Farrior signs deal for 5 years

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08235/906231-66.stm

Old guys can dress any way they want, and the 33-year-old Farrior struck one for the graybeards yesterday when he signed a five-year contract worth $18.25 million with the Steelers. The deal -- his third with the team since signing as a free agent from the New York Jets in 2002 -- includes a $5 million signing bonus and will pay him slightly less than $10 million in the first two years and $12.6 over the first three.

The Steelers sure have a strange way of dealing with players whose contracts are coming to an end. And unfortunately, I'm not seeing much of a plan behind their recent actions. Even more shocking, the recent moves by the Pirate front office make the Steelers look like minor leaguers.

And I'll let the Faneca situation go because it's clear that Faneca wanted to cash in on his one big chance and the Steelers didn't think he was worth market value, which given his age and hoe basly the offensive line played WITH him, can be understood.

But some questions about this signing include:

• Max Starks: making him their transition player and signing him to a one year deal at an inflated price of $6.85M for a backup, and one that will be gone after this year, looks to be a panic move made in the uncertainty after Faneca left.
• Focusing on Farrior while allowing two offensive line starters to play this season with unrestricted free agency looming, seems shortsighted. Both Smith and Kemoeatu wil be able to leave after the season. Hard to put a value on Kemoeatu? OK. But Smith? Don't forget the Steelers drafted only one o-lineman this draft - Tony Hills in the 4th - and he is not impressing anyone this camp. Think the line is in trouble this year? Wait til next year.
• One thing you hope from management teams is they learn from their mistakes. In 2002, the Steelers resigned 30 yr old Jason Gildon to a 5-yr deal. He was gone after two more years. Farrior is three years older. It's true that middle linebackers may be able to last longer than pure outside rushers, but Farrior was already being phased out. The team has plans to replace Farrior, possible with Larry Foote, unlike whatever they are doing along the o-line.
• In truth, Farrior will ony play 3 more years, the last two years of this contract won't be seen.
• Farrior's play is not improving and even though he is still starting, if you go by performance, he probably will not be a starter far beyond this year. Timmons is ready to take over one inside spot and Foote, who is younger, can eaasily slide over to replace Farrior. The money spent on Farrior could have been used to spend on an area of need instead.
• This is a defense that needs to get younger and fast. Timmons and Woodley will play a lot this year and that helps. But from what we saw last year, the overall defense wore down as games and the season went along. Adn the defensive line is not getting any younger and is getting older with the signing of Orpheus Roye. There is no young defensive lineman on the team. The secondary features aging Deshea Townsend who has been able to keep his jb over youngerplayers such as Bryant McFadden.

So let's say that I'm not a fan of this signing. The Steelers have done a great job maintaining their competitiveness by being smart judges of talent and shedding themselves of players a year too soon rather than a year too late. It isn't sentimental at all and often raises the ire of fans. But more often than not, only Rod Woodson and Hardy Nickerson truly come to mind as mistakes, they are right in their assessments. Not only does it force younger players to play and develop quickly (which means they have to draft well), but it also frees up money that can be used in more important areas.

Signing players who aren't at the top of their game or about to approach it, goes against what this team has done so successfully for so long. Let's hope this signing stands by itself and isn't a sign of future events. And if the Rooneys ever lose control of the franchise, you can be sure that these signing are what we will see more and more of, and it won't be good for the team.