second guessed the Steelers decision to cut Willie Colon, but that decision had solid football and business merits behind it. Colon came with real liabilities, liabilities which Legrusky lacks.

In Doug Legursky the Steelers had an excellent 4th interior lineman who could and did step into the lineup at a moment’s notice. That type of ability and reliability is priceless, especially with the premium on protection Ben Roethlisberger.

In drafting Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, and David DeCastro in resigning Ramon Foster the Steelers have (potentially) given themselves a solid starting foundation on offensive line.

• But the Steelers experience of the last several seasons has shown that good starters are not enough. You need depth. You need quality back ups.

Kelven Beachum, were told in the only real news to come out of Steelers OTA’s, spent the time channeling his inner Trai Essex by practicing at not only guard and tackle and center. Good for him. His rookie season shows he’s probably up to the task.

But Beachum will only give the Steelers one quality backs up. History has shown the Steelers will likely need more. And they just let one go in Doug Legursky.

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Max Starks Signs with Chargers; Steelers Sign Vince Williams

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Max Starks are breaking up. Could it be for real this time? Yes, folks, it looks like it is.

Long time Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Max Starks went through the first round of free agency without attracting any interest for other teams or from the Steelers themselves. The Steelers then went out an signed Guy Whimper, leading to speculation that Wimper’s arrival meant Starks’s departure (speculation later confirmed as explained in the Watch Tower).

While no official word has come out of Pittsburgh, Max Starks himself is reporting he has a new home with the San Diego Charger. Starks announced the move on Twitter:

I'm very happy to say that I will be joining the @chargers family. Can't wait to get started and building towards a championship! #GoBolts
— Max Starks IV (@maxstarks78) May 21, 2013

Max Starks has had a longer, and stranger trip than perhaps any Pittsburgh Steelers save for Ernie Holmes. Drafted in 2004 with Ben Roethlisberger, Starks was a starter for the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

Yet, by the end of 2006 coaches were attempting to phase him out in favor of Willie Colon. The coaches and the front office could not decided what they wanted to do with Starks, leading to him getting transition tenders, franchise tenders and the like – when he wasn’t even starting.

Yet Starks delivered for the Steelers.

He played well of the bench in 2007, saved their 2008 Super Bowl season, and again bailed the Steelers out in 2011 – after they had cut him.

• Starks may never have been or will be an All Pro Tackle, but he certain did what was asked of him in Pittsburgh. 

Thanks Max. Steelers Nation is in your debt.

Steelers Since Vince Williams, 6th Round Pick

A few days after coming to terms with safety Shamarko Thomas, the Steelers signed inside linebacker Vince Williams, who was their 6th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Williams will compete with Adrian Robinson, Chris Carter, Stevenson Sylvester and perhaps Sean Spence to for a roster spot to provide depth behind Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons.

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Steelers-Max Starks Break Up for Real? Pittsburgh Signs Guy Whimper

They say breaking up is hard to do. The Pittsburgh Steelers and free agent tackle Max Starks can attest.

The Steelers have had a love-hate relationship with Max Starks since drafting him in 2004 that has seen the front office offer him a transition tender only to see the coaches start the season with Starks on the bench.

That was in 2008, and Starks bailed out the team and helped lead them to victory in Super Bowl XLIII. One of the team’s first moves after the NFL 2011 lockout was to cut Max Starks. Starks was of course back in October, going from walking the streets to starting on consecutive Sundays.

Word was that when the Steelers drafted Mike Adams in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft their hopes were that Adams would replace Starks. But when it became clear in training camp that Mike Adams wasn’t quite ready to take over the reigns and left tackle, Starks was signed again.

Pittsburgh is thin at tackle, and Starks is still available, but again he’s not the preferred option, as the Steelers have signed veteran tackle Guy Whimper as reported a few days ago by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Whimper was originally drafted by the New York Giants in 2006 and played the last three seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Behind the Steel Curtain, (full disclosure, I also write for BTSC) labled the signing as curious, citing a Football Outsiders J.J. Cooper’s analysis that had Whimper giving up sacks in nine straight games in 2011. Interestingly enough, Cooper started 15 games in 2011 but was not a regular starter in 2012 and in fact was listed as a tackle/te in Pro Football Reference.

Whimper was signed for the league minimum, so the Steelers can easily cut him in training camp if he does not work out. And who knows, perhaps Max Starks will be available to replace him.

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Steelers Decision Not to Take Back James Harrison Shows Team in Transition

Sometimes a clean break is best.

At least that’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers are gambling when it comes to James Harrison.

Just one month ago the Steelers were negotiating James Harrison’s future with the franchise. The Steelers wanted James to take less. James not so much.

Word was the Steelers offered him a 30% reduction in salary with the chance to earn that back via incentives.

• James Harrison and his agent Bill Praise said, “Thanks but no thanks.” 

The Steelers granted Harrison his release, and one of the greatest linebackers in franchise history went off in search of greener pastures.

• Except for the fact that James Harrison is learning that the grass is not always greener on the other side. 

The initial wave of free agency has come and gone, and James Harrison remains unemployed.

The Baltimore Ravens figured to give him a good look but, unfortunately for James, Ozzie Newsome decided to invest his salary cap dollars in Elvis Dumervil. Peter King of Sports Illustrated has gone as far as to say that there is no colder name in free agency than James Harrison.

After Baltimore made their choice, Harrison made it known he would not be adverse to setting aside his pride and rejoining Pittsburgh.

The problem is, reports Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette, the Steelers are no longer interested.

Door on The South Side Only Revolves so Much

As Steel Curtain Rising has noted before, Kevin Colbert’s attitude towards departed free agents differs sharply from his predecessor Tom Donahoe. The later took a parochial view, Colbert in contrast doesn’t hesitate to puts the prodigal son parable into practice with former free agents. Just ask William Gay and Matt Spaeth.

• Yet Colbert takes or at least wants to take a different take with veterans whom the Steelers have waived

A year ago when questions about whether recently released veterans Hines Ward, Aaron Smith or James Farrior might be called back in an emergency Colbert said this:

When we terminated those players [Ward, Smith, and Farrior], it was a termination. We felt that was it, their time as a Steeler was over. It was time for everybody to move forward and that’s where we left it. You never say never but they also know we all understand that was it.

Now that is a principle.

And sometimes circumstances force the Steelers to make policy exceptions to that principle. The most clear cut exception is the Steelers brass declaring their commitment to youth on offensive line after Willie Colon’s 2011 injury only to go out and resign Max Starks after the debacle in Houston.

• But circumstances have already given the Steelers their chance to make an exception to principle with James Harrison and they have declined to do so.

Time will tell whether their decision was the right one, but one thing is certain...

The Steelers Are a Team in Transition

Kevin Colbert can protest all he wants, but now that Pittsburgh has had the chance to get James Harrison back at a bargain basement salary and said no, the Steelers are officially a team in transition.

No one make a more strident objection to the Steelers decision to cut James Harrison than the Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook, who went so far as to say:

And, contrary to much speculation, the Steelers are built to win now and will be for as long as Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback. They aren't rebuilding. They don't need to get younger. They need Harrison.

While Cook’s overall conclusion may be questionable – that the Steelers needed to keep Harrison at all costs – his essential point is right. James Harrison is a player that helps you win Super Bowls.

Jason Worilds might be one of those players, but he’s far from proven it. The Steelers have committed themselves to finding out.

• There is no shame to this. 

The Steelers went through a similar process with Franco Harris and Walter Abercrombie in the early ‘80’s, and Kevin Greene and Jason Gildon in the mid ‘90s.

But the simple fact is that if you opt for Jason Worilds over James Harrison, you’re a team in transition.

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Surprise! Steelers Sign Ramon Foster - Wither Willie Colon?

Lost in the wake of James Harrison’s release was the news that the Steelers were talking contract with unrestricted free agent Ramon Foster.

• Apparently, it wasn’t idle chatter

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette is reporting that the Steelers have agreed to a three year contact with Ramon Foster. Terms were not disclosed.

Ramon Foster joined the Steelers as a rookie free agent, saw starting duty toward the end of 2009, and entered the line up when the Steelers got spanked by the New England Patriots in 2010 and has started ever since.

Foster has not only proven to be a durable guard, but also has position flexibility, having started 3 games at tackle for the Steelers. Foster’s traditional position had been right guard, but the Steelers moved him to left guard late in the season when 2012 first round pick David DeCastro returned to the lineup.

Wither Willie Colon?

While the Steelers decision to sign Foster was a surprise, most quarters expected him to dip his toes into the free agent market, the immediate speculation was over what this meant for current starting guard Willie Colon.

Late in the season and for much of this off season myriad press reports indicated that the Steelers would part ways with the oft-injured Colon. Still, his agent Joe Linta has gone on record saying that the Steelers told him two weeks ago that they did not plan to release the guard.

That may be the case, but perhaps the Steelers do not plan to release James Harrison, and suddenly found themselves with more salary cap space than expected.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer Ed Bouchette stated on Twitter:

#Steelers cd designate Colon June 1 cut now so he cd sign elsewhere & team gains cap advantage but not until June 1. Counts on cap till then
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) March 11, 2013

No matter if #steelers do it now or designate it for June, Willie Colon will be cut. When they did not ask him foe a payout, it said it all.
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) March 11, 2013

Steelers Stock Piling Offensive Lineman?

While Ed Bouchette has sources and his logic is water tight sense, other possible explanations exist.

It is impossible to discuss the fiscal impact of Foster’s signing without knowing how much he is being paid. Only starter money could convince Foster to sign without testing the open market and conventional wisdom would dictate that the salary cap strapped Steelers could not enter the season carrying six starting offensive line salaries.

• However, the Steelers started 2008 with Max Starks sitting on the bench despite a salary of around 7 million.

Another point to consider is that of the Steelers offensive line, only Foster and Willie Colon have veteran salaries.  Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert, Kelvin Beachum, David DeCastro, and Mike Adams are working on their rookie contracts.

• Given the horrendous injury issues the Steelers have suffered in recent seasons on the offensive line, stock piling offensive lineman is not too far fetched a scenario

Finally there is the salary cap itself. No one denies that the Steelers have salary cap issues, but it is possible that the restructurings, the release of Harrison, and the unexpected increase in the salary cap itself has left the Steelers with more space than reported in the press.

The wait will not be long. If the Steelers are going to cut Willie Colon, they’ll likely do so soon.

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Steelers Free Agent Focus: Max Starks

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye.

• Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Max Starks can relate.

The Steelers have wanted to part ways with Max Starks since 2010, but injuries to Willie Colon and the debacle in Houston convinced them to bring him back in 2011.

This past season, the Steelers thought they might get by with Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams as their starting tackles – Starks was signed in camp as an insurance policy but stayed on and started.

Prior to that the Steelers attitude towards Max Starks could have best been characterized as “I don’t know why you’re saying goodbye, I’m saying hello” as the timeline below reveals.

Max Starks Timeline with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

• 2004 Steelers draft Starks in the third round
• 2005 Starks starts every game en route to victory in Super Bowl XL
• 2006 Injuries keep Starks out of final two games, but word is coaches already eyeing Willie Colon as replacement
• 2007 Starks begins year on bench, plays “tight end” in short yardage situations; Starks takes over as starter in December Marvel Smith gets injured, before Starks gets hurt himself
• 2008 – Off season - Front office names Stark “transition player.” Mike Tomlin deems him “starter capable”
• 2008 – Regular season - Stark begins year as highest paid non-starting tackle in NFL, but saves season after Marvel Smith hurt vs. Jacksonville
• 2009 Starks named Steelers franchise player, then signs four year contract in camp
• 2010 Starks goes on IR at mid season
• 2011 – Off season – Steelers cut Max Starks; Ben Roethlisberger wears No.78 to practice
• 2011 – Regular season – Steelers offensive line in tail spin after thrasing in Texas, Steelers recant commitment to youth and resign Starks
• 2011 – Post season - Max Starks injured in playoff Teebowing at Denver
• 2012 Steelers resign Max Starks

The disconnect between the front office and the coaches was real. Bruce Arians was reportedly not fond of him, which would explain his repeated vetoing of Willie Colon’s move to guard.

Likely Scenario Sees Steelers and Starks Parting Ways for Real in 

Even though the Steelers have never had a clear head about what they want to do with Max Starks, he’s managed to make himself as a bedrock of the offensive line. He bailed them out in 2008, 2011 and in 2012 he was the only lineman to start every game in the same position. In spite of that...

• The odds strongly go against Starks being available to do that again in 2013.

The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line, picking Marcus Gilbert in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and Mike Adams in the second round of 2012. You draft men to start in those rounds, and now is the time for the Steelers to find out if those men can fulfill their promise.

Beyond that, the Steelers have serious salary cap issues. Every dollar is precious, and that means that they probably cannot afford Starks even if he comes back at the veteran minimum, an unlikely prospect in and of itself.

Scenario that Sees Starks Sticking with Steelers

How could Max Starks return to Pittsburgh? For that to happen the 31 NFL teams would have to pass on a proven left tackle with two Super Bowl rings who has started 28 games in two years and 96 games overall.

That is an highly unlikely, however, it has happened before.

Before the Steelers resigned him in 2011, the Minnesota Vikings worked Starks out but said “no thanks.” Starks literally came off the street and started 12 straight games for the Steelers.

• Starks got no real takers as a free agent in 2012 either.

Even if the Steelers improbable run of luck with Starks’ availability were to hold up, something else would have to change for Starks to return, as he just doesn’t seem to be in their plans.

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Steelers 2013 Free Agent Focus: Kevin Colbert Signals Change

"There’s a storm coming Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches…."

That was the seminal line from Dark Knight Rises, which just happened to be filmed in Pittsburgh with Heinz Field providing the setting for its dramatic, signature scene:



The final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was fiction, but listen closely to Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert and its not too hard to conclude that Steelers Nation might be about to witness a rare instance of life imitating art.

The Steelers inconsistent, inopportune and injury plagued 8-8 2012 campaign was unacceptable and Colbert shows that management is ready to do something about it.

While desposition remains important, necessity also plays a role. The Steelers have 19 unrestricted free agents, 6 restricted free agents, are several million over the salary cap and have an aging roster. This is a team that has difficult choices ahead.

Before diving into what Colbert comments tell us about the choices the Steelers might make, let’s look at the numbers:

Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 Unrestricted Free Agents

S Will Allen
QB Charlie Batch
WR Plaxico Burress
S Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith
LB Larry Foote
RG Ramon Foster
WR David Gilreath
NT Casey Hampton
CB Justin King
QB Byron Leftwich
OG Doug Legursky
CB Keenan Lewis
LB Brandon Johnson
FB David Johnson
RB Rashard Mendenhall
FS Ryan Mundy
TE Leonard Pope
LT Max Starks
LS Greg Warren

For those of your keeping track at home 16 of these unrestricted free agents started at least one game for the Steelers in 2012, 17 if you count long snapper Greg Warren, according to Behind the Steel Curtain.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 Restricted Free Agents

RB Jonathan Dwyer
NT Steve McLendon
RB Issac Redman
WR Emmanuel Sanders
LB Stevenson Sylvester
CB Josh Victorian

Not Business as Usual for the Steelers

Since the opening of Heinz Field, standard operating Steelers personnel procedure has been keep the core of the roster intact.

Outsider Norv Turner remarked at how little the Steelers roster had changed between the 2008 Steelers victory over San Diego in 2008 and the Chargers upset in 2012.

The victories in Super Bowl XL, Super Bowl XLIII and appearances in Super Bowl XLV fully vindicate the Steelers stay the course philosophy. Kevin Colbert, in an interview last month with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is signaling that this is about to change "When you're 12-4 and a playoff team, sometimes you get mesmerized by your success and you get a little reluctant to change.”

Easy words to say, but what do they really mean? Colbert left little room for doubt, going so far as to explain “If we don't change a roster that produced 8-8, we'd be silly to expect a better result because it's the same group of guys.”

• Translation:  Expect roster changes to cut deeper this time

The Steelers renewal process actually began after 2009, when the team parted ways with veterans like like Willie Parker and Desha Townsend. The Steelers tried to do the same thing with Max Starks but injuries forced them to bring him back both in 2011 and 2012.

The movement of course picked up steam in 2011, as the Steelers parted ways with Chris Kemoeatu, Aaron Smith, Bryant McFadden, James Farrior, and of courseHines Ward, each man being the owner of two Super Bowl rings.

To keep their core veterans together, the Steelers have worked the salary cap, by renegotiating contracts and prorating signing bonuses.

Already over the cap, the Steelers will likely do follow suit in 2013 with Ben Roethlisberger, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons serving as the likely renegotatees.

However, there’s a limit to how long this can be done, as Colbert himself acknowledge warning "You have to be careful. Sooner or later, you have to pay the debt. You never want to get to a point where you have to gut your team and start over.”

Simple restructures will only get the Steelers so much salary cap and if they’re not willing to do heavy-duty restructuring, the only other way to clear space is to release players. Colbert signaled that the Steelers were indeed ready to do just that, clarifying that "In my mind, when you're 8-8, I don't think you had too many franchise players.”

• Translation:  There are no sacred cows

The turf at Heinz Field might not explode Thomas Tull style but the roster remains a different question entirely.

Steelers 2013 Free Agent Focus

The NFL free agency deadline begins in mid-march, and Steel Curtain Rising will be profiling the Steelers free agent situation in the time between now and then, as well as looking at the potential cost-benefit of parting ways with players like James Harrison and Willie Colon – consider perhaps the two most likely targets in a roster purge.

Hold on tight, there's a storm coming.

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