Steelers Prove They're Serious About Winning Now By Re-Signing Casey Hampton
by Michael Bean on Feb 25, 2010 4:37 PM EST
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PrintFor the past several years, I've felt and written that the Pittsburgh Steelers peak window for competing for Lombardi Trophys would be in 2010-2012. In 2008, the Steelers wowed us with their remarkable run to Super Bowl win number six, but considering how the offense performed for most of the season, I think most of us realize that the Steelers were fairly fortunate to win one for the other thumb in 2008.
I thought the team would be better than they were in 2009, but injuries to key stalwarts on defense and the inexperience of many of the young players thrust into action played a role in the team's struggles. There was however important progress made and experience gained last season. The offensive line was better, Rashard Mendenhall proved he can be a workhorse 1,200+ yard type of 'back, Big Ben (for most of the season at least) played like a quarterback that was really 'getting' it in terms of understanding what NFL defenses try to do to confuse opposing offenses.
Still, I felt like 2010 and 2011 were really the years that the Steelers would peak. Big Ben would be a full fledged veteran who had seen just about everything a defense can throw at him; Hines Ward would still be able to contribute while Santonio Holmes would be an established, legit #1 option; Woodley and Timmons would no longer be 'young' guys learning the ropes; the offensive line would presumably get a bit better; etc etc.
To me though, the team needed to retain the big man in the trenches who's responsible for so much of what happens at the point of attack. Casey Hampton is that good in my estimation and well worth every dollar he commands for his ability to disrupt the running game. Sure he may not be an every down player anymore, but he's not at all 'over the hill' in terms of his core strength and ability to occupy space effectively and consistently.
The terms of Hampton's deal are reportedly 3 years and $21 million dollars, $11 of which is guaranteed. To me, this appears to be an extremely fair deal for both parties. Make no mistake about it though, Hampton could have made more somewhere else. I think that will become evident when we see what kind of contract Vince Wilfork eventually gets in New England or elsewhere. I guarantee you it will be for more total dollars and more guaranteed money. And no, Wilfork is not better than Hampton now. In fact, I don't think he's ever been as good as Big Snack.
To conclude for now, I found it interesting in Kevin Colbert's press conference from the Combine that he mentioned Hampton's leadership qualities and status in the locker room. Nose tackles don't often get much airtime or feature articles in the media, but remember the ESPN The Magazine article about the Steelers defense around the Super Bowl last year? Take a read and a look at the complimentary video feature about the unit. There's Big Snack front and center.
I was growing up in Austin, Texas when Hampton was dominating for the Longhorns at the University of Texas. I remember reading and hearing about how Hampton could bench press over 450 pounds when he was just a sophomore. He was the strongest guy on the squad when he walked onto the campus as a freshmen, and that reality didn't change until he'd graduate and move onto the NFL.
The Steelers identified Hampton's uniquely rare gift of being huge but not fat. I've been told by scouts that this combination is one of the primary things teams look for in their interior linemen on both offense and defense. Hampton is just that. A true beast in the middle. And though his absolute best days are behind him, he's still very much capable of anchoring the Steelers defensive line for another couple of years.
Because I think the team is in great, great shape to make a run at Lombardi Trophies number seven and eight this next two to three years, I couldn't be more excited that the Steelers were able to get a deal done with what's been one of the most integral cogs of their defense for the past decade.
Go Steelers!
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hampton
is the man. not gonna mention what we need now. lol !!!!!
by steelersfamily7@aol.com on Feb 25, 2010 4:40 PM EST reply actions
corners wouldn't hurt
;)
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 25, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
Great write up Blitz
as usual.
This buys us some time before we really have to draft a NT, plus it allows us to see what we have in Sonny Harris and the Steve McClendon.
HOpefully we can give Casey at least one more ring on those fingers.
Steelers football is 60 mins.
couldnʻt of said it better
this is a big deal, and I am a little ashamed for doubting colbert for a minute there. Nice price, for a key component to the D.
Love it
This signing plays well on the field, but like Blitz wrote, it will also play well in the locker room. I really believe that chemistry matters in football, and with Hampton back in the mix and Polamalu and Aaron Smith returning, the D should get a lot of it’s mojo back…
Golf is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport.
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Feb 25, 2010 5:00 PM EST reply actions
Wilfork
Vince Wilfork will get more money than Hampton because he’s better right now and 4 years younger. Even if you want to make the argument that he’s not better, Wilfork will be more productive over the next 3-5 years because he’s only now reaching his prime. If Hampton wasn’t a good bet to get a lot worse in the next 3-5 years, he’d have gotten more money too.
Hampton might have gotten a bit more elsewhere, but nothing like what you’re going to see Wilfork get in the next few weeks.
charity standing orders
some good points
thought wilfork was only 2 or 3 years younger. interested to see what he gets paid
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
by Michael Bean on Feb 25, 2010 5:56 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks Blitz
I really appreciate that you point to his leadership and presence in the locker room, those are the intangibles. I really hadn’t been thinking what a positive impact he is, but only what a negative impact he might be if unhappy at being franchised.
Another example of Colbert and FO taking care…I think everyone can be happy….right?
Works for me
I may be old but I... oh d*mn, I forgot what I was going to say.
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 25, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
linebackers!!!!!!!!
mcclain would be super pick, i also wouldn’t mind having brandon spikes in steeler uniform.
Congrats to the Big Snack and to us fans too i guess...
I’m just glad that we locked him up and that he is probably gonna retire a Steeler.
Great Post Blitz
Coming off a pro-bowl year, he’s showing he can still perform at a high level. This was a great move. Figure they grab his eventual replacement in the draft this year or next while not being under pressure to do so, and let him learn as the backup for a bit. That pattern works well with so many other players in recent years.
My sentiments exactly
Casey still has some great football in him and I’m glad it’ll be played in Pittsburgh. He’s truly a team leader as well as being an immovable object on the defensive line. One of the greatest Steelers ever I think.
Good move also to keep Reed
As long as he keeps making the clutch kicks, it’s OK with me if he gets a little crazy off the field.
Agreed.
Who HASN’T had some drunken misadventures in a Sheetz? I know I have, in multiple counties.
the dude abides.
Remind me
not to take a convenience store tour with you : )
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Feb 25, 2010 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
no brainer
Hey, I said before last season that Big Snack would be resigned for 2-3 years over next 12 months. Right again. (ha ha) Play 50-60% of the snaps, Big Snack can be HIGHLY effective for at least 2 more years.
Steelers goin’ to the Super Bowl !
OL, LB or S at #1 on draft day
You have to add
Aaron Smith to that list. His helmet never looks right either, but he kicks some serious ass.
ekl
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
getting greedy here . . . and the move would be out of steelers off season character . . .
. . . but it would be a good thing if they were able to sign dunta robinson . . . using ryan clark, deshea, maybe FWP money?? . . . it would allow them much more creativity with the draft as well . . . good to sign casey and the towel dispenser terror . . .
...and out of our price range.
Don Banks has a paragraph about Dunta wanting top dollar, and probably getting it because of no other options being out there.
I hear you, but it’s not going to happen.
yeah, every year i heard about some FA it would be cool to have, and every year i have to remind myself that the Steelers don’t run things like that. Far be it from me to argue with a franchise that has six superbowls.
usually we do sign one of two cheap FAs, any ideas on who those will be? veterans, not he training camp bodies we sign every offseason
the dude abides.
oh . . . i know i was fantasizing . . . there's no tooth fairy either??
i really don’t see any FA’S out their that the steelers actually need at the moment . . . my guess is they will sit it out for a while then see what’s left after all the initial bidding/signing is done . . . i don’t see then signing anyone prior to the draft . . . then they may sign one or two mid-level FA’s to add depth . . .
Great first step
towards another championship run. Would be nice if we resigned all of our FA’s and then make the usual additions of mid level FA’s, draftees and UDFA’s, lie in the weeds until September. And then let the beatings begin.
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Feb 25, 2010 8:45 PM EST reply actions
Well if we are keeping Hampton I guess we aren’t drafting Tebow to replace him.
I was hoping he’d be cheaper for three years than 7 mill a year, but he deserves what he’s getting.
I haven’t seen full numbers anywhere, but I’ve heard $6.5M “signing bonus” and $11M “guaranteed”. I don’t know if that extra $4.5M of guarateed money is his 2010 salary or what, but I’m sure his 2012 salary is the biggest figure in the deal and we probably won’t have to pay that one unless he’s really aging well. The franchise tag was going to be $7M for 1 year, so I don’t see how paying him $14M over 2 is really that much worse.
charity standing orders
It all depends on
whether the contract is back loaded or not….. at this point I haven’t seen anything about that.
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 26, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Love it
finally back on the board after a couple of months, I was delighted to see they had signed the Snack and tagged Skippy. I can’t wait for the draft in April, I really hope they make this secondary faster and younger. The D line is looking good with Keisel, Snack and Aaron Smith coming back along with Ziggy rotating in. I am wondering if they still are interested in re signing Ryan Clark. Really eager to see who they draft this April.
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Feb 26, 2010 5:35 AM EST reply actions
welcome back sarge
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
by Michael Bean on Feb 26, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks Blitz!
Finally got good internet out here, be back home next weekend, being unable to stay in tune with what was going on with the Steelers during the offseason was killing me! I read today they are trying to resign Ryan Clark, and he is all but willing to give them a hometown discount…
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Feb 26, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
The CBA
It means more to the Steelers than a lot of other teams precisely because of what is written above. It would be TRAGIC for the Steelers to lose a year of football in the midst of their peak.
Twelve angry men
At the risk of being the lone dissenting voice, I don’t like this signing. There are multiple posts above about how Hampton will still be productive this year, even though his play has slipped somewhat in recent years. Well, to that I say: the franchise tag keeps him with the Steelers next year anyway. Why guarantee him money beyond that? Next year may be the year his play declines significantly. Even if it is the year after, you have guaranteed him money in that year and the following.
It is better to let players walk before they hit the wall then have them under contract after that point. I would point to Farrior and Aaron Smith as examples (Farrior is slow as molasses now and Aaron Smith, although playing well when healthy, has missed large chunks of two of the past three seasons). You tie up money in those guys who are declining, and you must let guys like McFadden walk. Ask William Gay how that worked out.
Still, the money is very reasonable, so if Hampton performs at a high level for the next two years before tailing off I’d say it worked out. Here’s hoping he proves me wrong.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Feb 26, 2010 9:12 AM EST reply actions
but but but
Steelers offered BMac fair money ($4MM per) and he was no difference maker for the Cards – Gay was ready (on paper) but failed on the field.
A Smith is key to D’s success – played pretty soft D down the stretch in ’07 and ’09 with him on the shelf. Arguably, the fact he only played 8-9 games in those 2 years combined means he MIGHT have 2+ years of good football left in him …
$12-14MM for 2 years of Big Snack is fair and his play has been steady – very important position in the 3/4 with no replacement on the roster … you gotta sign him
Farrior was great up until last season & now he will be replaced (just as Foote was last year) …
See you in Dallas !!
Ahmen on the signing of Casey. Big step to end up in Dallas on Feb 6th , 2011!!!
It would be
so awesome to win a SB on their home field!
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 26, 2010 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
Good deal for everyone
Snack was deserving of this. You keep the leadership of the team happy and they stay for less than market price……that’s one of the big keys to staying competitive in the cap system. Faneca left because the money became more important than the Steelers – and nothing against him….careers are short and you need to get all the smack you can. I do enjoy it though when you get cornerstone players who stay with the Steelers and play for a bit less (same situation as Harrison last year)……makes us as fans just that much more loyal to that particular player. Not that Snack won’t be very well compensated, but good for us and good for him too. I remember everyone jumping on his case in Latrobe two summers ago for the weight gain, but he handled it like a man and came in good shape last year (for Casey). It should be noted also that there were some kind of personal problems there that were in some part responsible for the weight gain. Anyway – welcome back Snack – and great post Blitz!
You sometimes get what you NEED!
I am glad that we’ve kept the “snackman” in place. It gives us the opportunity to not have to burn a draft pick in this years draft to fill that hole. I would’ve made Reed tackle my ten year daughter before taggin’ him, lol. Draft smart, draft big, tell Troy not to kill himself on every play. Win in Dallas, in February.
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