Why the hell did Graves get an extension, again?

[DoTheDew]

Go to nfl.com/teams and go to the Steelers. Check out their depth chart and come back and tell us how many guys they have that have played for any other team than the Steelers. Also look at how many starters they have with 3+years on the team.

Also look at the Cards roster in 2008 and see how many guys they had with 3 or more years on the team. Compare that to the 2003 Cardinals.

Then tell me its ok to let your veterans go and replace them with rookies and one year wonders like Terrance Holt and Al Johnson.

Seeing how many guys who have played for other teams doesn't tell you how many have left. It just tells you they don't sign FAs (same as Graves). Steelers do re-sign some key players I will admit, but they also let starters go. Otherwise we never would have suffered through Oliver Ross or Bryant McFadden.

Just consider that everyone considered Plaxico Burress an elite WR when the Steelers decided to get rid of him and look how that has worked out for them. I bet many people were mad that they let go of Joey Porter as well.

There are other good teams that have done things similar to what the Cards just did too. Colts letting Edge walk is IMO equal to Cards trading Boldin. Got a top player who's on his second contract and is at the end of his prime and you let him go to another team.

The Dansby situation sucks but if the numbers we hear are true then he took basically the same deal with the Dolphins as we gave him. That means he didn't want to be here that badly. What would you have had us do if that is the case? Franchise him until he retires?

As for Rolle, if he truly is going to make 8 mil per with the Giants then that is their loss. No way he is worth that much. You don't win by overpaying guys cap or no cap. Make guys earn their money and they will be more likely to play at a top level. Just human nature. If you set a precedent that being just above average is enough to get you paid like a top player at your position expect more average play from everyone else on the roster.

 

[40yearfan]

Like everyone in management, Graves got his extension because he has the ability to implement the will of the ownership. He can make the hard and unpopular decisions that no one likes.

Do you get pissed at your manager? He is just the filter for someone above him.

If you don't like this off season the blame rests solely on the Bidwill's. Personally I hope we take a step back to take 3 steps forward later.

Quit making sense Chris.

Truthfully, I don't see us taking a step back. If Leinart can be average, I think we win the division again this year.

 

[Duckjake]

Seeing how many guys who have played for other teams doesn't tell you how many have left. It just tells you they don't sign FAs (same as Graves). Steelers do re-sign some key players I will admit, but they also let starters go. Otherwise we never would have suffered through Oliver Ross or Bryant McFadden.

Just consider that everyone considered Plaxico Burress an elite WR when the Steelers decided to get rid of him and look how that has worked out for them. I bet many people were mad that they let go of Joey Porter as well.

There are other good teams that have done things similar to what the Cards just did too. Colts letting Edge walk is IMO equal to Cards trading Boldin. Got a top player who's on his second contract and is at the end of his prime and you let him go to another team.

The Dansby situation sucks but if the numbers we hear are true then he took basically the same deal with the Dolphins as we gave him. That means he didn't want to be here that badly. What would you have had us do if that is the case? Franchise him until he retires?

As for Rolle, if he truly is going to make 8 mil per with the Giants then that is their loss. No way he is worth that much. You don't win by overpaying guys cap or no cap. Make guys earn their money and they will be more likely to play at a top level. Just human nature. If you set a precedent that being just above average is enough to get you paid like a top player at your position expect more average play from everyone else on the roster.

Sure every team lets a guy or two go every off season but we're losing 6. 4 we let go and 2 retired. That's what I'm concerned about.

But even when the Steelers let their guys go they always seem to have a guy on the roster to take his place. That's why they win year after year.

 

[DoTheDew]

Sure every team lets a guy or two go every off season but we're losing 6. 4 we let go and 2 retired. That's what I'm concerned about.

But even when the Steelers let their guys go they always seem to have a guy on the roster to take his place. That's why they win year after year.

True. With Warner, no team ever really has or can be expected to have a guy ready to replace a HOF QB without missing a beat. Berry was no longer an impact player losing him is no big deal. We do have replacement for Boldin. Dansby and Rolle will hurt, no doubt, though I still think Rolle is only slightly above average and can still be replaced in free agency and as has been stated before it appears the only way we were going to keep Dansby is to just franchise him forever. That would have been extremely foolish as a long term plan but maybe the FO should have bit the bullet this year and paid him all that money. We will see.

Also having a guy to replace is sometimes a matter of unforseen guys stepping up. I remember when Pitt let Buress and Randle El go they didn't seem to have anybody at WR. It was a rookie, Holmes, who eventually took their place but they didn't have some vet in place who had a bunch of experience and proven resume.