Despite the excitement that free agency creates in other cities, the Steelers have never been a team to make a dramatic splash in that event, and thus far, this off-season is no different. While many of my fellow Steelers fans are impatient and find the Steelers' lack of free agent signings disturbing, I feel that free agency is simply a "media grab." If you need proof, the two biggest media hounds, Al Davis and Daniel Snyder, generally make a big splash during the month of March. Alas, for fans in Oakland and Washington, March is the only month in which Davis' and Snyder's teams make headlines.
The Steelers will probably sign a lower-tier free agent or two, but no one that will make front page news. Yet, if history serves as any indication, those free agents will be sound choices. A few years ago, James Farrior was brought in, and no one seemed to notice...until this year. Signing free agents such as Kimo von Oelhoffen and Jeff Hartings may not create flashy headlines, but they can transform a good team into a great team.
Instead of wasting money overpaying for free agents, the Steelers prefer to re-sign their own players, the first of which being Larry Foote. Larry received a five year contract, and let me be the first to say that Foote deserved it. While Foote was not as dynamic as Bell, Foote is a good linebacker.
Bell when healthy is unmatched, as far as sheer physical ability...but the operative words are "when healthy." Furthermore, football is more than mere physical plays: it requires teamwork...and coverage skills. I know I'm going to get ridiculed for saying this, but the Steelers' defense was better without Bell. Sure, Bell made a ton of amazing plays, but he freelanced on many of those (because, as rumor has it, he could never grasp the play-book).
When Bell broke-off his coverages, he left opponents open for crucial receptions and/or touchdowns. Even if the ball did not go directly to his man, when he altered his assignment, he left the other Steelers defenders in a lurch. Sure, Bell made a ton of amazing plays, but there were plenty of other times when he ran himself out of position (i.e. had no chance to make any type of play). Furthermore, when Bell freelanced, he left his zone....which forced the next defender to cover Bell's assigned area...which left gaps in the defense that other teams exploited. Remember when teams were killing the Steelers' defense with short passes? Now, teams do not; the difference is Foote. Foote plays better in space (i.e. coverage) and actually plays the in zone in which he is supposed to cover.
One final reason to admire the re-signing of Foote: Larry is much cheaper. Instead of giving Bell a $16 million dollar signing bonus, that same amount of money can be used to re-sign Foote, as well as extend Hampton and Hope. In short, Foote may not be as dominant as Bell, but the defense as a whole is better off with Foote...and Hampton and Hope.
Speaking of Kendrell Bell, he had a deal in place with the New York Giants, but the deal fell through when Bell could not pass the physical. In other words, his history of injuries will probably scare away quite a few teams. Looks like maybe Bell should have taken a little less money prior to last season, and he would still have his job in Pittsburgh.
Truthfully, someone will indeed overpay for Bell, but as long as it is not the Steelers, I will be happy for him. Speaking of players being overpaid by other teams, I thought that Plaxico Burress was going to be "The" free agent this off-season. Then again, maybe teams watched some tape of Burress dropping passes and/or falling down, and they decided to go with a player who actually makes plays. Like Bell, I am sure that Plax will end up with a hefty contract, but as long as it is from someone else, that is fine by me.
