Huddle up guys!
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

It appears the Steelers are flirting again with WR Steve Breaston.  According to John Clayton of ESPN on NFL Live this week; the Steelers are interested in signing Breaston in the next couple of weeks, presumably after they have the additional salary cap space that will be freed up by Willie Colon’s contract being cleared.  Both the Steelers Depot and Behind the Steel Curtain offer their reviews of the news.

Steelers Depot suggests that the signing of Breaston, along with the 2 WR draft picks in Markus Wheaton and Justin Brown means that Plaxico Burress’ days as a Steeler might be numbered.  The biggest downside to a veteran like Burress taking up a roster spot in the wide receiving corps is that he wouldn’t be able to contribute to Special Teams.  Breaston previously worked with Steelers OC Todd Haley in Arizona and Kansas City so it makes sense why the Steelers continue to keep going after him.  Clearly Haley sees value in adding Breaston to the roster so while the Steelers are unlikely to carry more than 5 WR on the roster at the very most; it’s probably a safe bet to say that Burress might be on his way out if Breaston comes in.  Only time will tell though, the cap space to sign anyone still isn’t there.

Behind the Steel Curtain explains how Breaston could fit in under the cap, of course once Colon’s money is cleared and the rookies are all signed to their deals.  As we all remember the Steelers brought Breaston in for workouts last month but did not sign the wide receiver who is recovering from an arthritic knee condition.  It’s important to remember that the Steeler can afford Breaston under the cap but that will definitely limit them from being able to sign other veterans that might only tend to show up just before training camp (Max Starks anyone?).  I guess what it will come down to is just how valuable they think Breaston is to the offense as opposed to say a Starks, Legursky, or even Casey Hampton.  We shall see.

What do you think, Steeler Nation?  Do you think the Steelers should pick up Breaston even at the expense of bringing back other veterans or at the expense of Plaxico Burress?

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Burress will be back in 2013. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

I guess that idea went out the window earlier today as the Steelers re-signed soon-to-be 33 year old Larry Foote and the soon-to-be 36 year-old Plaxico Burress.

While I am not exactly a “fan” of either move, I can at least understand why each one was made by Pittsburgh’s brass.

The re-upping of Burress actually provides the franchise with some added depth at a position which could sorely stand to use more.  Mike Wallace has finally left town, and the Steelers have Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery as the only proven players at Wide Receiver.

Granted, I hope that the Steelers are able to target a Wide Receiver early in this April’s Draft (DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Hunter, Keenan Allen).  But even if the Steelers draft a Wide Receiver in Round 1 or Round 2, most Rookie pass-catchers tend to go through a year or two of “growing pains” as they adjust to new coverages and the physicality of the sport at the professional level.  Burress’ presence, at least in 2013, should allow for the young player to be brought along at their own pace and find their niche in Boss Todd’s Offense.  Plus, what better mentor/cautionary tale for the youngster to learn from than a guy who has seen such incredible highs and horrible lows as a professional football player like Plaxico?

The biggest reason however why I like the Burress signing is because he possesses what no other Wide Receiver on the Steelers’ roster does: SIZE.  At 6’5”, Plaxico’s frame is perfect for down-field throws, and it still gives him a sizable height advantage over any Defensive Back in the entire N.F.L..  Despite the fact that his speed is no longer what it once was, Burress can still give Ben Roethlisberger a large target to find all over the field, particularly in the Red Zone.

Remember readers, Heath Miller is coming off of a knee injury, so Pittsburgh’s Offense could stand to use a competent, and large Red Zone threat if and when their Pro Bowl Tight End is sidelined.  Brown, Sanders, and Cotchery are nowhere near as physically imposing as Burress, and Plaxico’s size could come in handy when Pittsburgh’s Offense finds themselves inside the 20′s, or Big Ben wants to call a Fade route.

At least to me, the projected one-year, non-guaranteed deal to re-up Burress is a heady “low-risk, medium-reward” type of move that has the potential to help Pittsburgh’s Offense in some key areas.  Although I’ve warmed to the idea of Plaxico coming back, I cannot say the same for Larry Foote and the 3-year deal he signed earlier today.

Foote did not play well in pass-coverage last year. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Do not get me wrong, I totally understand why the move was made in the first place: The Steelers have ZERO depth at Inside Linebacker.

Behind Lawrence Timmons and Foote, the cupboard is essentially bare in terms of players on the depth chart.  As it stands, Marshall McFadden, Brian Rolle, and Kion Wilson are the Steelers’ options at Inside Linebacker.  Sure, I guess that I could include now-UFA Stevenson Sylvester and Sean Spence (and his mangled leg) as possibilities.  Yet I cannot see either player making any sort of future contributions with the franchise.

I understand that Foote had a solid year last year on the stat-sheet, and he led the team in Tackles (113), recorded 4.0 Sacks, forced 2 fumbles, and recovered 2 more during the 2012 campaign.  Yet the veteran Linebacker had plenty of issues in pass-coverage, and was a liability on 3rd Downs unless he was blitzing through the A-Gap.

I understand that Foote has a large amount of experience under his belt, and the team has really no other option to turn to at the moment.  But did the Steelers’ brass really need to re-sign the veteran to a 3-year deal?

I know I know, all of the Foote supporters will point to how the veteran has the “best understanding” of how Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau’s “complicated” scheme works.  Nevertheless, I must ask:

• What good does an understanding of LeBeau’s complex scheme do if Foote himself is a 2-Down player who provides little to no value whatsoever in pass-coverage or against athletic Offensive Linemen?

I for one would rather see the Steelers gamble on Timmons at the “Buck” spot this year, and then let the four aforementioned options (3 players on roster, 1 Rookie) above duke it out to win the “Mack” job beside him.  Timmons would be able to step into a “leadership” role on the Defense, while the younger players receive their own shots to “learn by doing” as the franchise continues to rebuild.

With this deal, the  Steelers seem to believe that the soon-to-be 33 year old Foote will stay healthy and play as effectively as he did last year for the team.  My hope is that Foote’s contract is front-loaded like it is because the team is set to draft an Inside Linebacker high this April.  Thus, the veteran will get a nice chunk of change, and the team can part ways with him rather easily/inexpensively if a young player can step up by 2014 or 2015.  Regardless of what I think though, the deal is done, and the Steelers have Foote signed to a deal through the 2015 season.

I for one am intrigued to see how the rest of Pittsburgh’s offseason plays out, especially because they were so busy on Day 1.

Readers:  Do you agree with the moves?  Why or why not?

Stats Courtesy of: Pro-Football Reference and ESPN.com

Players Contract Info. Provided By: Spotrac.com

Dec 30, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress (80) catches a touchdown pass in front of Cleveland Browns defensive back Joe Haden (23) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Steelers considering signing Plaxico Burress to another contract?  Well, I don’t know, but I hope they are considering all the options.  Can Plaxico Burress contribute to the Steelers? I think that if the Steelers develop a plan for him and consider his age and skill set, he can.  If he stays in shape, he can still have the range and agility to make plays.  In his 2011 season with the Jets, he played all 16 games, started 13 of them, caught 45 passes for 612 yards and had 8 touchdowns.  I was surprised when the Jets let him go because I really hadn’t noticed any negative press around him.  However, it may have been a case of salary.

Like several other aging Steeler players, there is a certain age where your potential return on investment looks shaky.  Burress may be getting into that category.  Realistically at 35 years old, Plaxico is not going to be the workhorse.  The Steelers still need to find that piece of the puzzle.  However, if Burress does this right, he can bring intangibles:  experience, maturity, (hey don’t do something stupid like I did…), and an example of how to be dedicated to your craft.  The way Burress has stayed in shape should show that.  However, he and his agent are probably going to have to accept that the $900,000-ish he got for signing for just a few months with the Steelers in 2012 is unlikely to be offered.

Yes, Burress was a distraction the first time he was with the Steelers.  But, I think he has learned how to NOT be a distraction, which other wide receivers like Terrell Owens, Chad (formerly Ocho Cinco) Johnson, and Randy Moss never learned.  I look at his career numbers of 553 receptions, 8,499 total yards with only 8 fumbles and 4 lost and 78 touchdowns and I see a player who still has potential.  Yeah, the criminal incident won’t sit well with many Steelers fans, but he served his time.  I’ve listened to some of his interviews and kept waiting for him to say how unfair it all was.  I may have missed it, but he didn’t say that.  He looked forward.  I hope he thanks the powers that be that he only hurt himself that night with the gun, because he might still be in jail and never returned to footballl.  But, if I were to judge all the football players on the stupid/criminal things they have done ( Steelers among them), then this would be a long, long, long article.  I am OK with a second chance.  I say the Steelers should consider him along with everyone else they consider.  If he takes on a diva attitude like some wide receivers do, then take him out of consideration.  However, I just think the Steelers have a long road ahead to put together a team.  Omar Khan is going to be having some all-nighters surviving on Red Bull or coffee.  Plaxico Burress should not be an automatic no if he can fit into the salary structure.

Burress’ eyes will be focused down the field for most of the day against the Browns.

NFL.com confirmed this morning that Steelers wide receiver is out again for the third week in a row battling that ankle sprain.  Jerricho Cotchery has been out all week with a rib injury.  This means that newly re-signed Plaxico Burress will play a much more significant role in the Steelers offense today.

Burress will more than likely play the #3 receiver, but don’t expect him to just sit in the slot.  I bet Haley will line him up opposite of Mike Wallace to help spread the field while keeping Emmanuel Sanders in the slot area and over the middle of the field (where he is really good).  Expect to see lots of over the middle routes with Sanders and TE Heath Miller, as the Browns will spread the defense out to help any underneath routes to Wallace and Burress.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but my confidence is actually running high this morning about this game.  Batch will manage the game well, as he usually does, and Burress should inject some worries and confusion for the Browns secondary.  I’m predicting that Burress, Sanders and Miller will have very good days today.  As for Mike Wallace – I expect his troubles to continue especially if Batch can’t work the ball deep down the field.

A certain someone seems to be very thankful this Thanksgiving by what he’s been saying to the media.

The Steelers signed Plaxico Burress on Wednesday, and that could have bigger positive effects on the Steelers offense than one might think.  In fact, Plax may find himself playing a rather important role on this team that could keep guys like Jerricho Cotchery on the bench even after he’s healthy.  I’ll even go out as far out to say that Burress will outperform Mike Wallace in the coming weeks

Burress still believes in himself and has maintained ‘football shape’ since being cut by the Jets during the offseason.   He’s seems (seems) to have matured since his last stint in the ‘Burgh, saying things like:

Getting an opportunity to play where you started, how many guys get an opportunity to do that?

I just want to come in and have an impact and learn and show some young guys new tricks and just have fun.

Those are some of the question I can’t answer. I just remained in shape and kept telling myself I have some good football left in me.

He’s on for a one-year deal woth $920,000.  There’s hope that Burress will have a fast and lasting impact on the 2012 season.   To do that, he’s going to really have to delve into Todd Haley’s playbook.  But there’s always been one thing about Burress that no one ever seems to remember – he’s actually had some good football smarts.  He doesn’t have any street smarts and has the reputation for lax play, but when it comes to route running and learning – he’s fairly good grasping the schemes.

That already puts him light years ahead of fellow ‘once hot shot receiver,’ Mike Wallace.  Couple that with his 6’-5” frame and a decent set of wheels, and Burress is built to not only succeed in this type of offense, but also eclipse Mike Wallace in performance.  Burress is not as fast as Wallace (4.6s v 4.3s 40 time), but as of last season he can still run an out route well.  He scored 8 TD’s with one of the leagues most suspect QB’s while on the Jets last season.  That has to count for something that this guy still has what it takes.

I sense that Burress could be a good ‘go to guy’ for Batch not only on Sunday, but also against the Ravens in two weeks as well.  Should Brown return for the Ravens game, the Steelers could have Brown, Wallace, Burress and Sanders lined up all at one time.  Let’s see Ed Reed try and put a helmet on that combo.  I believe that the Browns game will be a bit of settling in for Burress, and his real usefulness and the real reason why the Steelers brought him back is to help produce against the Ravens secondary.  Burress could potentially out produce Wallace – and at this point can anyone argue otherwise? – and slide him to the #2 spot on the depth chart.  Does that mean Wallace sees less playing time?  Not necessarily.  Having both of them out there as a deep threat will cause secondaries to go insane.  But, Burress will benefit most from this as well.  I think he will get open more often and play the jump ball or back shoulder fade much better than Mike ‘Doesn’t Matter If You Even Hit Me In The Hands’ Wallace.

Overall this is a smart and good move by the Steelers.  I’m not hot on Burress’ track record over the last 5-6 years.  I hope hitting bottom with the arrest and being let go by the Jets has put him in a different mental frame of mind to put out 100% effort every single snap.  Expect to see him have an impact Sunday and beyond.  And expect Mike Wallace fall deeper and deeper into the abyss of insignificance.