Offseason Timeline For Pittsburgh Steelers

by Michael Bean on Feb 3, 2009 7:35 AM EST

BTSC Super Bowl Coverage:

Celebration Thread
Initial Post Game Thoughts
The Drive
An Early Salute To The Free Agents
One Play Helps Define A Season
We The Fans Of Steelers Nation

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Don't get me wrong here, I'm nowhere near done reveling in the greatness of the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the franchise's sixth Lombardi Trophy, the most in league's history. Not just yet at least. More picture breakdowns including a closer look at what happened to our defense are on the horizon. As our a number of posts devoted to recapping the 2008 season, Mike Tomlin's second year in the Burgh.

That said, let's put on the table for all those who were curious the important NFL offseason dates leading up to the April 2009 Draft and then ultimately training camp back in Latrobe.

February 15: NFL signing period for CFL players under contract ends

February 22: Deadline for NFL teams to designate franchise and transition players

February 18-24: NFL Scouting Combine

February 27: Free Agency begins

March 1: NFL teams must be under salary cap

March 3: NFL trading and veteran free agent signing periods begin

April 15: NFL restricted free agent signing period ends

April 25-26: NFL Draft, New York

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22; Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary.

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If all y'all great pretty people out there don't mind, work together identifying what some of the more bizarre and unknown terms and deadlines are. Even better still, some analysis on the implications for this particular Steelers roster (both in terms of current roster and potential needs) would be tremendous.

As you can see, winning Super Bowls means that key offseason dates aren't that far off once the final snap is taken of the previous season. That's not such a bad thing, I know. I'll be weighing in with extensive analysis and commentary over the course of the next weeks and months, but I'll throw it open to you all for now.

Unlike last offseason, when BTSC was fortunate enough to enjoy the amazing services of cgolden (who has done a fantastic job with the Arizona Cardinals blog), it sure would be swell if the site could get some contributions from readers like you (ha, just like a PBS ad!). I'm thinking perhaps the following for now:

A) List of available free agents around the league by position - or at least at the positions we all deem most important to this roster.

B) Draft materials - perhaps a bunch of scouting reports, videos, whatever we can get our hands on, over the course of the next few months. Not sure just yet how we'll organize this, but throw your name in the hat if you think you might be interested in participating. Hopefully we'll get a decent number of at least part-time help and I'll be sure to have a raffle or something as a token of my gratitude for any assistance.

Discuss.

Poll

The Pittsburgh Steelers will keep which of the following combinations of free agent starting offensive linemen

Willie Colon only

24 votes

Max Starks only

51 votes

Marvel Smith only

12 votes

All three

35 votes

Starks and Colon

154 votes

Starks and Smith

66 votes

Colon and Smith

38 votes

None

15 votes

395 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Starks, Colon and Kemo

I think that Starks, Colon and Kemo will be back. Smith is done. I wouldn’t be surprised to Marvel Smith retire after this season; he has serious back problems. I am 100% sure that the Steelers won’t go after him hard.

Colon, although I seriously want to kill the guy sometimes, his biggest problems are mental. His 1 – 2 penalties per game are his biggest problem, and if he can ever get over those false start & holding calls, then he could be okay.

by PaulMorel on Feb 3, 2009 10:34 AM EST reply actions

i dont think he can cut it at T really

I mean he can be serviceable, as we’ve seen. But I think he’d be better at Guard. We should try him there if we’re going to keep him and cut kendall simmons. Save a lot of cap room that way too.

by Michael Bean on Feb 3, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

False starts, holding, not being on the LOS, hands to the face, shitting his pants

The list goes on and on.

I posted below. But we could also go:

Draft pick, Kemo, Hartwig, Stapler, Starks.

by Mechem on Feb 3, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

In a perfect world....

Starks and Smith.

And here is what happens:
Starks goes back to RT where he was for SBXL and where he played great.
Smith goes back to LT and hopefully doesnt die again this year.

Tony HIlls provides backup for Smith. Starks never misses a game so he’ll be fine.

We keep the Stapler and Hartwig. Stapler played well in the middle but soso down the stretch but time will help.

Draft us a glory guard either left or right and see what we get.

Kemo pisses me off with his retarded personal fouls and his constant on the line fall downs and whiffs with goal to go.

by Mechem on Feb 3, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions

Starks and Colon

I think they’ll give Starks starter money. Colon should be cheap, and I think we need to draft a new OT, but we won a SB with Colon at RT. He may not get better next year, but I’m sure he won’t get worse. And, we just can’t go into a season with no experienced tackle on either side of the line.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 3, 2009 5:50 PM EST reply actions