Steelers MMQB: NFL Offseason News
By Kim Myers
Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs after a pass reception against Cleveland Browns defensive back Julian Posey (38) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:
- Tennessee Titans looking to trade Chis Johnson
- Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. passes at 88
- Former Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall retiring from NFL after 6 seasons
- Steelers quiet in first days of free agency negotiations
As of noon on Saturday NFL teams were permitted to commence in negotiations with their own players who will become free agents on Tuesday afternoon. If you like wheeling and dealing, this time of year is ideal for you. If you’re sentimental and don’t like anything changing, you might want to tune it all out until training camp opens.
The Tennessee Titans are looking to make a change at running back. Mike Florio of PFT is reporting that the organization is not going to be willing to pay Johnson his $8 million salary in 2014 and Johnson is very unlikely to accept a pay cut so the team is going to explore trade options. With a pretty thin running back draft class it still seems pretty unlikely that a team would part with much in the way of a trade for Johnson. It may just work out better for both parties if he’s released and is able to explore his own options as a free agent.
William Clay Ford Sr., the longtime owner of the Detroit Lions franchise has passed away, according to his family. The 88 year old had purchased the Lions in 1963 and was the last surviving grandchild of Henry Ford. He also was a Word War II veteran, having served in the Navy. His son, William Clay Ford Jr. is expected to take over his duties with the organization.
Rashard Mendenhall is retiring from the NFL at age 26. The former Steelers and Arizona Cardinals running back explained his reasons in a post he wrote for the Huffington Post on Sunday evening. He cites his desire to write, not be criticized, and a changing culture for why he is no longer interested in being a professional football player. While he did write an insightful article that brings up many good points about the culture in today’s athletics that promotes and rewards the more entertaining aspects of pro athletes as opposed to hard work and determination. Too bad he wasn’t exactly the model of a humble hard working football player like he made himself out to be in his post what with that whole not showing up to work on a game day thing. Good luck to Mendenhall in whatever he does, clearly the NFL wasn’t for him so I wish him luck in whatever his future brings.
The Steelers had a relatively quiet weekend for the first official opening of pre-free agency. They ended the week with a restructure of Antonio Brown’s contract to free up cap space but clearly they’re not going to be done there.
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