Casey Hampton

I'm surprised he survived the cuts the Steelers made no way is he worth 4 million a year. Especially coming off a torn acl at his age and he might not be ready to start the season. Last season he wasn't effective getting pushed around I know the Steelers are thin at nt and they will draft one. I think the Steelers should tell Hampton take a paycut or else.

 

I think he should take a paycut too... but they seem to be confident he'll come back strong from his injury.

 

I think the problem is they aren't confident in replacing him in the upcoming draft. We are not going to get Poe, not a chance.

 

He was horrible last year. I think that McLendon played better. I say let him go and maybe resign him for the vet minimum for a body. The team is no worse without him.

 

with the 8 milion for casey and the 6 for colon we are losing wallace

 

Not necessarily. I believe once salary cap day gets by, we have more leeway as far as how much we shell out. If Casey is put on the physically unable to perform list, I don't believe that his contract counts against our salary cap numbers. Not positive, but read that somewhere. Which basically means that we have until the 6th week of the season to figure it out. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Yeah I do not think he is worth the 8 mil (not 4) hes suppose to make this year. No offense to him...but yeah...hes hurt...and he plays barely 2 downs now and just not what he once was. If he makes the final roster there better be a restructure. As far as cutting him...one reason is I dont think they're comfortable with the depth they have (aka like none)...maybe if they draft someone that might change...we'll have to wait and see.

 

See, the Steelers need to stop messing around and let Casey go. Everything is their that makes sense to let him go. He will be 35 years old when the season starts coming off of an ACL, he is over weight and not always in shape. He is not exactly a work out warrior, and he is definitely not worth 8 or 4 million whichever number it is. So whats the problem. If they got rid of Ward, Smith, Farrior, and Kemo, whats up with Hampton. Would you rather have Hampton next year or Wallace? Easy Answer, WALLACE!

I don't see what the problem is, more money to re-sign Wallace, and the draft which has been said that it is heavy on NT's this year. I would draft his replacement, save the money, let McLendon play until the draft pick learns and be done with Hampton. Thanks but no thanks Casey!

I fell to recognize what the Steelers are afraid of? They never like to draft a good player and let him play as a rookie, with the exception of Pouncey 2 years ago. Other organization put their rookie on the field and let them play. The Steelers who can surround their rookies with good veteran players always let the old guys hang on while the rookie sits on the bench and gets no experience. Just think if the Steelers had let Slyvester Stevenson play instead of messing around with old and slow Farrior and Foote. Stevenson would be a better player by now. I would argue that point with anybody who would say that Stevenson was not good enough to play in front of Farrior and Foote. The Steelers should have made the switch a long time ago. Steven can run down the field and play special teams but he is slower then Farrior and Foote, PLEASE!

 

excellent post edog

 

Who said anything about speed with Sylvester tomlin showed last year he is going to play the best players at the position. Ward kemo and bmac all got demoted so that tells me Sylvester isnt the answer. Now that said hampton wallace brown sanders and big ben and gilbert also all made huge impacts there rookie years. The reason you dont see it much on defense is because they have to learn the position i would rather have a guy that knows what is going on and is a step slower then a guy who has all the athletic ability in the world but is lost out there(k.bell).

 

I truly believe that Casey could be a post-draft casualty. If we cut him now and can't get a NT, we have McLendon and ????...nothing. At this point we have hedged our bet that if we don't get someone we still have some depth, even if he only plays half the snaps and McLendon takes the other half. The draft is unpredictable. Poe may fall. They may plan on taking ILB in the first round and aren't sure a NT they like will fall to the 2nd round. Maybe they want Poe, but aren't sure now he will make it to them. The Steelers have always liked to go into the draft without NEEDING to draft any one position. I wouldn't be happy with it, but I could see us not taking anyone on defense if the right player isn't there. Here is a projection as of right now:

DLine (6) Hood, Keisel, Heyward, McLendon, Woods, Hampton

LB (8) Harrison, Timmons, Foote, Woodley, Carter, Worilds, Sylvester, Ivy

S (4) Mundy, Troy, Clark, Allen

CB (6) Lewis, Ike, Gay, Brown, C. Allen, Rolle

We would have room for 1 more guy on D to make 25 on the roster. This is just off the top of my head. It isn't horrible. I would worry a little about depth, but I think this is a working roster. Here are the differences from last year:

I have replaced A. Smith with Woods, which happened at some point anyway.
I have replaced Hoke with McLendon, which happened at some point anyway.
I have replaced Farrior with Ivy, and left Ivy's position open.
I have replaced McFadden with Rolle. McFadden had fallen out of favor and had been passed by Allen and Lewis anyway.

So there really isn't a large change here.

 

if Hampton isn't gone this year, he'll be gone next year for sure

 

at 8 milion a year he will be cut and or resign for a lot less or we pick a one year stop gap fa , no nt in the draft are ready from day one

 

I can understand the argument (and agree with it) about putting rookies on the field and letting them learn while being seasoned. However, when you say that you can surround them with the vets and help them along, I can see where the same argument can be made playing veterans at the end of the career, plus, you have a known quantity on the field. Again, not saying I agree but the argument can be debated both ways.

 

Casey started game 6 of his first season. He actually had a decent year that year. He played every game, but started the last 11, plus both playoff games that year.

 

I think he'll play for us this year, and this will be his last year. And it will be for a reduced salary.

 

Someone out there will pay him more than the Vet minimum.

 

I think the only fact he is still here is Mcclendon is the lone NT besides him.

If they draft a guy they like I think they cut Hampton in camp.

That would leave us with a rookie, Mcclendon, and Hood as an emergency NT.

 

Good point. Cap aside (if that can be done), if you drop Casey you're left with Hood as the oldest member of the d-line.

 

Keisel would be the oldest, but your point is noted.

 

I'm OK with that. It couldn't be any worse then what we had last season at NT.

 

Oh well...

 

How did I somehow manage to forget about the beard?! ...head obviously not screwed on right yesterday.

 

Personally, I think the beard will come out this season on fire and then will taper off after this season. He very well could have hit his plateau this last season but I think he has one more in him to do some damage. The last couple of years he seems to have elevated his play each season, so, I'm hoping for one more season like that out of him. Of course, I am a fan of the beard!

 

Good points from all. Casey unfortunatly is a turnstile at this point.
Used to be able to take on 2 now struggles with one.
I would not be surprised that behind the scenes they are just waiting for free agency as well as the draft to bolster the position.
The draft experts say is that this is a deep draft for defensive tackle.
Do you think if they draft Poe he is going to sit? Maybe behind McClendon for a few. They will usher Casey out of town.
Casey is not worth the dough he will be due and I believe he will have to take a paycut eventually or be gone. Or be put on the PUP as was mentioned.
Out with the old, in with the new...