Mike Wallace Returns to Steelers, No Long Term Deal in Sight

Mike Wallace, the Steelers estranged wide receiver, ended his hold out today having missed the team's entire training camp and first three preseason contests.

NFL rules prevent Wallace from participating in the team's fourth preseason game, which is undoubtedly the reason why Wallace chose to wait until today.

Wallace has been welcomed with open arms by his teammates, with James Harrison going as far as to stage a faux interview with him in the locker room. Watch for yourself, courtesy of Steelers Gab.



No Long Term Deal in Sight for Wallace

It is great to see Mike Wallace welcomed with open arms by his team mates. Nothing can sink a team's chances like locker room desertion, especially when its over who makes what. See the 1993 Steelers as an example (That's what led to the Steelers policy of not negotiating contracts during the regular season. Click here for the full story.)

Mike Wallace is even saying he wants to be a Steeler for the long term. If he really means that then its a shame, because the likelihood of that happening remains very, very slim.

Steel Curtain Rising claims no special access to inside information here. But its fairly easy to connect the dots from what is known publicly.

• The Steelers are concerned that Mike Wallace's drop off in productivity at the end of last year was based in attitude and not talent
• The Steelers have serious salary cap issues which will continue in 2013
• Antoino Brown already got a good portion of the money the Steelers had earmarked for Wallace
• Neither Mike Tomlin nor Kevin Colbert appear to have been to happy with Mike Wallace's hold out

In July when the hold out was in its infancy, Kevin Colbert went on the record saying in as much as "Where there's a will there's a way" when it came to signing players. 

• Take Colbert at his word on that, if the Steelers really want(ed) to sign him, they could have.

Ben Roethlisberger reportedly offered to seek out Wallace and talk him into reporting to camp -- Steelers management declined to take Ben up on his offer -- showing that they're not willing to bend over backwards for Wallace.

But if Mike Wallace really had a will to be a Steelers, then the way to make that happen would have been to report to camp and continue negotiating in good faith. He declined to do that, and will likely have to find out for himself if the grass really is greener some where else.

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Steelers Sign Antonio Brown, Make Statement to Mike Wallace

“One thing that experience has taught me is that this is bigger than all of us. It’s bigger than Wallace and it’s bigger than me.” – Mike Tomlin on Mike Wallace’s hold out

While Mike Tomlin’s comments on Mike Wallace’s holdout were clear and fairly strong, they did not go much beyond standard Pittsburgh Steelers head coach boiler plate for contract disputes.

• Actions, of course speak louder than words.

It’s easy for a coach to talk about focusing on "The guys who want to be here" but it’s another for an entire franchise to put its foot down. And make no mistake about it, the Pittsburgh Steelers put their foot down by giving Antonio Brown a five year contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2017.

Since Mike Wallace became a restricted free agent this off season, Tomlin, Kevin Colbert, and Art Rooney II have said all the right things about resigning him.

This is true despite credible reports that some of the Steelers Brain Trust had reservations about Wallace. The drop off in Wallace’s production during the second half of 2011 was troubling just as the drop off in the 2010 playoffs raised yellow flags.

But both Ed Bouchette and Len Pasqurelli wrote about people in the Steelers organization having worries about the role that attitude played in his drop off.

• Then came the rumors that Wallace expects to be paid Larry Fitzgerald like money.

The Steelers commenced training camp and Wallace no showed. Add in the fact that Wallace’s is holding out against the advice of his agent Bus Cook, a man who has a history of orchestrating hold outs.

• Connect the dots and the pattern you get is not a pleasant one for Steelers Nation.

Make no mistake, the Steelers negotiated in good faith. While character and locker room chemistry are important to the Steelers, senior management knows Wallace is one of the rare NFL players who truly is a threat to go all the way anytime he gets the ball in his hands.

That alone makes him valuable. And even when Wallace is dropping passes or letting defensive backs make uncontested plays on under thrown balls, he’s still stretching the field for Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery and Health Miller.

The Steelers stood ready to give Wallace real money in a long-term deal. And they made good on that intention. Except Antonio Brown’s name was on that contract, not Mike Wallace’s.

There are franchises in pro sports that allow themselves to be defined by a single player or personality. The Pittsburgh Steelers are not one of them.

The Steelers are a far weaker team without Mike Wallace in the line up. But the statement the Steelers made in signing Antonio Brown is that the organization will not be dictated to by one player, no matter how valuable.

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Steelers Cut Jonathan Scott

One day after resigning veteran offensive tackle Max Starks the Steelers made another move by cutting reserve tackle Jonathan Scott.

Johnathan Scott was part of the Steelers 2010 Free Agent Signing Spree that included the returns of Antwann Randel El and Larry Foote. Scott brought on to be a back up but injuries forced him into the starting line up.

Scott struggled, mightily at times, during the regular season, but stepped up his game impressively during the playoffs and Super Bowl XLV. The Steelers thought so highly of his progress that he began the 2011 season as the starter.

That changed fast, however, as he was unable to protect Ben Roethlisberger's blind side, and the team quickly moved to bring back Max Starks. Scott continued to receive action however, as repeated injuries forced the Steelers to play musical chairs on offensive line.

The Steelers likely waived Scott now, a week before training camp, to give him a chance to sign on elsewhere. The move also potentially opens up a roster spot for either Chris Scott, the Steelers 5th pick from the 2010 NFL Draft and/or Kyle Jolly, an undrafted rookie Free Agent who from 2010 who has spent the last two years on the practice squad. Trai Essex, who can play tackle, also remains on their roster.

Alan Robinson of the Tribune Review reported that the move will save the Steelers 1.7 million dollars against the salary cap - funds that could be used towards a long-term deal with restricted free agent Mike Wallace.

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Steelers Send Message With Decision to Resign Max Starks

The Steelers sent a message in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft: 

• The era of “Plug and Patch” offensive line building in Pittsburgh is over.

Mike Tomlin’s offensive staff quickly confirmed this move after drafting DavidDiCastro and Mike Adams when they called Willie Colon to inform him that theoft-rumored shift to guard was going to become real.

The Steelers shifted Colonbecause they’re projecting Mike Adams to start at right tackle.

Today in resigning Max Starks the Steelers sent another unequivocal message: 

• You have to earn your role as a starter when you’re a Pittsburgh Steeler

The latter message was just as important as the former. Mike Adams brings more than his fair share of baggage to the NFL – Adamsknocked himself off the Steelers draft board with a positive drug test at the NFL scouting combine.

Adams worked himself back into the Mike Tomin and Kevin Colbert’s good graces, and they rewarded him by giving him a chance.

But when news of Colon’s shift to guard was accompanied by confirmation that Marcus Gilbert would remain at right tackle the idea that the Steelers braintrust might be giving Adam’s more than a chance wasn’t so outlandish.

Afterall, the only two people he’d have to beat out were Trai Essex and Jonathan Scott – both mean whose track record at the left tackle position is checkered – to be charitable.

But with Max Starks on the roster, the Steelers have brought in a veteran whom Adams will have to push himself to beat. They’re also giving themselves the luxury of allowing Adamsto grow into the position.

Steelers Sign Starks - an Annual Off Season Rite

Perhaps when I launched Steel Curtain Rising in January of 2008 I it never occurred to me to  write up a batch of generic articles to cover typical, recurring, events.

One such story could have been "Steelers Resign Max Starks." 

That would have come in handy as hardly a year has passed without Max Starks putting ink to paper with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• In 2008 Max Starks signed the Steelers transition tender, and began the year as the NFL's most expensive back up offensive lineman.
• When disaster ended Marvel Smith's careear vs. Jacksonville Max Starks stepped in and saved the Steelers season.
• In 2009 the Steelers named Starks as their franchise player and he signed a four year deal with him during training camp.  

That four year contract got cut short, however as Starks injured his neck during 2010 and had to finish the season on IR.

The Steelers "Resign Max Stark" yarn took an unexpected twist in 2011 as Starks, after weighing in at over 400 pounds at Ben Roethlisberger's wedding, was cutas soon as the lockout ended.

When WillieColon went down after the Debacle in Baltimore, many fans expected the Steelers to rush to the Red Phone to resign Starks (or perhaps Flozell Adams who actually offered his services to the Steelers -- for a price.)

• The Steelers swore off that option and initially committed themselves to filling their needs in house.

That plan lasted all of 3 games when it became crystal clear that Jonathan Scott was not a 16 game starter at left tackle. Discretion is that better part of valor, and the Steelers turned to Max Starks, initially thinking he would provide depth, but Starks started immediately -- and the Steelers offensive line improved as a result.

Starks appears to be happy with the Steelers, Alan Robinson of the Tribune Review indicated that Atlantawas interested in signing him, despite the fact that the Steelers never seemed to have made up their collective mind on him.

However rumor is that Starks was never high on Bruce Arianslist, and that of course is a moot point now. Welcome back to Steelers Nation Max (again).

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Steelers cut Troy Smith

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced yesterday via Twitter that they have cut 4^th string quarterback and former Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith. The Steelers had signed Smith to a futures contract in January.

The decision to sign Smith surprised some, but was quite understandable as Bryon Leftwich, Charlie Batch, and Dennis Dixon were all unrestricted free agents heading into the off season. Both Leftwich and Batchhave since resigned with the Steelers.

Smith had worked out with the team throughout the off season, including OTA’s and Minicamp.

Saved by the Bell….

Anyone who (that is anyone who works a full time job) has their own site about their favorite sports team can tell you, one of the biggest frustrations is having more ideas than you have time to write about.

Sometimes, however, that is a blessing.

I know little of Troy Smith, other than he’s bounced around the league for a few years in spite of his strong college pedigree. Yet, a recently published story on Smith in the Post-Gazette, combined with tales form PG Plus about his arm strength got me thinking that perhaps Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin had brought Smith as more than insurance.

According to press reports, the Steelers actively want to groom a young signal caller to be Ben Roethlisberger’s back up. They didn’t draft a quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft, seemingly leaving room for Troy Smith to win a job in camp.

Or so my article was about to argue.  Sometimes being too busy to write is a blessing.

Daylight for Dennis Dixon….?

Smith’s departure brings the number of experienced quarterbacks on the Steelers roster to 3. They traditionally bring four to camp to keep everyone fresh.

Dennis Dixon, the team’s 5^th round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft had expected (or at least hoped) to cash in during free agency.

The first two rounds of free agency are over and the draft has come and gone and no one has called Dennis Dixon’s number.

This amounts to pure speculation on the part of Steel Curtain Rising, but one has to wonder if letting Smith go opens up a slot for the team to give Dennis Dixon a chance to win a spot in camp.

That prospect is not entirely likely, as Dixon was unhappy with his role last year and made noises about being traded, but the possibility remains.

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Steelers Say Goodbye as Mewelde Moore Signs with Colts

The Pittsburgh Steelers said good bye to reserve running back Mewelde Moore, who will rejoin Bruce Arians at the Indianapolis Colts.

Moore arrived in Pittsburgh in 2008 with little fan fare, the news of Moore's signing breaking on the same day that Ben Roethlisberger signed his 100 million dollar extension.

Moorenever became a star with the Steelers, but he was an invaluable back up and effective third down back.

Mewelde Moore passed through training camp and the beginning of the 2008 campaign largely ignored by the press if not the coaches.

But Mooreplayed a crucial role when injuries felled Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhalland Carey Davis. Moore started in the all-important mid-season show down with Jacksonvillethat year and helped breath life into Mike Tomlin’s “The Standard is the Standard” philosophy by running the ball with authority.

• Mooreplayed extensively during the rest of 2008, and was one of that Super Bowl season's unsung heroes.

And that’s how his career in Pittsburgh will be remembered. Moore never got a lot of fanfare, but he always gave it his all whenever he stepped on the field.

Caught in the Backfield Glut

With Rashard Mendenhall still rehabbing his ACL and likely to start the season the PUP, Isaac Redman is poised to enter 2012 as the Steelers starter. 

Behind Redman the Steelers have quantity depth but the quality of the depth remains an unknown. Jonathan Dwyer looked good in his only start vs. Tennessee, but he’s had chronic off season conditioning issues and hasn’t been tested extensively.

Barron Batch was a training camp hero last summer in Latrobe before injuring his ACL and, while his potential is real, much remains for him to prove.

Chris Rainey, the Steelers 5^th round pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, offers alluring potential but, then again, can’t we say that about every draft pick this time of the year?

John Clay also figures to be in the mix.

With David Johnson moving to full back, the Steelers will likely carry four pure running backs on their roster. Redman and Rainey are locks to make the team, with Dwyer and Batch holding down the other two spots – assuming that Rashard Mendenhall starts the year on the PUP.

• Steelers coaches liked Moore, with Kriby Wilson likening him to “an old familiar suit case."

While the Steelers made little or no effort to sign Mewelde Moore, word was that he might become a training camp addition, depending on how the competition at the back up spot played out.

• For good for or for ill, that Indianapolis has now taken that option off of the table.

Best of luck Mewelde, Steel Curtain Rising wishes you great success in Hoosier country – as long as that success comes not at the expense of the Steelers….

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Steelers Sign Byron Leftwich

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette is reporting that Bryon Leftwich has resigned with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Steelers first acquired Leftwich in 2008 when Charlie Batch got broke his collarbone in preseason. Leftwich got significant playing time in three days that year, and considered staying with the Steelers. However, he opted to depart for Tampa, but Leftwich was back again via trade in 2010.

Mike Tomlin would like to anoint Leftwich as his designated back up to Ben Roethlisberger, but Leftwich's fragility keeps getting in the way. He injured his knee late in preseason 2010, when he was expected to start during Ben Roethlisberger's suspension. Last year a broken arm in preseason shelved him for the year.

While there's a lot to like about Byron Leftwich, his durability has become a real liability.

The move puts five quarterbacks under contract with the Steelers with the possibility that they will draft one in the 2012 NFL Draft. It his highly unlikely that the Steelers would bring more than four quarterbacks to training camp at St. Vincent's.

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So Mike Wallace Wants to Play Hard Ball?

The deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets from other teams has expired, meaning that Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace’s rights revert to Pittsburgh.

• Wallace however, has not signed his free agent tender and, according to reports, will not sign it.

By refusing to sign, Wallace is inviting other NFL teams to make the Steelers a trade offer.

All accounts are that the Steelers will say no, but the NFL Draft can bring up some crazy deals, so who knows? If someone is dumb enough to make a trade offer of Hershel Walker/Ricky Williams proportions, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin are likely smart enough to say yes.

Refusing to sign is the only card Wallace can play in hopes of getting a big payday now and if that’s his goal it makes sense to play it.

• For another week.

Once the 2012 NFL Draft has ended Wallace’s stubbornness slips from shrewd to stupid. If Wallace really thinks he can play hard ball with the Steelers he is sorely mistaken. The franchise has weathered holdouts before and will do so again.

• In 1983, Franco Harris, the franchise icon who authored the definitive play in Steelers history held out for more money.

Chuck Noll’s response was “Franco who?” Dan Rooney’s actions spoke far louder, and resulted in Franco finishing his career after 8 mediocre games in Seattle.

• Mike Merriweather tried the same trick in 1988.

He held out the entire season while under contract and the Steelers traded him on draft day in 1989. (Unfortunately, they ended up taking Tom Ricketts with the extra pick….)

• Barry Foster tried it too in 1993

He skipped mini-camp and held out during the beginning of training camp. He reported, and only after that did he get his new contract.

• Even Hines Ward was not immune.

He held out in 2005. Dan Rooney did meet him in private, but the message was clear: Show up and we’ll start talking. The lesson is clear. If the Steelers didn’t flinch when face to face with two franchise icons, they won’t do it for a budding receiver who is gaining a reputation for having attitude issues.

Ah Those Attitude Issues….

A few weeks back, the Watch Tower noted that Ed Bouchette had cited attitude issues for the drop off in Wallace’s production in 2011. Steel Curtain Rising asked him about this in a PG+ Chat, and Bouchette doubled down. As did Gerry Dulac.

Len Pasquarelli also wrote a similar article.

Mike Wallace is an amazing talent, and attitude is not going to prevent him from finding the payday he seeks. But if he thinks he can force that to happen in Pittsburgh he’s in for a surprise.

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Steelers Resign Charlie Batch

In the 1980’s the middle of the Washington Redskins defense was anchored by a player named Neal Olkewicz. Olkewicz, an undrafted rookie free agent, lacked some of the “measurables,” and as a consequence Joe Gibbs and Bobby Bethard never tired of trying to replace him.

And year after year, Olkewicz beat back the challenges of the young turks, until he finally decided to hang it up 1989, having played for 11 years and started all but 13 of the 150 games he played in…

…Perhaps Charlie Batch is the Steelers’ Neal Olkewicz incarnate.

For several seasons running the Steelers have brought Batch to Latrobe with the thought that by the time camp broke, they’d be nudging him toward his “Life’s Work” in favor of younger, more durable successors such as Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon.

And every year one of those younger, “less fragile” players ends up getting hurt, and every year the Steelers turn again to Charlie Batch.

The pattern may be about to repeat itself here in 2012. In what has almost become an annual rite of spring, the Pittsburgh Steelers resigned backup quarterback Charlie Batch.

The move gives the Steelers a veteran presence behind Ben Roethlisberger who has started 5 games in Roehtlisberger’s absence in the last two years alone, going 4-1.

The move gives the Steelers 4 quaterbacks on their roster, including Troy Smith, a Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, and Jerrod Johnson, a first-year pro from Texas A&M.

Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette confirms that the Steelers remain interested in resigning Byron Leftwich, who has also been wowed by the Colts.

If the Steelers do, that would create a bottle neck at quarterback. NFL teams do not enter camp with 5 quarterbacks on their roster and presumable one, of those signal callers would have to go before arriving at St. Vincents, with the other being eliminated during the team’s time at Latrobe.

Just don’t be so sure to assume that the odd man out will be Charlie Batch.

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Steelers Resign Jerricho Cotchery, David Johnson

It’s been a busy week at the South Side. It began with Kevin Colbert and Omar Khan dipping their quills to sign Leonard Pope and having done that, they liked it so much they started a streak which included inking Doug Legursky and Trai Essex.

The biggest move of course was the resigning of veteran reserve receiver Jerricho Cotchery. Cotchery was an unrestricted free agent who signed with the Steelers in the summer of 2011 and tested the waters.

He apparently drew some interest from the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams. But the money and/or the opportunities were not there for Cotchery.

The move came on the same day that news leaked that restricted free agent Mike Wallace will not sign his tender from the Steelers, and either to force the Steelers to seek a trade a trade prior to the 2012 NFL draft or simply as a move to pressure the Steelers into offering him a long term deal.

Steel Curtain Rising will have more to say on the Wallace situation when/if he declines to sign the Steelers offer. However, with Cotchery’s future with the team secured for the next two years, the Steelers gain some insurance should Wallace attempt to play hard ball.

Perhaps more importantly, Jerrico Cotchery fills the void created by Hines Ward’s retirement for a veteran presence in the Young Money receiving corps.

David Johnson Comes Around

One player with no illusions about playing hard ball is tight end David Johnson. The Steelers selected Johnson in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft and since that time have seen him develop into a capable players as an H-back or hybrid tight-end/fullback.

As a restricted free agent, Johnson could have signed with another team, and that team only would have had to have given up a 7th round pick in return.

Johnson perhaps harbored hopes of finding greener pastures, but after the Steelers signed back up tight end Leonard Pope, Johnson quickly signed his restricted free agent tender.

It is unknown whether that tender is guaranteed or if the Steelers can cut him in training can and have to honor the tender.

If the restricted free agent tender is guaranteed, that spells more bad news for Wesley Saunders, because the Steelers will have three tight ends under contract who’re all but certain to make the team and the squad has never carried 4 tight ends.

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A Triumpth of "Position Flexibility" - Steelers Sign Trai Essex and Doug Legursky

You and I call it versatility.

Dictonary.com defines versatility it as: capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to anotherof various tasks, fields of endeavor.

Mike Tomlin simply calls it “Position flexibility.” The concept is simple, and ultimately a fundamental differentiator in the salary cap era:

• The more positions you can play, the more you contribute, the bigger bang a team gets for its salary cap buck it invests in you

No one will ever accuse Trai Essex or Doug Legursky for being world-class athletes or even elite offensive lineman. But both men have position flexibility.

The Steelers picked Trai Essex in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft and since that time he’s played in 75 games. So far so good.

• But normally, you project and expect a third round pick to develop into a stable starter.

Essex has failed to do that multiple times in his seven seasons with the Steelers. Before you write Essex off as a bust, the man entered the 2011 season capable of playing both tackle and both guard positons and in 2012 he added center to his bag of tricks when injures sidelined Doug Legursky and Maurkice Pouncy.

That’s a boast few NFL athletes can make, and its undoubtedly the reason why the Steelers signed Essex to a one year deal which bind him to the team for 8 years.

Doug Legursky Signs Restricted Free Agent Tender

Unlike Trai Essex, Doug Legursky’s phone did not ring on draft day. The Steelers signed him as an unrestricted rookie free agent in 2008. After spending the 2008 season on the practice squad, Legursky made the team in 2009 as a back up lineman.

Legursky saw some action at guard in 2009.

In 2010 he continued to practice at guard but also picked up center, and in the process helped make Justin Hartwig expendable. That year he started at guard a few times during the season and when injuries felled Maurkice Pouncey in the AFC Championship game, Legursky found himself starting at center in Super Bowl XLV.

Last season, Legursky started at both guard positions and also spent time starting at center.

Oh, and Legursky has also been known to line up at fullback on occasion.

• That my friends, is position flexibility.

Today Legursky followed in Ramon Foster’s footsteps and signed his restricted free agent tender, binding him to the team for one more season.

The Steelers took a mild risk with Legursky, as they would have received nothing in compensation had a team signed him. But in the end their patience paid off because at 25 going on 26, Legursky’s still got some upside in him.

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Steelers Sign Leonard Pope

The Pittsburgh Steelers made their first move in free agency today by coming to terms with former Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Leonard Pope.

Pope’s addition adds a touch of mystery into the mix for the Steelers at the tight end position.

Health Miller is the incumbent starter and his status is of course unaffected by the move.

But during the 2011 campaign David Johnson and Weslye Saunders split the number two tight end responsibilities.

David Johnson got a restricted free agent tender from the Steelers, and figures to be back.

Saunders, however presents more of a mystery.

Saunders went undrafted during the 2011 NFL draft because of disciplinary issues in college, but prior to that many had felt he could go as high as the second round.

The Steelers signed him as an unrestricted rookie free agent in 2011 with an eye towards developing him as a pass catching threat. During his rookie campaign, Saunders played in all 16 games, starting 5 of them, but only caught four passes.

Since that time things have not gone well for Saunders, who is currently facing a 4 game suspension to start the 2012 season for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

The Steelers normally keep only three tight ends on their roster, and the addition of Pope gives them four. Pittsburgh would get a roster exemption during Saunder’s suspension, but the Steelers remain pressed for salary cap space, which could put Saunder’s roster spot in jeopardy.

Ironically, Saunder’s lone touchdown catch came during the Steelers Monday Night escape/victory vs. the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lenoard Pope has started 49 games in his NFL career, including 10 last year for Kansas City where he caught 24 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers are not terribly impressive, but they are double what David Johnson did last year in 16 starts at tight end and fullback.

Pope has a long relationship with Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, another factor which works in his favor.

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Ramon Foster Signs with Steelers

Steelers starting right guard Ramon Foster will be back with the team for 2012, as he has signed his restricted free agent tender.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Mark Kaboly, Foster did get interest from other teams, but opted to remain in Pittsburgh. Kaboly also confirms that the Steelers would have matched any offer that Foster would have signed.

Ramon Foster signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted rookie free agent in 2009 out of Tennessee. Since then Foster has started 26 games, including Super Bowl XLV.

Restricted free agents have until April 20th to sign with other teams. After that, their rights revert to the the team that brought them into the league.

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Byron Leftwich to the Colts?

When Bruce Arians “retired” a large contingent of Steelers Nation reacted with relief.

Arians retirement lasted all of a week, and he just happened to land himself a spot as the offensive coordinator of the team that gets to select Andrew Luck. Now, apparently Arians has his eye on someone from the South Side to show Andrew Luck the ropes.

Mark Kabloy of the Tribune Review is citing league sources that indicate that Bruce Arians is trying to entice Byron Leftwhich to come to Indianapolis to help mentor his rookie quarterback (whether that signal caller turns out to be Robert Griffin III or Andrew Luck.)

With 10 million in cap space the Colts could pay more than the Steelers, who are all but certain to offer Leftwich the NFL veteran minimum.

Should Lefwich Make the Switch?

Leftwich would be an interesting mentor for Luck/RG3. He was afterall a franchise quarterback for Jacksonville, having been drafted 7th overall in the 2003 draft. His stint in the spot light lasted less than four years and soon found himself on the waiver wire being asked to mop up the mess left in the wake of Michael Vick’s troubles with the law.

When Charlie Batch got injured in preseason in 2008, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert wasted little time bringing in veterans Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich. The rules of the audition were clear: You’re here to back up Ben Roethlisberger. That’s it. Period.

Leftwich took the deal and got a Super Bowl ring for his troubles. After Super Bowl XLII Leftwich considered staying on in Pittsburgh, but opted for “greener” pastures in Tampa. Tampa had other plans, and Leftwich’s time as a starter lasted all of 3 games.

When Midgeville entered the vernacular of Steelers Nation, Mike Tomlin did not hesitate to bring Leftwich back and since that moment Tomlin has shown ever sign of anointing Leftwich as his official “number two.”

In Pittsburgh, Leftwich remains on a team whose Super Bowl most likely remains open. With the Colts, Leftwich will be with a team starting from almost zero and with little question as to who their signal call of the future is.

Would the Steelers be Better off if Arians did Poach Leftwich?

Byron Leftwich brings a lot to the backup quarterback position. He’s got 49 NFL starts to his name, a veteran presence, and an absolute rocket for an arm.

Bryon Leftwich is perhaps the only Steelers quarterback who has a hope of hitting Mike Wallace in full stride.

Mobility, however, is decidedly not one of Leftwich’s assets. Neither is durability. He has never played a full season. His stints in Jacksonville, Tampa and, if memory serves, Atlanta, all ended with him on IR. Leftwich spent the entire 2011 season on injured reserve, and was unable to start the first 4 games of 2010 due to an injury in preseason.

The Steelers have a lot of reasons to like Leftwich, but wonder if Arians might be doing the Steelers a favor by taking Leftwich off their hands and forcing Mike Tomlin to develop or find a more durable back up quarterback.

On the flip side, injuries can be streaky. For several years running the Steelers have wanted to keep Charlie Batch off the roster – who broke his wrist while playing just three downs in 2009 – because he was brittle.

Both times injuries to younger players, in the form of Leftwich and Dennis Dixon, forced the Steelers to keep Batch on the roster, and both times Batch delivered.

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Steelers Work Out Jeff George

When Mike Tomlin says that he will leave no stone unturned in his quest to improve the Steelers, he isn't kidding.

Behind the Steel Curtain is reporting that the Steelers are trying out 44 year old NFL veteran Jeff George. George apparently was seen at the team's south side facilities on the even of Saturday March 31st and will work out this morning for Steelers General Manger Kevin Colbert.

Drafted in 1990 by the Colts, George went on to play for Atlanta, Oakland, Minnesota and Washington.

While George's rocket arm was never in question, his disposition always was another matter. George openly feuded with management coaches and teammates, including a very public spat with then head coach June Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. In fact, George's tenure with the Washington Redskins ended when he rebuffed coach Marty Schottenhimer's call for leadership by saying, "Don't look to me."

Last year when the Petyon Manningless Colts began to struggle, George made it known that his services were available. Colts president Bobby Irsay declined to take his former signal caller up on the option.

If the Steelers do sign George, it is unclear whether that makes Charlie Batch or Byron Leftwich the odd man out on the depth chart.

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William Gay Signs with Pittsburgh West aka Arizona

Steelers Digest Twitter feed is reporting that William Gay is tweeting that he has agreed to terms with the Arizona Cardinals, aka, Pittsburgh West.

Other sources were close to report the news, as even Gay's Twitter feed does not appear to back this up as of 12:30 pm eastern time.

However, by 12:52 eastern time Scott Brown of the Tribune Review was confirming the move.

Former Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton is now the Cardinals defensive coordiantor. In another ironic twist to the story, the Steelers let Bryant McFadden go to Arizona in 2009 largely due to William Gay's emergence.

Gay struggled in 2009 as a full time starter, prompting the Steelers to bring McFadden back via trade during the 2010 NFL draft. William Gay's performance improved tremendously under the eye of Steelers secondary coach Carnell Lake, but so did that of Keenan Lewis, thus making Gay expendable.

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Steelers Free Agent Focus 2012: Mike Wallace

What is Mike Wallace really worth?

That is a very difficult question to answer and Steelers future as a Super Bowl contender might hinge on Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin’s having gotten the answer correct.

Wallace was an undeniable bright spot in an otherwise difficult 2009 campaign. As a mere third round pick, his play surpassed all expectations, so much that the decision to part ways with Santonio Holmes became a no-brainer.

During 2010, Wallace showed that he was more than up to the task of being an NFL wide receiver – during the regular season, as he caught 60 passes for an eye-popping 21 yards per catch average. His ten touchdowns were only two shy of the team record.

During the playoffs Wallace told a different tale. 26 catches in 3 post-seasons games is perfectly fine, but his 8.8 yards receiving were more of what you’d expect from a running back.

Wallace began the 2011 season on fire, literally.

• He extended his regular season streak of 100 yard receiving games to 6
• Ben Roethlisberger to Mike Wallace 40 yard plus hook ups, were a stable of the Steelers offense
• Wallace now holds the record for the longest scoring and passing play in Steelers history

But Wallace’s play tapered of precipitously as the season wore on. He didn’t score a touchdown in the final six games. Worse yet, he more often seemed to sit and watch as DB’s made plays on under thrown balls.

(In private emails, Neal Coolong of Behind the Steel Curtain has argued that Wallace lacks the size and physique to out muscle DB’s in those situations. Fair enough – but should he at least try?)

His slump continued in the post season, becoming more renown for his drop on what could have been a 52 yard game-changing play vs. Denver, than anything else.

A Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma

Mike Wallace remains a riddle wrapped in an Enigma, to steal a Winston Churchill cliché.

And what a tantalizing enigma Mike Wallace is.

As Bill Barnwell of the website Grantland.com points out, only Anquan Boldin has accrued more years in than Mike Wallace in the three years he’s been in the league.

Barnwell indicates that the Steelers total number of possessions has been low during Wallace’s tenure and Ben Roethlisberger has been suspended, out or injured for many of Wallace’s games. He argues that if you control for those factors, Wallace’s numbers take on stratospheric proportions.

Barnwell’s number crunching is mouth watering.

But it also betrays the fantasy-league mentality that is rarely relevant towards what counts in the NFL -- winning championships.

Mike Wallace does still have a real upside. And even if he fails to realize it, he is still one of the few NFL players who can take it to the house on any given play.

That alone makes him an asset to any offense.

But that alone doesn’t negate the reality that Wallace still has real holes in his game. Holes significant enough to lend one to believe that he’ll never blossom into a Larry Fitzgerald type receiver.

That’s why the Steelers decision to place a first round tender on Wallace and let him test the market is the right move. More than any other position, the Steelers have shied away from throwing big money at a wide receiver, as pointed out by Ed Bouchette in the Post-Gazette.

With Hines Ward’s time in Pittsburgh over, the Steelers will likely have to make that long-term commitment to either Mike Wallace or Antonio Brown very soon.

They’ve likely given themselves the chance to do that on their own terms and, if not, they’ll have extra first round pick which they can use to draft another wide receiver.

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Casey Hampton Accepts a Pay Cut

The Pittsburgh Steelers made their first big move in free agency and, true to form, the move was wholly contained within the South Side.

Starting right nose tackle Casey Hampton, still recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the Steelers playoff loss to Denver, has agreed to accept a pay cut.

Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette described the move as a “restructuring” while Dale Lolley of From the NFL Sidelines and Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review described the move as a cut.

According to Brown, Hampton agreed to take a 2 million dollar salary reduction and forgo a 1 million dollar roster bonus.

Brown also reports that this move brings the Steelers to 6 to 8 million below the cap – this number is significant, because previous reports had pegged the Steelers at 1.5 million to 2 million below the cap.

Either way the additional cap space is welcome. The move could allow the Steelers to seal Mike Wallace to a long term deal; it could likewise free up money for Jericho Cotchery, William Gay, or a free agent from another team.

Home Town Discount, or Homegrown Prudence?

Casey Hampton’s had been rumored to be the next cap casualty and/or a candidate for a salary cut. The fact that Hampton agreed to play for less is slightly surprising, given that he is in the final year of what is likely his final NFL contract.

However, he will be 35 when the season starts and is recovering from a serious knee. On top of that, the Steelers run defense had a below par year in 2011 – for Pittsburgh – and while it would be grossly unfair to finger Hampton for all of this, the nose tackle is the fulcrum on which the success of the 3-4 defense rises and falls.

Kevin Colbert had indicated that he wanted and expected Hampton back during the NFL scouting combine, but rumors of Hampton’s expendability nonetheless persisted.

By agreeing to a pay cut, Hampton all but ensured that he will be drawing a pay check for the 2012 NFL season, and pocketing a extra million in change beats making nothing.

For their part, the Steelers also avoided putting themselves in a position where the would HAVE to draft a nose tackle in the top 2 or 3 rounds. (With that said, the Steelers must get serious about finding and grooming Hampton’s successor.)

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Steelers Gamble to Gain Flexibility in the Free Agent Market

The Steelers placed their tenders to Mike Wallace and other restricted free agents today, and in doing so they gave themselves some breathing room, while also opening themselves to come considerable risks.

The Steelers offered Mike Wallace a first round tender, in a move that was widely expected. The move ensures that the Steelers would get a first round pick should anyone sign Wallace – the Steelers would likewise get the chance to match any offer for Wallace.

However, Wallace was the only Steeler to get a high tender.

Over the weekend Steel Curtain Rising speculated, based on Ed Bouchette’s predictions in PG Plus, that the Steelers would offer their starting guards 2nd round tenders.

• They did not, only offering them the original round tenders.

In doing so they opened themselves to some significant risk. As Doug Legrusky and Ramon Foster were both undrafted rookie free agents, the Steelers would get nothing in return if they left, although they would retain the right to match any offer.

• This move entails some real risk, if for no other reason than the Steelers have NO other guards on their roster, in the wake of the departure of Chris Kemoeatu.

While neither Legursky nor Foster strike fear in the hearts of opposing defensive line and linebackers coaches the way Alan Fanaca and Will Wolford once did, both men have shown they belong in the NFL.

The Steelers apparent motive in taking this risk is to preserve precious salary cap space. The Steelers are about in the middle of the pack in terms of salary cap space, but to get there they’ve had to defer a lot of salary to future years, a move that could come back to haunt them.

The Steelers are clearly trying to keep their options open, either to match an offer to Mike Wallace, secure him to a long term deal, or give themselves the ability to sign other free agents.

The Steelers, as expected, tender Keenan Lewis, Ryan Mundy, and David Johnson, so they can match offers for any of those men and will get compensation should any of them leave.

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Aaron Smith Says Good Bye to Steelers Nation

When the Steelers cut Aaron Smith, there was some speculation that he might head off to Pittsburgh West aka the Arizona Cardinals.

While no one has ruled that out explicitly, Smith himself seems to be strongly signaling that he will hang it up.

As reported by Post Gazette Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette, Aaron Smith took out a full page ad in the Post Gazette to say good bye and thank Steel City Fans for their support.

Steel Curtain Rising's editorial policy is normally not to publish verbatium texts from other sites. But in this case an exception is being made because Smith's message shows just how much of a class act he was and how great the Steelers orgaization remains.

According to Bouchette, the following text can be found on page D-7 of the Sunday March 11th Post Gazette:

Dear Steelers Fans,

As of today, I am no longer a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I leave the field and Steelers with no regrets, and am grateful to have played for such a tremendous organization. I feel truly blessed to have spent my entire professional career in the best town, playing for the most loyal fans who have loved and supported myself and my family.

The last 13 years of our lives have been special because of the people who cheered me on, and I am truly fortunate to have been a part of the Steelers, the City of Pittsburgh and the Steelers Nation. You have opened your arms and your hearts to us as a family and we will never forget that. Your support, enthusiasm, love and dedication are gifts I will carry with me my entire life.

I may no longer be on the Steelers active roster, but I will always be a Steeler and will never forget the people who made it all worthwhile -- the fans, the Rooneys, the front office, the equipment guys and trainers, my teammates and family. Thank you for supporting me over the last 13 years, and I hope you will support me in whatever future path life will take me on.

We plan on making Pittsburgh our home and I will endeavor for the rest of my days to find a way to thank each and every one of you personally for all that you have done and meant for me and my family. You cheered for me for 13 years and now I cheer for you for the rest of my life. You will always be in my heart, thoughts and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to have the job of a lifetime. You will always be in my heart.

Your friend always,

Aaron Smith and Family, No. 91

Good Bye and Good Luck Aaron

As Bouchette points out, Alan Fanaca is the only player he can remember taking out an ad in the newspaper to say good bye to the fans. Oliver Gibson, a nose tackle the Steelers drafted out of Notre Dame in 1995 did something similar when he left for Cincinnati in 1999, by publishing a letter to the editor in the Steelers Digest.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a franchise which yields nothing to anyone else when it comes to the legacy of their defensive line. In 13 years of play, Aaron Smith earned the right to have his name spoken in the same breath as Ernie Stauntner, Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes and Dwight White.

This is truly a touching way for Smith to end his time as a Steeler. Aaron Smith, Steelers Nation thanks you for your contributions and your sacrifices and wishes you the best!

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