Faneca and Starks Free agency

**catlabman** · 01-08-2008, 02:02 PM

Guard Alan Faneca will be an unrestricted free agent and the Steelers have a month to work out new contracts with Faneca and offensive tackle Max Starks. They will attempt to re-sign both players.

"We can't lose the heart of this team," strong safety Troy Polamalu said. "Alan is the heart of this team."

At 31, Faneca can have several more effective seasons as a guard. The Steelers believe Faneca can make a transition to center, if not next season then later in his career.

Team chairman Dan Rooney has always regretted allowing Rod Woodson to leave as a free agent and will do everything possible to keep Faneca, who, like Woodson, was a member of the Steelers' 75th Anniversary team.

Faneca became emotional when talking about how Saturday's game might have been his last with the Steelers. He wants to stay with Pittsburgh and the Steelers want to make it happen.

With the Steelers expected to be $18 million under next year's salary cap, they will have the means to get deals done with Faneca and Starks, though working out an extension with Roethlisberger also will be an offseason priority.

By re-signing Faneca and Starks, the Steelers won't be forced to select two offensive linemen early in the draft. They could instead select one lineman, play Faneca or Kendall Simmons at center - where Mahan was a flop - and move right tackle Willie Colon to guard. That would allow the Steelers to draft another offensive playmaker - either a wide receiver or running back who can also return kicks - early in the draft.

Outside linebacker Clark Haggans also is an unrestricted free agent, but rookie LaMarr Woodley showed against Jacksonville - two sacks and three pressures - that he's ready to be a force next season.

Having defensive end Aaron Smith and free safety Ryan Clark healthy next season also will help.

The Steelers don't need a total overhaul, just some minor tweaks. They have something about 25 teams don't - a franchise quarterback. And when you have a franchise quarterback, you don't rebuild, you retool.

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com

Just read this on the internet, they say that the Rooney's are trying to keep Faneca and Starks. Any thoughts?

**AZ_Steeler** · 01-08-2008, 02:10 PM

I've never given a thought of Faneca at center... that might not be bad after watching the last flop this past season.

If the FO can keep Faneca and Starks that would be great but they also need to think longterm and don't want to strap the team to the point they have to dump everyone and end up like the Niners...

**steelcitysfinestXL** · 01-08-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by AZ_Steeler

I've never given a thought of Faneca at center... that might not be bad after watching the last flop this past season.

If the FO can keep Faneca and Starks that would be great but they also need to think longterm and don't want to strap the team to the point they have to dump everyone and end up like the Niners...

I agree!!! We have guys on this team that can play guard ex: Chris-K and Colon would make a mean ass guard combo to sandwich a 1st or second round center!!! Starx at RT, marvel at LT.. which leaves you alot of money to go affter other players!!!! I love faneca but he is gonna command HIGH dollar... i cant see us paying him a Stienbach like $50 MIL plus signing Bing Ben to a top 5 QB deal... How ever they do it... i hope it doesnt restrict us in the future!!!!!

**Iron City South** · 01-08-2008, 02:50 PM

ya, know ... I'm gettin real Gad damn tired of other players on this team running to the defense of other players and coaches as if to act as their PR spokespersons or Agents every time a decision needs to be made or money needs to be dulled out ....

If Polamalu is so insistant that Faneca is the "heart" of this team, why in the fu<k doesn't he step up as a leader and offer to be the heart? You would figure with the paycheck TP is taking home, he would step up to the plate and start showing some of his own leadership.

**K Train** · 01-08-2008, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by steelcitysfinestXL

I agree!!! We have guys on this team that can play guard ex: Chris-K and Colon would make a mean ass guard combo to sandwich a 1st or second round center!!! Starx at RT, marvel at LT.. which leaves you alot of money to go affter other players!!!! I love faneca but he is gonna command HIGH dollar... i cant see us paying him a Stienbach like $50 MIL plus signing Bing Ben to a top 5 QB deal... How ever they do it... i hope it doesnt restrict us in the future!!!!!

so you like mediocrity for an offensive line? great idea!!!!!!!!!!!

If chris k was any good he wouldve played by now, we need to clear the line of the scrubs plain and simple.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 01-08-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Iron City South

ya, know ... I'm gettin real Gad damn tired of other players on this team running to the defense of other players and coaches as if to act as their PR spokespersons or Agents .... If Polamalu is so insistant that Faneca is the "heart" of this team, why in the fu<k doesn't he step up as a leader and offer to be the heart?

Well what do you expect them to say??

Interviewer to Troy: What do you think about Alan Faneca leaving?

Troy: "he sucks get rid of his big dumb ass"

Now honestly, if the players didn't come to the defense of each other wouldn't you be just a tad bit worried about the locker room chemistry? The fact that these players stick together is a sign they believe in one another and there is a good vibe in the locker room. Nobody wants to see anybody leave but they know it's reality. Besides emotions were high after that game and players speak from the heart.

The Rooneys' and Tomlin will sign who they can for the money they want to spend regardless of what the players think. All of them wanted Cowher to stay and Whiz or Grimm to get the job the Rooney's went in another direction. The owners will listen to the players plead the case for another but they won't let it deter their overall plans.

**steelcitysfinestXL** · 01-08-2008, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by K Train

so you like mediocrity for an offensive line? great idea!!!!!!!!!!!

If chris k was any good he wouldve played by now, we need to clear the line of the scrubs plain and simple.

No, I want sean mahan and kendall simmons gone!!!! I think its gonna be near impossible to sign faneca for the money he is gonna want and still be able to lock ben into a long term deal.
Whats your bright idea K, sign Faneca and Starx for huge money, work out Bens deal, and then what!?!?!?! Faneca is declining and his contract is up and he aint getting any younger or better!!! You can say what you want about Chris-K but he has been good enough to make this team for the past couple of years and played well in the abscence of faneca!! Fu*k it he cant be as bad as simmons. I would rather draft some young guns at tackle/C in the first 3 rounds. Sign Starx/ let Alan go to Ari. Move Colon to G where i think he can be a hell of alot better, and have Mahan, Colon and Chris Battle for the guard spots!!!!

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Think about '07 camp when Faneca and Smith were the only two proven starters we had. Simmons was injury prone, Mahan was a free agent C moving to G and Starx was on the fence and was eventually benched!!! Our line was makeshift as hell last year with Faneca!!! Why not save some money and build a new line while ben and Willie are still young!!! This draft seems to be littered w/ good OL-men. I would look to the draft for replacements and start trying some of these young guys we have been carrying for what seems like ever, instead of using the same old faces!!!

**Black@Gold Forever32** · 01-08-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by TOP GUN

Well what do you expect them to say??

Interviewer to Troy: What do you think about Alan Faneca leaving?

Troy: "he sucks get rid of his big dumb ass"

Now honestly, if the players didn't come to the defense of each other wouldn't you be just a tad bit worried about the locker room chemistry? The fact that these players stick together is a sign they believe in one another and there is a good vibe in the locker room. Nobody wants to see anybody leave but they know it's reality. Besides emotions were high after that game and players speak from the heart.

The Rooneys' and Tomlin will sign who they can for the money they want to spend regardless of what the players think. All of them wanted Cowher to stay and Whiz or Grimm to get the job the Rooney's went in another direction. The owners will listen to the players plead the case for another but they won't let it deter their overall plans.

To be honest I really don't care what Troy has say or thinks about Alan Faneca resigning with the team or not......Troy should be worried about himself and staying healthy....Maybe changing his personal training habits...His own training seems to be not working....lol He was a stiff this year.....So Troy do this team a favor and shut it....

Lift some weights and get tough again.....Become the badass you once were...lol

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 01-08-2008, 05:50 PM

yeah but my point is the players are going to stick up for each other, it's what they do. It's what they should do. Even if they don't think a particular player has done well they certainly aren't going to tell the media. " oh well Cedric Wilson sucks he doesn't earn his paycheck" or "Faneca ain't worth 40 million so get rid of his ass" , "Reid can't do shit in the return game so we don't need him".

You see what I'm getting at here...the players go out and lay it all on the line each week so these guys need to stick together and when one of them may potentially leave they are going to still stick together. Even if that players does leave, the team will adjust but it's never easy. These guys are human beings and sometimes we as fans forget that because they get so much money and they play a game for living.