Steelers Re-Sign TE Michael Palmer

SUPER BOWL BOUND YEAH!

 

i will cross off the list bob labriola first

 

Yeah Bob, because re-signing Michael Palmer to a 1-yr contract solves our dilemma of how to replace Heath Miller once he's done.

This signing does nothing for our draft plans, or at least it shouldn't. I could see if we went out and acquired Jimmy Graham for a 6-yr deal, yeah, THAT would mean that we wouldn't draft a TE. But Palmer? Come on!

 

2 points:
A) Welcome to Steelers free agency where this is considered a splash signing; AND
B) He's better than David Johnson I guess.

Oh, and let's not forget that we re-signed our long snapper, another free agency splash signing.

 

I think old Bob may have been joking around.

 

He better be everyone knows we need at least four more TE's before the season starts.

 

Come on, Jack, not every FA signing is going to be splash.

Even the big spenders are picking up one year vet deals like this. If Tomlin was out there proclaiming that Palmer was the heir apparent to Miller, then yeah, maybe. But this is clearly just one of those less exciting roster-fillers. Given that we already have a solid starter at TE, I'd rather see one come through the draft than get a big FA signing at this position.

 

Okay, so we signed Mike Mitchell. Hopefully, that will turn out to be a good signing but we'll see. He's had a grand total of one good season in the 5 years he's been in the league. He couldn't crack the Raiders starting lineup a couple of years back. Don't get me wrong, he seems like an intelligent, hardworking safety and I think Lake can do wonders with him but this is our biggest signing thus far in free agency. In the meantime, we've lost some of our own key free agents in Woods, Hood, Dwyer and Cotchery. Didn't players used to want to play for us? In addition, James Starks was supposed to be in Pittsburgh on Monday but Tomlin and Colbert had more important things to do with the Pirates in Florida and couldn't make the meeting. Starks ended up signing a deal with the Packers. Who knows if he would have signed a contract while he was in Pittsburgh on Monday but he might have. It was certainly within the realm of possibility. But since Tomlin and Colbert had better things to do that day we'll NEVER KNOW! I think free agency has been somewhat botched this year. I realize that the team is in perpetual salary cap hell, but both Rooney and Colbert gave indications that we would be much bigger players in free agency this year and so far I don't think we've delivered. Do you?

 

RE-signed? This guy was on the team last year? Never even heard of the dude.

Jack, maybe they meant we would be bigger players in free agency by having all our players sign elsewhere?

 

we signed cam thomas too ....

 

the standard is.............

 

You guys need to relax. This is the Steelers MO. Palmer's signing won't prevent them from drafting a TE, but if there isn't one they like in any round, they may be content with Palmer as the #3 and his contribution on special teams, which he did really well at last year if I remember correctly.

Heath was resigned for 3 years. Spaeth is the #2. We don't have a NEED to get Heath's replacement this year. It could wait another year, maybe 2, but if the right guy is there at #15, or in one of the later rounds, we won't look past it either.

 

The Steelers don't make splash signings ever, they will always go after lower tier players.

 

I understand that completely, I've been a fan since the mid-70s and all through the modern free agency era. The point I'm trying to make is that we USED to sign players like Alex Carrington, James Starks and others. Now it seems that they come and visit (or don't visit if Tomlin and Colbert have more important matters going on) and then sign elsewhere. This used to be a destination point for some free agents now it seems it's just a courtesty stop along the way to their final destination.

 

I suppose I just see the Palmer signing as a different level of FA than, say, Mitchell or Starks. Palmer is no different to the bodies we'll be signing up after the draft as camp fodder. So I doubt even Colbert had Palmer in mind when he talked about being busier in FA.

As for the separate question of whether they've delivered in bringing in bigger players - well, of course not. But I suspect there are a few more twists and turns yet to play out this off-season...

 

I know you're right, Thigpen, we can't fully judge the off-season until it has completely played out. And I don't necessarily have a problem with them signing Michael Palmer, it's just that Colbert and Rooney seemed to be talking a good game about being more active in free agency and it's frustrating to see our own key free agents leaving en masse and watching potentiallly strong free agents from other teams leave town (or not come to town at all because of "other conflicts" the HC and GM have) and sign with other teams. We'll wait until the off-season concludes, but at this point I'd give the Steelers a D- grade on their free agency efforts.

 

This is the busiest I can recall we have been involved in the FA. By being involved meaning scheduled visits and at least appearing interested in strengthening this team through FA acquisition. I must say I am truly disappointed because it really looks like they are appearing interested only to make any real moves. This is kinda like poker only the FO is not real good at bluffing lol

Bman

 

Tomlin/etc being down in FL for FSU's pro day and also talking to the Pirates had nothing to do with Starks...he opted to re-sign with the Packers instead of coming in for a visit.

 

Yeah what was that . Coach T talking to the Pirates lol.. WTF

Bman

 

This guy was on our team previously? Where, Practice Squad? never even heard of the guy. Is he Carson and Jordan's older brother?

 

Nor have I heard of him. LOL

Bman

 

I was basing my comment on what Ed Bouchette wrote in his blog earlier in the week:
--- Are the Steelers’ top brass fiddling while they let potential players get away? GM Kevin Colbert, coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were at spring training with the Pirates yesterday. Tomlin gave them a speech. In the meantime, it was first reported that Packers halfback James Starks was supposed to visit the Steelers on Monday. That was then changed to Tuesday/Wednesday, perhaps because Colbert/Tomlin would be in Florida on Monday. So what happened? On Monday, instead of visiting the Steelers, Starks was wooed by the Packers into re-signing with them.
--- Also on Monday, the coach and GM of the Carolina Panthers were having dinner with Steelers free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery in Charlotte. The Steelers would like to have Cotchery back.

I didn't realize that they were in Florida at the FSU pro day. When was the FSU pro day? Do you have a link for that information because I'd maybe be willing to give them more of a pass if that was the case.