Steelers' Essex and Kemoeatu Sign Tenders

by Michael Bean on Mar 18, 2008 3:56 PM EDT in News

Offensive linemen Trai Essex and Chris Kemoeatu have signed the one-year tenders offered to them recently. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. We've been over it before, Essex and Kemoeatu should provide solid competition to the training camp battles in the trenches, regardless of what direction the Steelers go with Max Starks and in the Draft. Essex, terrible in the running game, is better suited in pass protection, so he might actually surprise a few people if given the chance. I thought he played very well in the playoff game against Jacksonville.

Is Essex the (short-term) answer at Tackle? Photo credit: Steelers.com

Kemoeatu will be in the mix for playing time at a guard spot. The team seems to have faith in him, regardless of how little he's shown in his still-short career. I'd hardly call this a development, as we figured they'd be around when we offered them the one-year tenders in late February. What's not yet clear is whether other teams showed much interest in the two. I suppose that information will eventually become available.

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as far as Kemo

this is very interesting. there were talks we were looking to sign a long-term deal. obviously this fell thru so most likely he wanted a bigger deal than we felt he was worth, or some combination of this and we know we are going to be drafting a guard. i don't like having players on one-year tenders though. i guess at this point a deal can still be signed but it makes it more likely Kemo will be gone after this year, either he'll have a solid year and someone else will overpay him, or he won't and we'll let him go. he would only sign this if he felt the deal we offered didn't offer enough of a premium over the one-year tender, and he feels he can prove he's worth more.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Mar 18, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

financial terms.

Kemoeatu signed for $1,141,7000, and Essex signed for $927,000.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Mar 18, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

I think Blitz was there for the signing

That was the fastest post I've ever seen. I think Mrs. Kemo heard about the signing on BTSC...Seriously, those numbers aren't too bad for a year...Since they were so close to the cap, it makes me wonder if they already yanked the Starks deal off the table to clear some room.

by maryrose on Mar 18, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

i got the numbers

from the Tribune-Review, but also, i don't know why Steelers.com said terms were disclosed, when we offered the tenders it was made public exactly how much is for, as each tender amount carries a different draft-pick signing price (if another team signs we get a certain round pick). Kemo had the 1.4 Tender (as did Nate Washington), and Essex had the 927K tender. Anyways with these two signing, might mean we are still working on a longer-deal for Nate, and yes, something must be happening with Starks, although I believe when we offered these tenders they already count against the cap until they are either signed or a different long-term deal is signed. For example, Starks tag already counts as 6+ mil against our cap, even though most likely we'll sign him to an entirely different deal with a different cap hit.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Mar 18, 2008 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Did Cap Guy leave the country?

We should have thay guy on retainer to update when each transaction occurs. I for one will chip in.

by maryrose on Mar 18, 2008 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

There's been a Cap Guy Siting

I checked his website and he updated everything! Thanks Cap Guy.

by maryrose on Mar 18, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

looked it over

when we offer the tenders, they count against our cap basically. so these two signing the deals today had no change in our cap. our cap is pretty much used up after the Moore and Fox signings. once Starks gets a deal we should have a few million more in cap space.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Mar 18, 2008 5:53 PM EDT reply actions