Centers are out there in Free Agency

[Steelhurt]

Free-agent C, OG and OT classes are deep in '08
By Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Updated: February 20, 2008
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The free-agent market opens Feb. 29. Scouts Inc. will give an overview of the upcoming class, position by position. This year's free-agent offensive linemen class is especially deep.



Centers
The center position is very strong this year with several starters qualifying for unrestricted free agency as well as a few backups who have the potential to start for the right team.
Plus, three teams have two centers who are unrestricted free agents: New Orleans with Jeff Faine and Jonathan Goodwin, Tampa Bay with John Wade and Matt Lehr and St. Louis with Andy McCollum and Brett Romberg.

[Tres Rios]

I would love to add Faine but don't know at what cost. He was a 2007 pro bowl alternate, good size for a Center and is still relatively young at 26 or 27.

[Superman]

We don't need a center. We have woMahan.

[60 MINUTES]

Adding a center and drafting a OT and Guard would be a one year fix. If the draft picks work out. I really wish the steelers would take a look at adding a good Center FA. I'm not sure when we all of a sudden got this cheap. I know we never have put the money out but we always got that one guy when we needed them. Hartings was paid well to come here. Now all of a sudden we pick up other guys that other teams are ready to cut. It really doesn't make since not to at least sign one guy, especially when you could use 4 linemen. Smith might come back, Max might sign, colon might work out at guard, then again none of that shit could work and you would need 4 guys. That is counting SImmons who really sucked shit last year as well.

[The Iron is Steel On!]

What about Bentley for the Browns? Will he ever come back to playing well and will the Browns cut him now that they have a good center.

[Punxsutawney]

I'm not sure when we all of a sudden got this cheap. I know we never have put the money out but we always got that one guy when we needed them. Hartings was paid well to come here. Now all of a sudden we pick up other guys that other teams are ready to cut. It really doesn't make since not to at least sign one guy, especially when you could use 4 linemen. .

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that the price of the average quality FA has skyrocketed since back when they signed the likes of Hartings and Farrior. Though fans often refuse to admit it, the Rooneys are very stingy. To land a quality FA, a team has to be willing to outbid someone and the Rooney's refuse to spend the extra dollar to a fault.

Don't get me wrong. I think the Rooneys run a fine organization as they often spend up to what the cap will allow, but I am tired of year after year watching teams that have a near identical cap situation as the Steelers sign a top player while the Steelers sign the likes of Sean Mahan. It is possible to manipulate the cap without sacrificing the future of your franchice. The key is to no over do it like the Titans and Jags did a several years back. The Rooneys need to grow a pair and be more aggressive.

[Far51]

the FO is not gonna dish cash for a fa C if they do it will be some their 3 old vet.
They have too much $$$$ invested in turnstile Mahan.
If we add a C it will be the via the draft I would love Pollack but with so holes both lines I think we go OG OT DL OL

[tjack]

Hey let's give this kid a shot.

2006: Rutgers' starting center in all 13 games...Finalist for the Rimington Trophy...Center of an offensive line that allowed just eight sacks, the fewest amount in the nation…RU tailback Ray Rice rushed for 1,794 yards, the second-highest total in the nation and a BIG EAST single-season record…Awarded the David Bender Trophy, given annually to the top offensive lineman at Rutgers... Contributed to Rutgers win over Howard (9/23), as the Scarlet Knights scored 56 points, the most points scored in the Greg Schiano era...In Rutgers' win over Louisville (11/9), contributed to a blocking effort that allowed Ray Rice to rush for 75 yards in the fourth quarter...Served on a line that averaged over 180 rushing yards per game this season.

2005: Emerged as the starting center in preseason camp and started all 12 games... Helped pave the way for RU to accumulate a season-best 574 yards of total offense, including 337 yards rushing, in the Scarlet Knights' regular-season finale against Cincinnati (11/26)...Also served on an RU offensive line that opened the way for 532 yards of total offense, including 158 on the ground in the Insight Bowl vs. Arizona State (12/27)…Played important role in an offensive line that recorded seven 100-yard rushing performances and produced RU's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1994.

[BLITZ 43]

the FO is not gonna dish cash for a fa C if they do it will be some their 3 old vet.
They have too much $$$$ invested in turnstile Mahan.
If we add a C it will be the via the draft I would love Pollack but with so holes both lines I think we go OG OT DL OL

Pollack has opened my eyes a bit too at the combine but I have to say he didn't impress me at the senior bowl. There were very few centers that looked good at the senior bowl but that was only one game and I don't watch enough college ball to know to much about these guys, I am just going on what I have seen at the senior bowl and the combine. I will say we can draft all the OG & T'S we want if Faneca could save Manhan's ass then I am sorry nobody can. We need to fix the oline from the inside out starting at center and we all know as much as we don't want to accept it that the Steelers will not cut Mahan at least this year so he will have to be a guard cause they won't bench him either. I don't know much about Romberg from the Rams and I know the Rams line was bad but they were hurt worse then us last year and I don't think center was their problem, anyone have any opinions on him?

[Blind Official]

Just because people hit the market that play OC, it does not mean that the FA crop is "deep".

[Parasite]

Hey let's give this kid a shot.


I absolutely agree. He couldn't have been worse than Mahan last year. I mean, seriously.

[BLITZ 43]

Just because people hit the market that play OC, it does not mean that the FA crop is "deep".

Yeah I agree and I don't know much about these guys that are FA'S but I don't see any big time guys there. The only one I reconize is Wade and there is no way I even suggest him. That is why I have been asking about this Romberg guy I have read a little and he might not be to bad.

[BLITZ 43]

Here is a link on the oline from ESPN:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3246139

[JohnnyO]

On the contrary, I think since the advent of the salary cap the Steelers/Rooneys have managed it very well. You've got to pick and choose carefully who to keep, who to take, and who to let go. No team is perfect but some (like the Pats*) are better than others.
Don't forget, you've got Ben and FWP and Santonio and God knows who else coming up in the next few years.
As far as center goes, you could dig up Mike Webster and he wouldn't be any more of a stiff than Mahan.