Steelers may not keep LB Woodley when contract expires

According to reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley is unlikely to receive a new contract during this season. In that case, he will become a free agent when his current contract expires following the 2010 season. As the Steelers have a tradition of not signing free agent back, Woodley may take the chance to put on his favorite According to reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley is unlikely to receive a new contract during this season. In that case, he will become a free agent when his current contract expires following the 2010 season. As the Steelers have a tradition of not signing free agent back, Woodley may take the chance to put on his favorite New Orleans Saints jersey.

The Steelers rarely negotiate with players during the season. And while there is a chance the Steelers could put the franchise tag on Woodley, there is no assurance the tag will be included in a new collective bargaining agreement. So that’s the uncapped year complicated the whole negotiating process. In a capped NFL year, players can’t make more than 30 percent more than they did in the previous year. But in uncapped years, there will be no restriction and a team will have to think carefully before signing a new contract with any player.

To be honestly, no Steelers official deny that Woodley deserves a big extension. The Pro Bowl outside linebacker has become one of the league’s top pass rushers and he has made 25 sacks over the last two seasons for the Steelers.

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The Steelers rarely negotiate with players during the season. And while there is a chance the Steelers could put the franchise tag on Woodley, there is no assurance the tag will be included in a new collective bargaining agreement. So that’s the uncapped year complicated the whole negotiating process. In a capped NFL year, players can’t make more than 30 percent more than they did in the previous year. But in uncapped years, there will be no restriction and a team will have to think carefully before signing a new contract with any player.

To be honestly, no Steelers official deny that Woodley deserves a big extension. The Pro Bowl outside linebacker has become one of the league’s top pass rushers and he has made 25 sacks over the last two seasons for the Steelers.

Steelers CB Taylor is expecting contract extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers do not seem like to offer eighth year veteran cornerback Ike Taylor in near future. Actually, there is not even any talk in progress, although Taylor is already in his final year of his current contract, which is worth $23.75 million. So the starting cornerback is hoping that a talk could be started within this year.

"Deep down in my heart, I want to retire as a Steeler," Taylor told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I've been here seven years. I'm a Steeler all the way. But it's on them if we can agree — be on the same page. If not, I've gotta move on."

It’s hard to say whether the Steelers would retain Taylor before the contract expires. The team has a tradition to let free agents go, no matter how accomplished the free agents were. But one the other side, Taylor has good relationship with team owner Dan Rooney and got supports from defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who recently said publicly that the team would not let Taylor go. Who knows? Even the Green Bay Packers let their favorite quarterback to put on another team’s version of Brett Favre jersey after he failed to win a second Super Bowl title, and Taylor really needs to pray and offer something to keep his job with the Steelers.

Steelers have to make choice for replacing ORT Colon

With starting offensive right tackle Willie Colon still lying in hospital recovering from a surgery on his Achilles tendon, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have to start and go through the 2010 NFL season without Colon. So the most important task for them now is to figure out a qualified tackle that can replace Colon at the position.

The Steelers do have a few choices. Free agent offensive tackle Flozell Adams is visiting the team and the former Dallas Cowboys tackle has a long-time experience as starter on the left side. If he is to be signed, the Steelers will be able to move offensive left tackle Max Starks to the right side as Starks used to start at right tackle in 2005 season and 2006 season. Besides, Jonathan Scott, Ramon Foster and Trai Essex are all available for promotion. Formerly starting both at left tackle and right tackle in Saints jersey, Scott is as experienced as Starks, and Essex is also likely to compete for the starting job because he started at right guard last season. Foster is a rookie but also has experience of starting at right tackle during his college football career.

Other possible candidates include third-year offensive tackle Tony Hillis and rookie tackle Chris Scott. But Hillis is in lack of real-game experience and Scott also suffered a foot injury recently and could miss most of his rookie season to recover from surgery.

Steelers CB Bryant announce retirement Tuesday

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Fernando Bryant decided to end his 10-year NFL career and announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Selected 26th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1999 NFL Draft, Bryant played five seasons with the Jaguars. In 2004 he was signed by the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent and played there for 4 seasons. He joined into the Patriots in 2008 and was eleased at the end of the training camp. On Nov. 11, 2008, the Steelers signed. He played in two regular-season games but did not take part in playoff games.

In his 10 years of NFL career, Bryant played totally 112 games and started 109 of them.