It Wasn't About the Money

Many of those who read our musings arrive after having clicked over from Pro Football Talk, for you this may be something of which you are already aware.

For those of you who arrive here via some other twisty-turny path, the folks at the aforementioned website are reporting that the difference between what the Steelers offered their free agent guard and what he got from the Jets amounted to "only $1 million less over the first three years."

Free Agency Roundup

With the reported signing of Ben Roethlisberger to a contract extension, it seems that now is an appropriate time to review what was a hectic weekend in NFL free agency. More specifically, we will take a look at the Steelers and their AFC North cohorts in an effort to figure out just what it all means.

Let's begin with the good news. Ben Roethlisberger's eight year contract extension, signed one day after his twenty-sixth birthday, ensures that he will remain with the Steelers through his most productive seasons. The $21,000,000 signing bonus (part of the $36,000,000 guaranteed) provides the team with some much needed cap relief (which became even more important last week -- according to an SI.com report the Steelers lost nearly $2,000,000 in cap space as the result of an NFL cap adjustment). The exact amount of cap space to be saved is still a matter of some number crunching, but the $2,950,000 roster bonus that Mr. Roethlisberger was due is now part of a signing bonus and can be amortized over the life of the contract.

The bad news, of course, is the departure of Alan Faneca to the New York Jets. There is no doubt that the loss of the Pro Bowl guard will hurt the Steelers however (and stay with me on this) the positive impact he will have with the Jets (taking his spot between Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson) exceeds the loss that the Steelers are likely to feel. Even with Mr. Faneca the Steelers' offensive line showed a decline last season, and it is unlikely that that trend would have been reversed had he stayed. And while we try not to engage in sour grapes criticism of departing Steelers, a quote from Mr. Faneca's agent to the effect that his client wanted to go to the Jets because of his high regard for Jets assistant head coach Bill Callahan . . . well, let's just say that sounds pretty ridiculous.

Finally there's that team just across the Ohio border. After trading for Shaun Rodgers and Corey Williams at least one of our favorite publications has pronounced the Browns as the team to beat in the AFC North. In addition they also added Donte Stallworth during their shopping spree this past weekend. There's no doubt that, on paper, these acquisitions make the Browns a better team, but let's remember that this is the same team that has signed more than 20 free agents over the last three years (including Ken Dorsey, Ted Washington, and LeCharles Bentley). They've addressed wide receiver repeatedly -- is there something wrong with Joe Jurevicius? -- and Mr. Stallworth has as many detractors as advocates (as do Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Williams). To top it all off the Browns now have no picks in the first three rounds of upcoming NFL draft. It seems that the Browns are taking a "win now" approach, and one has to question the advisability of a 10 win team, with a young (albeit talented) quarterback, employing such a strategy. If the Browns perform well then Phil Savage may be the Executive of the Year but if not . . . he may have mortgaged the short-term future of the franchise.

The first weekend of free agency was busy and noteworthy, with the Steelers doing what they do (i.e. wishing veterans well as they move to new environs) while their rivals in the division continue to scramble in an effort to catch our favorite team.

Kevin Colbert Loves Chris Long

ESPN.com has a brief article about Steelers' General Manager Kevin Colbert and the NFL Combine; and amongst other things Mr. Colbert reveals that Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long is "as NFL ready as you can find for the 3-4 [defensive scheme]."

There's also some tidbits are who will be leading the questioning of players during the interview phase of the combine (Thursday evening), and the team's use of a psychologist.

Meanwhile, at Pro Football Weekly, the suddenly loquacious Mr. Colbert confirmed what everyone has known for about . . . four months -- Alan Faneca is on his way out of town:

"We’ve talked to Alan previous to the season, we’ve talked to Alan recently, and the natural question, I think, would be, ‘Well, why didn’t you tag Alan, and you tagged Max Starks?’ . . . [i]n talking with Alan and talking with Alan’s representatives, he’s probably going to get significant money on the open market, and it’s probably money that we’re not going to be able to absorb. And if we did absorb it, (it) might limit what else we can do in free agency.”

Before anyone gets too excited, the amount of cap space being saved calculates out to just under $600,000.

Clark Haggans Moving On?

"He had a good run, won a Super Bowl, enjoyed the people, the fans. He loved being a part of the old Steelers."

"[O]ld Steelers"?

So says Jeff Sperbeck, the agent for linebacker Clark Haggans, in an article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

This item underscores just what a tumultuous offseason the Steelers face. Because while much of the free agency hand-wringing attention has focused on Alan Faneca but the Steelers' also have to be concerned about re-signing unrestricted free agents Max Starks and Travis Kirschke as well as restricted free agents Nate Washington (who had five touchdown receptions, three behind leader Santonio Holmes, and two behind Hines Ward and Heath Miller), Chris Kemoeatu and Trai Essex (at least one of whom is likely to replace a starting offensive lineman).

So not only are the Steelers almost certainly going to lose a Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman (please, enjoy Arizona) but they will also be losing a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker, and lots of depth in the trenches.

And of course next season they play seven playoff teams -- sounds like fun, doesn't it?

The Upcoming Season -- Free Agent Season, That Is

The Yahoo! Sports Group AmCapNFL is comprised of individuals who enjoy calculating salary caps for NFL teams, just for fun.

Geeky though it may seem, these folks come up with great information -- some of which Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic uses, all of which is appreciated.

One of the members of the group, "ninerscapinformation," has come up with his rankings for the 2008 class of free agents. The list is a long one, but with no Steelers game this weekend you've got nothing but time.

Of interest to Steelers fans -- beyond the names of Dan Kreider, Alan Faneca, Max Starks, and Travis Kirschke as unrestricted free agents -- is the availability of T.J. Duckett. The Steelers made a serious play for him last offseason, and their struggles this season running inside underscored their need for a bruising back.

Complicating any free agency talk is the possibility that the collective bargaining agreement may have to be renegotiated.

Note: "RFA" indicates a Restricted Free Agent, while "UFA" indicates an unrestricted free agent"

Quarterbacks
1 Derek Anderson QB Cleveland Browns RFA
2 Josh McCown QB Oakland Raiders UFA
3 Cleo Lemon QB Miami Dolphins UFA
4 Daunte Culpepper QB Oakland Raiders UFA
5 Rex Grossman QB Chicago Bears UFA
6 Quinn Gray QB Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
7 Todd Collins QB Washington Redskins UFA
8 Shaun Hill QB San Francisco 49ers UFA
9 Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Cincinnati Bengals RFA
10 Jared Lorenzen QB New York Giants UFA
11 Ken Dorsey QB Cleveland Browns UFA
12 Vinny Testaverde QB Carolina Panthers UFA
13 Chris Redman QB Atlanta Falcons UFA
14 Billy Volek QB San Diego Chargers UFA
15 Tim Rattay QB Arizona Cardinals UFA

Running Backs
1 Michael Turner RB San Diego Chargers UFA
2 Julius Jones RB Dallas Cowboys UFA
3 Justin Fargas RB Oakland Raiders UFA
4 Jesse Chatman RB Miami Dolphins UFA
5 Jamal Lewis RB Cleveland Browns UFA
6 Chris Brown RB Tennessee Titans UFA
7 T.J. Duckett RB Detroit Lions UFA
8 Musa Smith RB Baltimore Ravens UFA
9 Vernand Morency RB Green Bay Packers UFA
10 Michael Bennett RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
11 Mewelde Moore RB Minnesota Vikings UFA
12 Maurice Hicks RB San Francisco 49ers UFA
13 Travis Minor RB St. Louis Rams UFA
14 LaBrandon Toefield RB Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
15 Derrick Ward RB New York Giants UFA
16 Aaron Stecker RB New Orleans Saints UFA

Fullback
1 Mike Alstott FB Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
2 Tony Richardson FB Minnesota Vikings UFA
3 Brad Hoover FB Carolina Panthers UFA
4 Cecil Sapp FB Denver Broncos UFA
5 Dan Kreider FB Pittsburgh Steelers UFA
6 Sean McHugh FB/TE Detroit Lions UFA
7 Leonard Weaver FB Seattle Seahawks RFA
8 Nehimiah Broughton FB Washington Redskins RFA
9 Zach Crockett FB Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
10 Casey Cramer FB Tennessee Titans UFA
11 Jon Bradley FB Detroit Lions UFA
12 Thomas Tapeh FB Philadelphia Eagles UFA

Wide Receiver
1 Randy Moss WR New England Patriots UFA
2 Bernard Berrian WR Chicago Bears UFA
3 Bryant Johnson WR Arizona Cardinals UFA
4 Patrick Crayton WR Dallas Cowboys UFA
5 Drew Carter WR Carolina Panthers UFA
6 D.J. Hackett WR Seattle Seahawks UFA
7 Terrance Copper WR New Orleans Saints UFA
8 Devery Henderson WR New Orleans Saints UFA
9 Keary Colbert WR Carolina Panthers UFA
10 Ernest Wilford WR Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
11 Malcom Floyd WR San Diego Chargers RFA
12 Samie Parker WR Kansas City Chiefs UFA
13 Jabar Gaffney WR New England Patriots UFA
14 Jerome Mathis WR/KR Houston Texans RFA
15 David Patten WR New Orleans Saints UFA
16 Nate Washington WR Pittsburgh Steelers RFA
17 Keenan McCardell WR Washington Redskins UFA
18 Robert Ferguson WR Minnesota Vikings UFA
19 Aaron Moorehead WR Indianapolis Colts UFA
20 Devard Darling WR Baltimore Ravens UFA

Tight End
1 Dallas Clark TE Indianpolis Colts UFA
2 L.J. Smith TE Philadelphia Eagles UFA
3 Eric Johnson TE New Orleans Saints UFA
4 Ben Troupe TE Tennessee Titans UFA
5 Stephen Alexander TE Denver Broncos UFA
6 Marcus Pollard TE Seattle Seahawks UFA
7 Bryan Fletcher TE Indianapolis Colts RFA
8 Billy Bajema TE San Francisco 49ers RFA
9 John Gilmore TE Chicago Bears UFA
10 Kris Wilson TE Kansas City Chiefs UFA
11 Aaron Walker TE St. Louis Rams UFA
12 Ben Joppru TE Seattle Seahawks RFA
13 Dwayne Blakley TE Atlanta Falcons UFA
14 Billy Miller TE New Orleans Saints UFA
15 Jeramy Stevens TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
16 Christian Fauria TE Carolina Panthers UFA
17 Courtney Anderson TE Atlanta Falcons UFA
18 Keith Heinrich TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
19 Mark Bruener TE Houston Texans UFA
20 Nate Jackson TE Denver Broncos UFA

Center
1 Seth McKinney OC Cleveland Browns UFA
2 Andy McCollum OC St. Louis Rams UFA
3 Jeremy Newberry OC Oakland Raiders UFA
4 Alex Stepanovich OC Cincinnati Bengals UFA
5 Matt Lehr OC Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
6 Jason Whittle OC Buffalo Bills UFA
7 Wade Smith OC New York Jets UFA
8 Brett Romberg OC St. Louis Rams UFA
9 Rex Hadnot OC Miami Dolphins UFA
10 Mike Pucillo OC Washington Redskins UFA
11 Dylan Gandy OC Indianapolis Colts RFA
12 Geoff Hangartner OC Carolina Panthers RFA
13 Casey Wiegmann OC/LS Kansas City Chiefs UFA

Guard
1 Alan Faneca OG Pittsburgh Steelers UFA
2 Ruben Brown OG Chicago Bears UFA
3 Ryan Lija OG Indianapolis Colts UFA
4 Jake Scott OG Indianapolis Colts UFA
5 Justin Smiley OG San Francisco 49ers UFA
6 Chris Kemoeatu OG Pittsburgh Steelers RFA
7 Larry Allen OG San Francisco 49ers UFA
8 Keydrick Vincent OG Arizona Cardinals UFA
9 Adam Goldberg OG St. Louis Rams UFA
10 Rick DeMulling OG Washington Redskins UFA
11 Montrae Holland OG New Orleans Saints UFA
12 Chris Liwienski OG Miami Dolphins UFA
13 Fred Weary OG Houston Texans UFA
14 Elton Brown OG Arizona Cardinals RFA
15 Jason Brown OG Baltimore Ravens RFA
16 Tyson Walter OG Green Bay Packers UFA
17 Tyson Clabo OG Atlanta Falcons RFA
18 Stacey Andrews OG Cincinnati Bengals UFA
19 Stephen Peterman OG Detroit Lions UFA
20 Milford Brown OG St. Louis Rams UFA

Tackle
1 Max Starks OT Pittsburgh Steelers UFA
2 Floyd Womack OT/OG Seattle Seahawks UFA
3 Sean Locklear OT Seattle Seahawks UFA
4 Jordan Gross OT Carolina Panthers UFA
5 Trai Essex OT Pittsburgh Steelers RFA
6 Todd Steussie OT St. Louis Rams UFA
7 Nat Dorsey OT Cleveland Browns UFA
8 Travelle Wharton OT Carolina Panthers UFA
9 Flozell Adams OT Dallas Cowboys UFA
10 Jason Fabini OT Washington Redskins UFA
11 Kwame Harris OT San Francisco 49ers UFA
12 Stockar McDougle OT Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
13 Mike Rosenthal OT Miami Dolphins UFA
14 Ross Tucker OT Washington Redskins UFA
15 Adrian Jones OT New York Jets UFA
16 Chris Terry OT Kansas City Chiefs UFA
17 Brandon Gorin OT St. Louis Rams UFA
18 Cornell Green OT Oakland Raiders UFA
19 David Stewart OT Tennessee Titans RFA
20 Will Svitek OT Kansas City Chiefs RFA

Defensive End
1 Terrell Suggs DE/OLB Baltimore Ravens UFA
2 Justin Smith DE Cincinnati Bengals UFA
3 Tommy Kelly DE Oakland Raiders UFA
4 Jared Allen DE Kansas City Chiefs UFA
5 Mike Rucker DE Carolina Panthers UFA
6 Bobby McCray DE Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
7 Bryant Young DE San Francisco 49ers UFA
8 Marques Douglas DE San Francisco 49ers UFA
9 Travis LaBoy DE Tennessee Titans UFA
10 N.D. Kalu DE Houston Texans UFA
11 Antwan Odom DE Tennessee Titans UFA
12 Jimmy Wilkerson DE Kansas City Chiefs UFA
13 Darrion Scott DE Minnesota Vikings UFA
14 Renaldo Wynn DE New Orleans Saints UFA
15 Travis Kirschke DE Pittsburgh Steelers UFA
16 Josh Thomas DE Indianapolis Colts UFA
17 Corey Smith DE/OLB Detroit Lions UFA
18 Bryan Robinson DE Cincinnati Bengals UFA
19 Tony Hargrove DE Buffalo Bills UFA
20 Eric Hicks DE New York Jets UFA
21 Ebenezer Ekuban DE Denver Broncos UFA

Defensive Tackle
1 Albert Haynesworth DT Tennesse Titans UFA
2 Isaac Sopoaga DT San Francisco 49ers UFA
3 Randy Starks DT Tennessee Titans UFA
4 Brian Young DT New Orleans Saints UFA
5 Sam Adams DT Denver Broncos UFA
6 Ted Washington DT Cleveland Browns UFA
7 Spencer Johnson DT Minnesota Vikings UFA
8 Russell Davis DT New York Giants UFA
9 Chuck Darby DT Seattle Seahawks UFA
10 Corey Williams DT Green Bay Packers UFA
11 Damione Lewis DT Carolina Panthers UFA
12 Anthony Maddox DT Houston Texans UFA
13 Dan Klecko DT Indianapolis Colts UFA
14 Colin Cole DT Green Bay Packers UFA
15 Antonio Garay DT Chicago Bears UFA
16 Kimo von Oelhoffen DT Philadelphia Eagles UFA
17 Langston Moore DT Detroit Lions UFA
18 Cedric Killings DT Houston Texans UFA
19 Tim Anderson DT Atlanta Falcons UFA
20 Ian Scott DT Philadelphia Eagles UFA

Outside Linebacker
1 Lance Briggs OLB Chicago Bears UFA
2 Boss Bailey OLB Detroit Lions UFA
3 Demorrio Williams OLB Atlanta Falcons UFA
4 Tedy Bruschi OLB New England Patriots UFA
5 Shantee Orr OLB Houston Texans UFA
6 Sam Williams OLB Oakland Raiders UFA
7 Dhani Jones OLB Cincinnati Bengals UFA
8 Calvin Pace OLB Arizona Cardinals UFA
9 LeMarr Marshall OLB Cincinnati Bengals UFA
10 Junior Seau OLB New England Patriots UFA

Inside Linebacker
1 Karlos Dansby MLB Arizona Cardinals UFA
2 Kawika Mitchell MLB New York Giants UFA
3 Na'ill Diggs MLB Carolina Panthers UFA
4 Jerimiah Trotter MLB Tampa Bay Buccaneers UFA
5 Dontarious Thomas MLB Minnesota Vikings UFA
6 Larry Izzo MLB New England Patriots UFA
7 Randall Godfrey MLB Washington Redskins UFA
8 Teddy Lehman MLB Detroit Lions UFA
9 Tony Gilbert MLB Jacksonville Jaguars UFA
10 Robert Reynolds MLB Tennessee Titans UFA

Cornerback
1 Asante Samuel CB New England Patriots UFA
2 Marcus Trufant CB Seattle Seahawks UFA
3 Drayton Florence CB San Diego Chargers UFA
4 Nnamdi Asomugha CB Oakland Raiders UFA
5 Randall Gay CB New England Patriots UFA
6 Tory James CB New England Patriots UFA
7 Domonique Foxworth CB Denver Broncos RFA
8 Chad Scott CB New England Patriots UFA
9 Karl Paymah CB Denver Broncos RFA
10 Ricardo Colclough CB Cleveland Browns UFA
11 Hank Poteat CB New York Jets UFA
12 Joselio Hanson CB Philadelphia Eagles UFA
13 Daven Holly CB Cleveland Browns RFA
14 David Macklin CB Washington Redskins UFA
15 Jason Webster CB Buffalo Bills UFA
16 Michael Lehan CB Miami Dolphins UFA
17 Keiwan Ratliff CB Indianapolis Colts UFA
18 Stanley Wilson CB Detroit Lions RFA
19 Duane Starks CB Oakland Raiders UFA
20 Reynaldo Hill CB Tennessee Titans RFA

Free Safety
1 Gibril Wilson FS New York Giants UFA
2 Ken Hamlin FS Dallas Cowboys UFA
3 Eugene Wilson FS New England Patriots UFA
4 O.J. Atogwe FS St. Louis Rams RFA
5 William Bartee FS Kansas City Chiefs UFA
6 Madieu Williams FS Cincinnati Bengals UFA
7 Marquand Manuel FS Carolina Panthers UFA
8 Mike Doss FS Minnesota Vikings UFA
9 Brandon McGowan FS Chicago Bears RFA
10 Idress Bashir FS Detroit Lions UFA

Strong Safety
1 Bob Sanders SS Indianapolis Colts UFA
2 Erik Coleman SS New York Jets UFA
3 Atari Bigby SS Green Bay Packers RFA
4 Gerald Sensabaugh SS Jacksonville Jaguars RFA
5 Yerimiah Bell SS Miami Dolphins UFA
6 Hamza Abdullah SS Denver Broncos RFA
7 Omar Stoutmire SS Washington Redskins UFA
8 Jay Bellamy SS New Orleans Saints UFA
9 Tank Williams SS Minnesota Vikings UFA
10 Travares Tillman SS Miami Dolphins UFA

Return Specialist
1 Chris Carr RS/CB Oakland Raiders RFA
2 B.J. Sams RS/CB Baltimore Ravens UFA
3 Andre' Davis RS/WR Houston Texans UFA
4 Rashied Davis RS/WR Chicago Bears RFA
5 Michael Lewis RS/WR San Francisco 49ers UFA

Place Kickers
1 Josh Brown PK Seattle Seahawks UFA
2 Jason Elam PK Denver Broncos UFA
3 Rob Bironas PK Tennessee Titans RFA
4 Lawrence Tynes PK New York Giants UFA
5 Shaun Suisham PK Washington Redskins RFA
6 Morten Andersen PK Atlanta Falcons UFA

Punter
1 Todd Sauerbrun P Denver Broncos UFA
2 Jeff Feagles P New York Giants UFA
3 Michael Koenen P Atlanta Falcons UFA
4 Dustin Colquitt P Kansas City Chiefs RFA
5 Derrick Frost P Washington Redskins UFA
6 Kyle Larson P Cincinnati Bengals UFA


1 Ethan Albright LS Washington Redskins UFA
2 Rob Davis LS Green Bay Packers UFA
3 Ryan Kuehl LS New York Giants UFA
4 Andrew Economos LS Tampa Bay Buccaneers RFA
5 Nathan Hodel LS Arizona Cardinals UFA
6 Lonnie Paxton LS New England Patriots UFA

Memo to Alan Faneca: It's a Young Man's Game

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Alan Faneca "said he will play for another team in 2008" because of the lack of progress in contract negotiations with the team.

Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic has been reticent about jumping on this issue, after all a lot of the bluster and hyperbole of contract negotiation is just that and is soon forgotten once a deal is reached. However the whining of the Steelers' greatest offensive lineman -- ever -- was motivation enough to look at the numbers that underlie this controversy.

Using information available on NFL.com the 119 offensive guards listed on the respective NFL team's depth charts (rookies excluded) have an average of 5.08 years of NFL experience (the median number of years of experience is 4). Moreover only eleven of the 119 offensive guards (9.24%) have ten seasons or more of NFL experience. Clearly, NFL coaches and personnel managers seem predisposed to younger, and less expensive, interior offensive linemen. However, the question is should they be?

Here is a look at those offensive guards with ten years of NFL experience, and the number of games they started in 2006:

Team	Player	NFL Experience	2006 Games Started
Houston	Steve McKinney	10	6
Jacksonville	Chris Naeole	11	16
Miami	Kendyl Jacox	10	8
N.Y. Jets	Pete Kendall	12	14
Pittsburgh	Alan Faneca	10	16
San Diego	Mike Groff	10	16
Tennessee	Benji Olson	10	15
Carolina	Mike Wahle	10	13
Chicago	Rueben Brown	13	16
San Francisco	Larry Allen	14	11
Seattle	Chris Gray	15	15

Other than Houston, Miami, San Francisco, and Tennessee the teams for which these elder statesmen play are playoff caliber (and the 49ers and Titans seem poised for a resurgence), and the average number of starts amongst these players is 13.28 so it isn't a case a veteran players hanging on for a paycheck. Is it possible that offensive linemen on the wrong side of 30 years of age can still contribute? In special cases -- much like Alan Faneca's case -- it seems quite plausible. While he may not garner Steve Hutchinson type money ($49 million, $16 million guaranteed), barring injury Mr. Faneca can certainly be expected to make a significant contribution to his team (whatever team that ends up being) for an additional 3 to 5 seasons.

Getting Draft Ready - Assessing the Offensive Line

Editor's Note: In an earlier version of this posting it was incorrectly reported that Chukky Okobi did not start in place of Jeff Hartings during the 2006 season. My thanks to the loyal reader who pointed out the error, and my apologies for the mistake.

There isn't a more important unit to the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers than the offensive line, and during this offseason there isn't a unit that is more unsettled. With the retirement of Jeff Hartings, and the free agency status of Max Starks (restricted) and Barrett Brooks (unrestricted) there are clearly important decisions to be made.

Though they are also receivers, the tight ends are also getting a look here if only because there isn't much that is found wanting. Heath Miller is a good run blocker, who is improving, and as a pass catcher he has 73 receptions over his first two seasons and 852 yards receiving. His backup, Jerame Tuman, has been an above average run blocker and an adequate pass receiver. Finally, Jonathan Dekker -- a Bill Cowher favorite -- is still on the roster.

Of course the offensive line proper is anchored by its guards, Kendall Simmons and Alan Faneca, and while that should remain the case remember this: In five seasons Mr. Simmons has played all sixteen games only twice; and while Mr. Faneca hasn't missed a game in the last five seasons, he is now the oldest of the Steelers' offensive linemen (he turned 30 in December). So even in strength there are questions. At the tackles Max Starks and Marvel Smith -- backed up by Willie Colon and Trai Essex -- are firmly entrenched as starters despite what was a very inconsistent 2006 season.

And then there is the center position.

Jeff Hartings retirement was rumored about last offseason, which led Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic to advocate the drafting of Nick Mangold (the Ohio State center who started sixteen games for the New York Jets in 2006). Now Mr. Hartings has retired, and it appears that Chukky Okobi, who accounts for $2,456,000 of the Steelers' salary cap space in 2007, will assume the starting position. However, with only seven games played in six seasons -- and only two in the last four seasons -- he remains an unproven commodity. Additionally, given that Mr. Okobi's cap number climbs in 2008 and 2009, next season is undoubtedly the most important of his career. Causing some additional concern is that Mr. Okkobi's backup, at this point, is Marvin Phillip who struggled during his rookie season. All of this may lead the Steelers to look at unrestricted free agents like Robbie Tobek (Seahawks) and Jeremy Newberry (Forty-Niners).

Of course all of this concern stems from the significant drop-off in performance by this unit from 2005 to 2006. The experts at Football Outsiders have developed a statistical measure to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive lines, and the Steelers' group dropped from twelfth (2005) to twenty-second (2006). One of the more telling measures within this statistical analysis is what Football Outsiders call "power success" (i.e. the ability to gain first downs when running on third or fourth down, with two or fewer yards to go). The Steelers' offensive line ranked 20th. This inability to employ a "smash mouth" approach offensively led to this: In 2006, on third down and less than five yards to go, the Steelers passed the ball nearly 71% of the time. Additionally, total rushing yardage in 2006 was nearly 12% less than the previous season; and quarterback sacks were up by nearly 35% -- the most allowed in any season during the last seven years.

No unit within the Steelers is more important to winning and losing than the offensive line. In 2006 the team and offensive line both struggled; and the new season, still off in the distance, promises to be filled with significant challenges to be met and questions to be answered.

Faneca Disappointed in Hiring of Tomlin

It is indicative of the man and his honesty that Alan Faneca adnitted to being disappointed that Mike Tomlin, and not Russ Grimm, was hired as the Steelers head coach.

In this item found at the website for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Tribune the Steelers participating in the Pro Bowl weigh-in on the newly hired coach:

"Willie Parker can't wait to play for new Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu are reserving judgment.

The Steelers' four Pro Bowl participants had divergent reactions to Pittsburgh's decision last month to hire Tomlin, the former Vikings defensive coordinator. The Steelers passed over veteran assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt.

'I wanted Russ to get the job,' said Faneca, a six-time Pro Bowl guard. 'It's a guy we know, and a guy I'm experienced with.'

Defensive tackle Casey Hampton is looking forward to next season after speaking with Vikings defensive stars Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.

'I heard he's a real smart guy, very cool,' Hampton said.

Parker, the Steelers' star running back, needed only one meeting with Tomlin to be sold.

'He made a hell of a first impression,' Parker said. '... It's going to be really exciting to play for him.'

Polamalu, Pittsburgh's three-time Pro Bowl safety, is waiting to see what that intensity means.

'The first impression doesn't go too far in this world,' Polamalu said. 'It's about how you execute, and what you do with it.' "

Observations from Pro Football Weekly

Pro Football Weekly is one of the best sources for information on the football (despite the title of the magazine they also have good information on college teams and players). Here are their observations on the Steelers' victory Thursday night over Cleveland (emphasis added):

"Steelers

Positives

Dick LeBeau’s defense enters the final three games as confident as it’s been all season. The Steelers shut down the Browns without starting safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.

The Steelers’ run game, which was under fire after a poor three-game stretch in Weeks 11-13, bounced back because of some excellent blocking by the interior of Pittsburgh’s offensive line. OLG Alan Faneca and C Jeff Hartings had strong games. The Steelers ran at Browns DE Simon Fraser with success. The Browns rarely win the battle in the trenches vs. Pittsburgh. Parker had no shortage of space to work with, and when he can get into the secondary, look out.

Negatives

WR Nate Washington let a potential TD pass slide through his hands early in the second quarter. Washington entered the game with three dropped TD passes, and this would almost certainly have been a fourth. Roethlisberger threw the ball toward Washington’s back shoulder, away from Browns CB Leigh Bodden. Then, a few plays later, Roethlisberger missed Washington in the middle of the endzone. Roethlisberger appeared upset after the play, and the NFLN’s Cris Collinsworth suggested that Washington didn’t finish his route. While Washington did haul in a 49-yard TD pass early in the second quarter, he has a long way to go to become the consistent target the Steelers hope he’ll become. Nevertheless, he’s only in his second season, and he’s getting excellent coaching."

Details Emerging About That Pregame Meeting

Some details are beginning to trickle out about the emotion-packed, pregame meeting; and in this article that appeared in both the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and The New Orleans Times-Picayune several of the Steelers' players speak out about just what was said.

"Bill Cowher had admittedly run out of things to say, so he let his players do the talking for a change.

What resulted was as rare an occurrence as the 2-6 hole the Steelers confronted Sunday morning was foreboding. And what transpired was a 38-31 triumph over the New Orleans Saints that was as emotional as it was reassuring to a Steelers team that has yet to give up on itself.

Perhaps even Cowher was beginning to wonder in the wake of a first half of the season that had degenerated from disappointing to potentially embarrassing for a defending Super Bowl champion.

Perhaps he was still applying a form of damage control to running back Willie Parker publicly questioning the Steelers' desire and trust the previous week.

Perhaps Cowher just wanted the players to reaffirm how they felt about one another.

Guard Alan Faneca recalled something similar happening before the AFC championship game in January, when Jerome Bettis and Kimo von Oelhoffen took the floor in Denver.

Before that?

'In that meeting? Maybe not ever,' said Faneca, a nine-year veteran out of LSU. 'Maybe (it's happened) before, but it's been few and far between on that day.'

The final pregame meeting is normally Cowher's domain.

It's held the night before a noon kickoff and on the day of the game when the Steelers play at 3:05 p.m., 3:15 or at night.

'It's him all the way, kind of a "This is what I think it's going to take" from him and his point of view,' Faneca said.

This time, Faneca did some of the talking.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Hines Ward also spoke on behalf of the offense.

Linebacker Joey Porter, cornerback Deshea Townsend and defensive end Aaron Smith represented the defense as orators.

Wide receiver Sean Morey voiced what the special teams players were feeling.

'Coach told us earlier (last week) that he wanted a couple of us to get up and speak,' Roethlisberger said. 'I don't know what he was expecting us to do, but the guys got up.

'We didn't talk about X's & O's.'

Parker said Porter 'kind of pointed all the players out.'

'He said stuff we normally wouldn't say,' Parker said. 'He was probably talking to me.'

Parker also said Smith was moved to tears.

'I love this team,' Smith said.

The recurring themes, Faneca said, were trust and a belief in one another.

That they came from the heart rather than the head man meant everything.

'You get a guy up there that opens his heart up in front of your teammates and your peers, it's gonna get emotional, it's gonna get to you a little bit,' Faneca said. 'A message delivered by a guy you're out there fighting with is a little bit different than coming from the head coach. It's from a guy that's down there in the trenches with you.'

Together, those guys in the trenches survived a 517-yard New Orleans onslaught, a blown 14-0 lead and enough injuries in the secondary to force Anthony Madison into the game for extended stretches on something other than special teams.

Through it all, one fan among the 61,911 clung to a placard that read 'We Steel Believe.'

At 3-6, the Steelers do, too."