Faneca update from Pittsburgh News Station

[Stout]

I'm not sure what more I can do to explain my point of view to you. Never once do I say Faneca isn't a great player or that I don't want him here. I do want him here and think he'll be great for several more years.

Let's be clear on where we disagree here. We don't disagree on Faneca's talent level, so there is no "crow" to eat. We disagree on your philosophy that we should dump everything we have into one player.

If we can afford to get Faneca without sacrificing key members of our core team, I'm all for it. If you think we're one player away from a Championship, then I admire your optimism, and I certainly hope you're right. If we sign Faneca, and he brings us deep into the playoffs, I'll be the first to eat crow and say it tastes like Ice Cream.

I don't think it would break our bank just to sign Faneca. He'd be our biggest signing, to be sure, but we could still get a few guys like Torbor or Haye or some such as well.

 

[joeshmo]

Oh sure, we can offer.

He just won't sign it.

Why not. If there is up front money in the deal he would with out question sing a back loaded long term deal. Just like 90% of the other free agents that signs a contract in free agency. Backloading a deal isnt a new concept here, players are all about the bonus money. Just like any player getting their last deal of their career they are looking for that last bonus check not the year 7 base salary.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I dont get why people think he will command a 7yr deal. He has already come out and said he will be pleasantly surprised to go another 5.

 

[rtjim]

Why not. If there is up front money in the deal he would with out question sing a back loaded long term deal. Just like 90% of the other free agents that signs a contract in free agency. Backloading a deal isnt a new concept here, players are all about the bonus money. Just like any player getting their last deal of their career they are looking for that last bonus check not the year 7 base salary.

Thanks for the backing, my point better stated.

 

[rtjim]

I dont get why people think he will command a 7yr deal. He has already come out and said he will be pleasantly surprised to go another 5.

Correct me if I'm wrong joe, but wouldn't a 7 year deal allow us to spread the large signing bonus out longer creating less of a cap hit?

 

[football karma]

Correct me if I'm wrong joe, but wouldn't a 7 year deal allow us to spread the large signing bonus out longer creating less of a cap hit?

Less year to year cap hit, bigger dead money cap hit when the guy cant play anymore after 4 years and you have to cut him.

 

[joeshmo]

Less year to year cap hit, bigger dead money cap hit when the guy cant play anymore after 4 years and you have to cut him.

Not a big deal. June 1st him or he helps the team out by retiring and the dead cap hit is minimalized. Not to mention there will be a new CBA by then, meaning even more cap space and new rules to help with dead cap space. And considering the trend with every new CBA since the Cap era has helped with dead cap space more and more each time, I am willing to bet it will happen again with the new CBA.

We need to stop being so worried about our cap space 5 years from now, and more worried about winning right now.

 

[imaCafan]

We need to stop being so worried about our cap space 5 years from now, and more worried about winning right now.

Hope the FO reads this line. We are one of those "a piece here, a piece there" to be a contender teams. One piece being Faneca............JMHO.......

 

[red desert]

Not a big deal. June 1st him or he helps the team out by retiring and the dead cap hit is minimalized. Not to mention there will be a new CBA by then, meaning even more cap space and new rules to help with dead cap space. And considering the trend with every new CBA since the Cap era has helped with dead cap space more and more each time, I am willing to bet it will happen again with the new CBA.

We need to stop being so worried about our cap space 5 years from now, and more worried about winning right now.

Good post. That's why you were "poster of the year" this past season.

What, are you going for back-to-back wins?

 

[ajcardfan]

We need to stop being so worried about our cap space 5 years from now, and more worried about winning right now.

notworthy


No kidding. We've been working on our cap situation ever since we got Wadsworth off the books. Isn't the time to use it to go all out to win ever going to come? And, if so, why not now?

 

[NightHawk11and81]

I'm not sure what more I can do to explain my point of view to you. Never once do I say Faneca isn't a great player or that I don't want him here. I do want him here and think he'll be great for several more years.

Let's be clear on where we disagree here. We don't disagree on Faneca's talent level, so there is no "crow" to eat. We disagree on your philosophy that we should dump everything we have into one player.

If we can afford to get Faneca without sacrificing key members of our core team, I'm all for it. If you think we're one player away from a Championship, then I admire your optimism, and I certainly hope you're right. If we sign Faneca, and he brings us deep into the playoffs, I'll be the first to eat crow and say it tastes like Ice Cream.

Oh, he was talking to you there? Could have sworn he meant me. Whatever works.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

Other perspective

I'm not sure if this has been discussed, but if we brought in Faneca, would we plug Reggie Wells in at tackle? That worries me. Personally, if there's a shot at it, there's a Pittsburgh lineman I'd much rather have: Max Starks. Of course, I'd prefer Carolina's Jordan Gross, but there's no way he'd be let out of Charlotte.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed, but if we brought in Faneca, would we plug Reggie Wells in at tackle? That worries me. Personally, if there's a shot at it, there's a Pittsburgh lineman I'd much rather have: Max Starks. Of course, I'd prefer Carolina's Jordan Gross, but there's no way he'd be let out of Charlotte.

I thought Gandy played well last year. Max Starks sucks. I would rather have Elton Brown.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

I thought Gandy played well last year. Max Starks sucks. I would rather have Elton Brown.

Gandy did play well, but you have got to be kidding me on the rest of your post.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Gandy did play well, but you have got to be kidding me on the rest of your post.

Not at all. Have you seen him play lately??

 

[Darth Llama]

I don't want Max Starks either. I have to agree that I would rather have Brown. Starks has shown nothing to make me think he's worth anything, but Brown is a solid backup.

In my opinion, getting Faneca would move Reggie Wells out of the starting line up and into a depth role. Wells is serviceable as a starter, but not great. As a backup, his ability to play solid at every line position would make him one of the best backups in the league.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

Not at all. Have you seen him play lately??

Yes, and there's no way I prefer Elton Brown.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

In my opinion, getting Faneca would move Reggie Wells out of the starting line up and into a depth role. Wells is serviceable as a starter, but not great. As a backup, his ability to play solid at every line position would make him one of the best backups in the league.

I agree with you there. But I'd rather spend money on a tackle than a guard if we have the chance. Maybe not Starks, but if any good tackles are available, I would prefer to have one of them.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Yes, and there's no way I prefer Elton Brown.

What is is that you like about Starks???? Is is the way he rides the pine when the starters are healthy or how he replaces them to become a human turnstyle/holding penalty waiting to happen when he makes it on the field?????????

This isn't even worth discussing. Starks is beyond horrible, and you guys who are sating otherwise obviously didn't watch the Steelers at all last year.

Elton Brown played very well as a backup IMO. He defiontiely outplayed Starks.

I agree with you there. But I'd rather spend money on a tackle than a guard if we have the chance. Maybe not Starks, but if any good tackles are available, I would prefer to have one of them.

The problem is that aside from injuries, we weren't weak at tackle. Infact our starters were vey good. The weak spot of our line was Wells, Wells and Wells. Instead of bringing in better players at nearby positions to help hide a glaring weakness, why not just fix the real problem???

 

[imaCafan]

Instead of bringing in better players at nearby positions to help hide a glaring weakness, why not just fix the real problem???