Overpaid Ex-Steelers

by Rash92 on Jan 8, 2009 9:23 AM EST Comment 17 comments

Although I Don Banks (..Sports Illustarted) isn't normally the most reliable NFL reporter I noticed he had Alan Faneca in his "All Bust" team of the year:

"Dishonorable mention: Alan Faneca, Jets -- Contrary to popular opinion among the media and fans, some within the league believe Faneca didn't come close to earning his big money in New York this season."

I've no axe to grind with Faneca and I'm pleased for him that he got paid, but I was 100% on board with not giving him $20m last year because the O-line was shaky with him last year and its shaky without him this year so it wasn't worth paying him $20m ..

It's just another example of why the Steelers are consistently able to compete when our F.O. can make smart & tough decisions like this ... while teams like the Jets shell out $140m in contracts this year so that they can sit in arm chairs watching the Steelers going for ring #6 !!!

GO STEELERS !

0 recs | Comment 17 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

The easiest thing in the world...

…is to overpay an All-Pro who’s on the way down. It’s also the easiest way to disappoint your fans.

Take it from me. I live in Washington, and have watched that asshat Dan Snyder pay big bucks for over the hill big names for years.

It’s never easy to say good-bye to your stars, but the Steeler front office has shown an excellent sense of timing. Faneca was one example, and Randle El was certainly another. We loved him, but there’s no way he’s worth a $31 million dollar contract for forty touches a year.

by Homer J. on Jan 8, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's Why

the Steelers are a flagship franchise. They really run their business well. Of all the FA they let leave, maybe only Chad Brown earned his money and should/could have been signed. Porter had a great year but Harrison was AFCDMVP! Plus he counts way less against the cap. Faneca fought with coaching changes and was a turnstile with Mahan allowing 7 to get sacked. Is 66 better than Kemo? Probably. Is he worth the $$$? Probably not. Woodson was offered more money than he eventually signed for. Thigpen? Haagans? The Steelers FO knows what they are doing and I trust them.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jan 8, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

Front office is great. You can bet if they let someone go, their best years are behind them. Even in Chad Brown’s case, he had some good years left in him, but he wanted a 4 or 5 year deal. He had two or three good years, so you would still overpay for the life of the contract.

Chris Hope is one guy who was let go and plays great elsewhere. Still, management went out and got an equal or better player in Ryan Clark.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Jan 8, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Rod Woodson

Probably the most regrettable release. He had A LOT left in the tank.

by vin2k on Jan 8, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, Mike Vrabel.

Although, at the time, we had no room to play him as a starter. We had Jason Gildon, Earl Holmes, and an emerging Joey Porter at the same position.

by Jonny B. on Jan 8, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't Forget 26

If you read my post you see I offer up that the Rooney’s offered Woodson a bigger contract than he eventually signed for. He said no to the Steelers offer. The Steelers were forced to sign someone else and Woodson ended up signing for less than what the Steelers offered.
Woodson certainly had a lot left in the tank, but how can you fault the Steelers who offered more than anyone else yet were rebuked?

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jan 8, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, great call not paying Faneca. Now if we could just get Simmons to return his signing bonus…

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 8, 2009 10:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I didn't watch enough of Faneca

So I’m not going to say he played poorly. And many times with athletes, they are are overpaid on the backend of their playing careers because they were underpaid on the front. Not that the Steelers underpaid Alan, but lesser guys made more.

Still the Jets did decrease the sacks from 53 last year to 30 this year and improved the ypc from 3.8 to 4.7. The Jets had a very bad line last year and that line definitely improved. Faneca is on the decline, and it was unfortunate to lose great Faneca (to time’s ravaged, not the jets). But I disagree with Don Banks about the shaky line play.

by vherub on Jan 8, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Faneca

While last years Pass Pro. was lousy, we could still run the Ball thanks in large part to Faneca.

You can bet he made the big difference in the New York Run game also.

Did anyone notice that Thomas Jones after having a couple quiet years went on to pretty much own the AFC in rushing numbers at age 30? Yeah thats Faneca

by Mechem on Jan 8, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

good point

Definitely not worth the money, but his run blocking would have been appreciated. Kemo whiffs way to often.

by Chicago Steeler on Jan 8, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the best indicator of the talent, the FO, and the atmosphere or the team is how many times they sign the big check and play for a number of years elsewhere, then return to end their career here. How many players have said or indicated that they regret that they have to leave but the contract is impossible to turn down?

by StinkBomb on Jan 8, 2009 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great points

I have always felt that about our front office…it’s one of the reasons we are always competitive and have such a great organization.

Faneca…I completely agree with FO not signing him…way, way too much $$$ for an aging guard. Don’t get me wrong, loved the guy, but the numbers just didn’t make sense. All the commentators keep saying how much we miss Fanacea…and yes, all things being equal I’d take him…but I just don’t think he was worth the $$$.

Kemo…I maybe in the minority…but I really like the guy. Has he had issues? Yes, but I think he’s done a great job for being a first year starter and having to replace a perennial all-pro. I think Tomlin loves him…if you remember back to articles coming from camp and into early part of season…and I think/hope we sign him to a new contract.

Porter…another GREAT move by FO not to sign a player. Yes, he had 16 1/2 sacks but I watch him v. Ravens…he was practically non-existent. I know he recovered a fumble, it basically bounced right to him, but other than that…nothing…I watched him time and time again, just like his last couple years with Steelers, rush the QB, get stuffed by OT and just stand their to watch the play…Harrison is by FAR a better overall defensive player than Porter ever was.

Marvel Smith…is the obvious choice this year for a veteran we do not resign. I know his injury played a part in this, but imo, even if he didn’t get hurt this year, FO doesn’t sign him to a long term deal anyway.

by SteelerMike on Jan 8, 2009 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dont forget

Plaxico.. Need I say more?

Plaxico.. Need I say more?I think our FO has it right 95% of the time. My only complaint is you should NEVER let somebody go without a good guy to replace him.

Plaxico.. Need I say more?I think our FO has it right 95% of the time. My only complaint is you should NEVER let somebody go without a good guy to replace him.Like when we let go of Peezwald we had Harrison.Let go of Plax, we got Santonio.But where we go wrong is letting go of guys without a proper replacement. Faneca in my mind should have gotten a Franchise Tag. Instead we put the Trans on Starks?!

by Mechem on Jan 8, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Antwaan Randle El

Yes, but the ‘skins gave him RIDICULOUS money…I think it was $10 M signing bonus…haven’t heard much from him either…

Neil O’Donnell
Yancey Thigpen
Carnel Lake

The list goes on…

And for the longest time, the short-sighted commentators would blab, “the Steelers are just unwilling to pay their players, blah, blah, blah…” and I would say to myself, and anyone willing to listen, no… the Steelers are just smart and aren’t willing, nor will they be forced to, OVER PAY…

by SteelerMike on Jan 8, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Randle El

BTW, dont know wtf happened to my post up there…

I wasnt saying we shouldnt have let him go. But I guess the FO should just be thinking a little farther in advance for when a player leaves.

I mean letting go of Faneca long term is a smart move, but it would have been nice to have a quality backup brought in the year before KNOWING that he was gonna leave.

by Mechem on Jan 8, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe i'm alone here

but i was pissed with faneca because of the way he handled the tomlin transition. i understand that his guy didn’t get the job, and he was upset about that, but c’mon, man. you get paid large sums of cash to shup up and play football, regardless of who the coach is. i don’t want to hear you whine about it. you are lucky to have played so long for this franchise (you could have been with the browns or lions or bengals), and you should just shut up and play. i was sad to see his talent go, but not so much his attitude. and i am definately happy that he is sitting at home combing his long red locks while the steelers are still playing. all he can do now is count his money. and look at his old ring that he got with his old team.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Jan 8, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Faneca started getting a little bit cocky there towards the end. It seemed like he always had to voice his concerns, instead of shutting up and blocking. He did`t like Ben playing right off the bat, did`t want Tomlin, was`t getting paid enough. Goodbye. Love what you did here Faneca, and the run game will struggle, but you sir are not worth that contract you got.

by SteelerDomination on Jan 8, 2009 7:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs