Who will be Franchised

by belvalle55 on Feb 17, 2009 11:27 PM EST Comment 20 comments

There has been no word about progress made with any Steelers unrestricted free agents. Do we franchise a left tackle, Max Starks, or risk losing 3 left tackles, Starks, Smith, and Essex? We could also lose Chris Kemoeatu. Do we franchise Bryant McFadden or risk losing our starting CB. Gay may be able to take over but Townsend is getting long in the tooth. Nate Washington will be hard to replace. He has stretched the field and opened up the medium passing game.

The clock is ticking. The deadline is up Thurday afternoon.

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It would be nice if

we could keep Starks and McFadden. Nate is good as gone. I just think it would such a shame to let Bmac walk. He is in his prime and has potential to be elite. Gay seems more than capable though considering how much he played last season.

by SteelerDomination on Feb 18, 2009 3:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

it’s a little over 9 million per year to franchise a cornerback; and a little under 9 million per year to franchise an o lineman. I don’t see the front office using that chunk of money on either of them, but ya never know I guess.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 18, 2009 6:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Neither

I don’t think the Steelers will use the franchise this year. CBs are too expensive and the others aren’t worth it. As for Starks, I think it costs even more to franchise a player two years in a row.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Feb 18, 2009 8:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. The tag on starks was uncharacteristic. The steelers will get back on track this year with contracts.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 18, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BMAC

We have to keep this guy. Don’t franchise him because its too expensive but if it cost 9 mil/year to franchise, they should at least offer him 5 mil/year. It should be enough to make him be OK with staying instead of leaving to a season of losing for 4 mil more dollars. But then again think about what you can do for 4 million. I don’t think you use the franchise this year. If you had to, I’d say use it on BMac but I think we can keep him for cheaper. I’m Ok with letting Nate go if he wants the money. Sweed can be a good 3rd guy with Dallas Baker pushing him. We can make a deal to the linemen, I don’t think we lose all of them, that rarely happens.

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 18, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd go to a losing franchise for an extra 4 million

But nobody is going to give McFadden 9 million. The question is would he leave the Steelers for, say, an extra million per year, and how many years, and how big of a signing bonus.

by worldtrip on Feb 18, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know New England's situation

But he is the type of pick up they have been known to make.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Feb 18, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, but Nate doesn't need the money.....

Why should I change my name? He's the one that sucks!

by NoCal-SteelCity on Feb 18, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would doubt his agent would agree...

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 18, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His agent doesn't need the money

either. lol

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Feb 19, 2009 8:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You people are killing me

by worldtrip on Feb 18, 2009 9:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait until we intercept the ball 30 times next year.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 19, 2009 7:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bruce Arians

Oh… wait… he’s a coach. And no one wants him.

I guess no one then…

Seriously, the only guy who may be looking at a Franchise tag — next year — is Deebo if they can’t get a contract worked out this year. I don’t think we’re willing to pay Franchise money to any of our FAs this year…

by MarkJoel66 on Feb 18, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nate will NOT be hard to replace.....

…although I’d like to see him stick around.

His hands, and his ability to adjust on the ball are suspect, to say the least.

No question he can get open deep…..and no question he improved greatly last year….
but the key isn’t getting open…..it’s going after the ball against a defender and holding on to it.

I’d really like to keep BMAC, but – as they say in the Castro – Gay is good. And since the key to what you spend is VORP, I’m not sure you absolutely, positively have to break the bank to keep BMAC if his value over the replacement player – William Gay – is minimal. That’s a decision for the front office to make. But it seems the choice is to try like hell to sign BMAC, but don’t franchise him. The money can be better spent elsewhere, like in the trenches.

Remember, they didn’t break the bank to keep Peezy, because Silverback was the replacement.

I imagine they’ll have to do something to hold on to some of their linemen, but we’ve heard very little about Tony Hills, other than the usual that he’s healed from his injury, etc; etc; And no doubt, draft day will be OL day for the Black and Gold.

But I agree with MarkJoel that nobody on your list is worth the franchise tag this year.

by Homer J. on Feb 18, 2009 10:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No more BMAC - Whoppers' better..

I said it a number of times, so I will say it again…. on this post…

PLEASE DO NOT WASTE ANY MONEY ON BMAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stating My case: SuperBowl Sunday & BMAC

If for some reason you missed it, the reason ABolden got the ball inside our 5yrd line was BMAC. Fitz runs a crossing route, and ABolden runs a slant in, with a cut to the outside. BMAC covering ABolden and is watching Ike cover Fitz, BMAC is so focused on Fitz that he misses ABoldens cut to the outside, so when he turns(obviously watchin Warner, cuz Warner aint throwin to Fitz) ABolden already has a good 10 yard sepration and an easy catch. If BMAC is playin ABolden then maybe pick plus six or ABolden catch for short yardage, not the big catch and run to inside the 10yrd line.. We all know what happened after that jump ball to Fitz (touchdown)..

Dont get me wrong, he is a good/above average DB, with upside, but not worth all the money we would have to spend to keep him. Plus his attitude has been sketchy at times, got that entitlement ring to it..

I am still convinced WGAY can do an above average job, especially with the tutoledge of TOMLIN..

Buy us a new DE with the money, some young studd, hell trade BMAC for a better draft pick, like in MaddenNFL…

Go Steelers

by BigDaddyTat2boy on Feb 18, 2009 2:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

To trade him the Steelers would have to sign him first.

To pick one play for the year and say this is why they should get rid of him is absurd. He is a very good corner. The Steelers won’t overpay, but they should definitely make him a fair offer for a starting corner who is not yet elite.

I know everyone says Gay can replace McFadden without a significant dropoff, and that may or may not be true. But where there is a big drop off is when the third or fourth corner needs to come into the game when the other team goes 3 and 4 wide. Who is the replacement of Gay? And what about injuries? You need to try to maintain depth.

Again, make him a fair offer. If someone else overpays then he goes, I won’t argue that. But he is worth paying good money. He’s earned it.

by worldtrip on Feb 18, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd Rather

See us spend the money on Jordan Gross than franchise anyone. But I think we can get deals done. Plus, we could trade some picks for O-lineman.

by gimpsta7 on Feb 18, 2009 5:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No one is worth the franchise tag this year. Every free agent we have can be replaced.

by archon095 on Feb 18, 2009 10:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I say we

resign Bmac and Washington.

I tend to look at the intangibles though.

Bmac seemed to really enjoy being part of the defense. I mean, watch espn photo shoot video of the defense. Plus his injuries should help keep his cost down and he’s only been a starter for one year, and not a full year at that. However, his agent is Rosenhouse, so thats a bad sign right there.

Nate, whom everyone else seems to think is gone, has a good chance of staying. First, he was undrafted and picked up by the Steelers so he may have some comfort with them because of that. He has already stated that he wants to remain a Steeler and would hate to start all over in another offense. I don’t see him reaching for big money either, I can’t explain why, but I don’t see it. But I’m an optimist and Nates one of my favorites so I may be blind.

The O-line I have no idea about. I’d prefer to make Starks the priority. Starks may be willing to sign for less then we expect because think about it, he earned a hell of a lot last year. Kemo…..hmmmmm…this article http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09049/949849-66.stm raises eyebrows because of some of his agents words…….cough “one of the better guards out there.” He has potential but hes far from being “one of the better guards.” If his agent expects a lot then let him go. Colon…..well, I don’t know.

by shleeve on Feb 18, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Colon

Please either just sign him for dirt cheap and move him inside as a backup, or don`t sign him at all. I`m convinced he`s playing out of position at RT.

by SteelerDomination on Feb 19, 2009 2:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs