The Steelers have already gone back to the past a couple times this offseason with players that were with the team returning, and now another player is on the table to return if the team wants, as guard Alan Faneca has been released by the New York Jets.
“He gave us two incredible years, but along with Woody (Johnson), Rex and I, our job is to make the hard decision, not necessarily the easy one,” general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “With Alan, we just felt it was time to move on.”
Faneca played 10 years with the Steelers before he reached free agency after the 2007 season. The Jets made him the highest paid OL in the game, inking him to a five=year deal worth $40 mil with $21 million in guarantees. He is 33 years old, but I think knowing the type of player he was, he would be a welcome addition to the Steelers O-line.
“Alan’s definitely going to play in this league again,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “I have no idea where, but by releasing him now, (it) gives Alan an opportunity to go, quite honestly, where he wants to go. We’re not looking to trade him and send him to a place where he doesn’t want to play. We gave him the respect that he’s due and this allows him to go where he wants to go.”
Could it be back home to the Steel City?
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George H
April 25, 2010 at 6:06 pm
I thought I heard Tomlin rejecting the notion of bringing Faneca back on board.
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mark
April 26, 2010 at 1:15 am
I take him immediately and without question. Good character and great player.
DrGeorge
April 26, 2010 at 8:49 am
Mark and George H, you are both right, as usual. Tomlin did downplay the idea, but that could be mere posturing while negotiations are going on. The Steelers won’t pay Faneca’s old $7.5 million, but at a reasonable price, I think they’d love to have him back, if only to bring veteran leadership to a very young O-line. I personally think he’s still effective and would immediately upgrade the O-line play.
jay
April 26, 2010 at 11:58 am
So where would he go, LG replacing Kemo? Then Kemo goes to RG where he’s more suited? Pouncey at center with Starks and Colon at LT and RT respectively? Do they cut Hartwig or leave him onboard as an expensive backup like Simmons a couple years ago? Does Ramon Foster, Urbik, the rookie-Chris Scott factor in here at all? Dies Essex get cut? Which O-Linemen do u think make the team; 8, 9 or ten and which ones specifically?
DrGeorge
April 26, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Good questions, Jay. With all the turmoil during this off-season, I’m sure that Tomlin does not want to juggle the line very much, but the offensive philosophy is obviously in flux this year and changes must be made.
In addition to Faneca, we must also remember the OT from Detroit we acquired as a free agent (his name eludes me), and the newly drafted OG Chris Scott from Tennessee, who has a big upside. Urbik, last year’s 2nd round pick, was unable to get on the field last year, so I guess he’s not developing as well as hoped, but Tomlin won’t cut a #2 pick after one season. So, we need to see how well these guys play in preseason. I simply don’t know their present abilities.
As for cuts, Stapleton is as good as gone; Tony Hills hasn’t shown much; Trai Essex is barely adequate. These three are probably out. Hartwig is a lock for one more season. Without a dominant LT, I’d be leary of moving Starks, even though I would prefer to use him as a backup RT because of his footwork. He simply is not good enough to play LT, but he’s the best we have at this time.
My guess is, if we acquired Faneca, he and Kemo would compete for the LG spot. The rest of the O-line would probably stay as is, with Pouncey working into Center over time and the rest of these guys competing for backup slots.
Foster will likely become a starter in a year or two. Colon could be moved to RG if one of the tackles develops enough to take over at RT. But probably not yet.
The new line coach has some talent to play with, but his choices depend on his blocking schemes and the dedication of Tomlin to resurrecting the running game. (The drafting of Dwyer suggests they are serious about it.) That shift in emphasis could make backups out of some of last years starters. It is simply too soon to predict how all of this will shake out.
The Steelers may pass on Faneca precisely because at age 33 he isn’t that much better than the OGs they have. And he is expensive. But IF we acquired him, he would bring the experience and winning mentality this young group of linemen needs, he can pull, he can run block, and he comes to play every game.
Joe
April 26, 2010 at 2:14 pm
i say bring him look everyone we brought back so far is from the championship days lets go get #7
jay
April 26, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I think Urbik was a third round pick and the tackle, Jonathan Scott, they got from Buffalo I believe. I don’t agree with you about Starks being a backup RT, I believe, although he’s no Bryant McKinnie, he is adequate and most of the sacks last year came either from Ben holding onto the ball too long or right up the middle where Essex and Kemo and hartwig are.