Top 10 Steelers Who Were Let Walk

That's really too bad for AB, but doesn't have jack to do with my comment or the topic at hand. Timmons will get extended and more than likely for an additional two years.It will work out to be somewhere between 8-10million per year. If they decide after the 2016 or 2017 seasons he's done then they will designate him a post june 1 cut. WHich will make his dead money hit about two million for two seasons. That isn't anywhere near the sky is falling scenario you keep trying to paint. One would like to think Bryant is in their long term plans, but that's really up to Bryant and his drug use. While it would be nice to keep Bell the Steelers aren't going to break the bank on a RB that has only played one full season. Technically he hasn't even played one full season.

 

Woodson, Chad, Lake, Searcy, Merriweather, Vrabel (though he turned out good, not so much as a Steeler), Hope, Sanders, Plax, Brice McCain

 

I don't think Merriweather counts since he was traded away.

 

Other than Woodson and Preston or Drew Pearson, Vrabel no one had the success the that they could have had with the Steelers. One guy that I remember, Zigoda or something like that went onto win a Super Bowl with the Rams. Tim Johnson won a super bowl with the skins. Kuhn too did better. Paul Skansi had a good career playing opposite of Steve Largent.

 

.....and his two rings?

 

Did we let Yancey Thigpen go?

 

Sort of,he signed with the Titans. They made him something like the highest paid wr of all time. He played for the Titans for 3 years, starting 18 games, and averaged just over 30 receptions a year.

 

I couldn't remember how that went down.

 

Vrabel's problem was we were stacked with LB'ers. I think he was playing behind Joey Porter. Same thing happened to Joey in a round about way. When Joey was not resigned he stated "I understand what the Steelers are doing, James can do the same things as me for a lot less money and he is younger"

 

thomas everett. got a ring with the cowpokes.

 

jason simmons, big play ray seals are a couple more.

 

Steelers aren't going to break the bank for Bell? Really? He had 2215 yards from scrimmage in his one full season. Tomlin hand picked him and he is 23.

Wow. Just wow.

 

Bottom 10 who we should have let walk. go.

 

Absolutely. Bell is the complete package and most well-rounded RB in the NFL.

If Bell is healthy and his OL stays healthy he will have another monster year.

I really hope he can keep coming back from injuries but what a tough way to start a career.

 

Chad Brown was in his prime when he left, most of the other guys on the list were past their prime.

 

We wanted to keep Neil O but he got a ridiculous contract from NY. In Pittsburgh he was good enough to win playoff games. He knew the offense. He clicked with the WR's and O-line. He had a good running game. We would have been a better team with him. Probably had another SB run or two with him. the contract he got was a big one though so long term it was probably fine we let him walk but we were a better team with him.

Faneca wanted to stay in pittsburgh and IMO he earned that right just like Woodson. He was a good leader and an amazing OG who still had good years left. after he left we had serious problems on the O-line.

 

Bleacher Report touched on this topic (both guys we lost and guys we signed through free agency) several years back: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...eelers-top-10-worst-free-agency-moves/page/11

They definitely got it right with Rod Woodson and Hardy Nickerson but I don't really agree with their Gary Anderson selection. I thought Norm Johnson filled in more than admirably for us. Gary Anderson's FG percentage in the four years after he left the Steelers was .843 (those numbers inflated by his 35 for 35 season in 1998 in his first year in the Metrodome) and Norm Johnson's was .826 during that time so they were similar and NJ had a bigger leg.

Although one of the most accurate kickers of his time, Gary's liability was his ability to hit from distance. He was only a .300 career kicker from 50+ while Norm was .425 from beyond 50. Both are pretty bad when compared to modern day kickers on 50+ FGs. Dan Bailey (.724), Justin Tucker (.600), Stephen Gostkowski (.773). Unless, of course, we're talking about Saun Suisham who is only 6 for 17 (.353) in his career from beyond 50. Boswell was 2 for 2 last year over 50. Boswell also set the Steelers' single-season accuracy mark last year for FGM vs FGA (29 of 32; 90.6%) which should quash any debate about who to go with next season. Yeah, I will also take the more accurate kicker with the bigger leg and the smaller salary.