Russell Okung

I hope he does. While I really like AV and he did a fine job filling in, I think we can stand to upgrade that position.

 

It was fairly certain he would be a starter?

 

yup, doesnt seem like it would be too hard to trick an nfl player

 

I' m thinking with a year of experience, and every game he continues to start, he will be an upgrade on himself.

Just my thought.

 

Mike Webster negotiated his own contracts. He said it wasn't hard as long as you don't mind hearing people tell you you're not really very good.

 

so like a regular job?

 

So I guess I'm not understanding something here: Wouldn't Okung command an even larger price tag than Beachum? I'm thinking if Okung signed he would be the day 1 starter as well.

I guess my point is why not just sign Beachum for possibly less?

 

It's being reported that Ryan Harris FA from the Denver Broncos is scheduled for a visit this week. Harris started all 16 games at LT for the Broncos in 2015.
Doesn't sound like the Steelers are that confident in AV as the starter?

 

or mike adams as the backup. if they do bring in a new starter, it may have less to do with AV and more to do with heath retiring. heath was some good help for AV protecting our franchise. green won't be that type of help in the blocking department and now we will need a receiving TE out in the patterns more with bryant out. this would leave AV on an island a lot more than before. they must think it would be better for our aging QB if another starter at LT was a guy more capable of that on his own. this would give AV some more time to work on his game. it would also allow us to have a good swing tackle as a backup and when the new signing is a FA we could sign AV much cheaper to eventually become the starter.

 

Okung wants close to 10 mil a year. When he got rid of his agent, he missed out on that first week window and now he thinks he can just jump in and get a big payday. Well, he missed out and the money dried up. He is going to get considerably less then he thinks he is. And it doesn't matter who he signs with.

He's hurt too much for my taste. But I can see why they want him. They want to upgrade Ben's blind side.

 

Can u ever have enough good olineman? I have no problem with what we have but I don't think u can have enough. If u carry 8 or 9, might as well be the best 8 or 9 u can get

 

Yeah..I hear ya. Just thinking about how our O-line was 4 years ago gives me a chill. It was bad. I would feel better about Okung if he could just show me a sign of being healthier going forward. But, if we sign him, I'll hope for the best. When healthy, he is an upgrade over on that side.

 

Offer has been made .No details at this time. I hope he takes it..

 

me too. given our track history of injuries and protecting Ben, its great we are preparing.

 

Giants and lions also made offers....

 

I have no issue with this either. If the team feels they need a new starter (if they cannot bring Beachum back) then I'm all for it. For those bringing up his injury history...I read somewhere that out of a possible 96 regular season games since he's been in the league hes played in 72 of them. Compare to Pouncey for the same 96 games has played in 61. If he misses a couple games a year by chance while it sucks I wouldnt have an issue with it.

 

Not sure he will like the lions unless they made a lot higher offer . The way a lot of contracts are set up lots more money for post season play . So that should give the Steelers an advantage in that area .

 

It going to come down to his desire to get another ring...... I'm sure that the giants and lions have more money to spare, but it's also fair to say that neither of those teams appear to be going anywhere anytime soon... he already has a ring..
If he wants another, than he signs with us.... if he wants the paycheck, then he goes to one of them

 

It is all about the money with some people, for example look at our guys both Gay and Foster I feel could have got more. Then you take a guy like Forte who was rumored to be going to the Pat but ended up on the Jet....a team without a QB. I think money might have played a part in that, and I feel Okung is after the money cause of his injury history and fact that he has a ring already, but these are JMO no facts.

 

You could be right , but the Steelers might actually be able to make his contract look better with post season bonuses and Superbowl bonus type of money . I am sure the other Teams can make a higher offer up front , but I think we can have a higher overall offer with the bonuses ...We will just have to see how it goes?

 

I think Okung is another levi brown in waiting:

Russell Okung
2015 team: Seattle Seahawks

There was a time when Okung was close to being a top-10 tackle in the league, but it has been three years since his peak in 2012. He was a good run-blocker early in his career, but his cumulative run block grades of -7.2 and +1.0 the past two seasons have been considerably lower. He’s had just one above-average pass-blocking season in six years, but the Seahawks’ comparatively run-heavy offense has lessened that exposure. All that said, he has shown his potential in the past, and has put together small stretches of good play since then. If he can stay healthy, it’s certainly possible that he could reach that level again.

 

thats an odd comparison

 

I just read that we our offer was the lowest money wise of the three. Just saying...