Steelers brought in Nickey and Hartwig

by maryrose on Mar 15, 2008 2:19 PM EDT

The Steelers are apparently not done with free agency considerations as they invited to the South Side Donnie Nickey and Justin Hartwig

Nickey has been a special teams standout for the Titans, making 15 tackles last season, That's alot and it's just what we need. He's back-up defensive back.

He is another Keyaron Fox. I really like this guy. I really like the idea of a whole new injection of energy into special teams coverage. He's from my area (Akron) and went to Ohio State and was a star helping them upset Miami and Kellon Winslow (thought I'd throw that in there)for the National Championship. He's a gamer, the first guy down the field looking for prey.

Hartwig started all last season at center for the Panthers. He was good enough two years ago to be signed as a free agent for $17M for five years. In his first year with the panthers he missed most of it with a groin injury that eventually required surgery. Then last year the Panthers drafted Ryan Kalil in the second round from Southern Cal.

The plan this year was for Kalil to move into the center spot, understandable due to his high draft and expectation. Hartwig was asked to move to guard. He does not want to play guard so both parties agreed to go separate ways earlier this week.

I'm feeling mixed about him. On one hand there was something about him that signed a pretty good deal two years ago. On the other hand the Panthers drafted a center in the second round, obviously not head over heels.

The bad news is that he might not be Jeff Hartings. The good news is that he might not be Sean Mahan.

We'll see.

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Thanks Maryrose

I cruised by the site a few minutes ago and saw nothing about Hartwig and Nickey, a bit unusual for this crew, and thought I might submit something even though I don't know much about either. Based upon your info I find something encouraging about both these players. I'm particularly intrigued about Nickey for special teams purposes. Also because I heard Wilson just signed with the Bucs. As for Hartwig. There is one scenario that might explain why they parted ways with him that might not be so worrisome. Maybe the pick of the other lineman was a best athlete available situation. If so then Hartwig becomes expendable for a reason separate from performance.

by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Mar 15, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

I don't want to get excited prematurely

But this potential does excite me.

Special teams play is like your health. You don't pay any attention to it until something goes bad, then you pay real serious attention.

For many years the signing of a Keyaron Fox or Donnie Nickey just wouldn't excite me, because I'd figure they were just backups who would fit into the salary puzzle but never really help us.

But after last year watching Jones-Drew run right toward me at Heinz Field taking the life out of the crowd, and remembering Josh Cribbs, Leon Washington and Steve Breaston, guys like Fox and Nickey would be players that would not just be back-ups, but special teams improvements.

I really can't say I know anything about Hartwig's talent, but again, after watching Sean Mahan last year I'd be exited at just about anything at the center position.

Stay tuned.

by maryrose on Mar 15, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

Promising news

Hartwig was injured his first year in Carolina and required surgery, so the Panthers wouldn't have seen much to convince them he wasn't good enough at center. Maybe health concerns about him played the biggest part in drafting Kalil, in addition to Hartwig being able to play other line positions.

More promising to me is that the Steelers are interviewing a guy who won't be really cheap. They must still have some money to spend if the right guy is available. If Hartwig is the right guy, they might decide a veteran starting center is a better value than re-signing Starks. Hard to see how they could afford both.

by steeler lifer on Mar 15, 2008 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

To put a reference on it

Hartwig grades at 65 according to Scouts Inc. Eugene Wilson grades at 63, Jevon Kearse at 65, same as Muhsin Muhammad and damien Woody, who the Jets paid big bucks for. Ryan Lilja re-signed with the Colts to be a starting lineman to protect Peyton, and gredaes at 66. Rex Hadnot came in at 68 and he got a pretty penny from the browns. So, maybe hartwig isn't too bad.

Nickey grades at 49, but he is clearly not a starter, which we don't care about. We want those 15 special team's tackles. That's one per game. Wow. Add that to Fox and we might be getting somewhere. And then Mewelde!!

by maryrose on Mar 15, 2008 6:07 PM EDT reply actions