Is Sanders Deal Really That Bad For Steelers?
In case you missed it in my last post – this is Sanders muffing a punt.
Photo Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
$2.5 million for a third tier receiver – are you nuts!? Sanders will help out a desperate offense, have a great year, and the Steelers will sign a long term deal with him – it’s a win win for all.
No, I don’t have bi-polar issues. But that’s just the gamut of reactions from Steeler fans and pundits across the globe within the 24 hours of the report that the Steelers matched the Patriots offer on Sanders. Some of us here at NPC are scratching our heads over the deal. Some, like Hensley over at ESPN, feel that this was the Steelers only play. Others yet feel like this was a smart move by the team – a way to stop the hemorrhaging of losing player after player to free agency and salary cap casualties at the same time giving the team time to sign Sanders to a long term deal.
But will that long term deal really happen? Let’s say that Sanders has one hell of a year for the Steelers. Do we really believe that the Steelers will be able to retain Sanders? They’ve already put their eggs into one basket by signing Antonio Brown to his big deal. Unless they plan on dumping a ton of weight in 2014, like Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, or Ike Taylor, they won’t be able to afford franchising Sanders ($10.5 million in 2013 and will be more next season) nor sign him to a lucrative deal (say $16 million over 4 years with lots of upfront cash).
I don’t think any of us need to be reminded of the restructuring tailspin this organization is in currently. There’s so much dead money that’s been pushed off to 2014 and 2015 it’s not funny. So don’t even think that the team can restructure again and get Sanders in for a decent price – not without hacking the roster first.
I really wanted the team to let him walk and head to the land of Voldemort. The 91st pick is no joke in the NFL draft. Remember your history – Hines Ward came in at 92nd back in ’98. How’d that guy turn out for this franchise? Other Steeler greats have come late as well – John Stallworth, 82nd and Mike Webster, 125th. The trick with getting quality draft picks is well ummmm picking quality players. There’s been some stinkers in the early rounds – Troy Edwards, 13th/Mark Malone 28th/and the entire Class of ’08). So the emphasis on when that compensatory is a mute point in my book. But if we must look at it that way, anything under 125 is a solid pick for the future of the football team. Anyone after that could either be a gem or fodder for the practice squad.
Absolutely, I’m scratching my head on this move by Colbert and The Brass. In an offseason already filled with weird moves like re-signing Larry Foote and kicking Harrison to the curb, they just continue to make confusing moves that instills close to zero confidence in the improvement on this team. Will they get better than 2012? I think it’s very possible. The cancer of Mike Wallace will be out of that locker room, and that offense should get better if the line can play 14-16 games. But, this team needs help all around, and giving more money than you can afford will not help your cause. I hope Sanders can moonlight as a running back because there’s no way the Steelers can afford someone like Ahmad Bradshaw now. Even if he plays better than he has the last three seasons, he won’t get this team past 9-7.
What say you Steeler fans?! What the hell is going on down on the South Side?! Or am I (and a few others) the only ones to think the Steelers keep muffing this offseason worse than, well…. Emmanuel Sanders…..