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Bad news for the Steelers


Menudo
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This article certainly does not make me feel good. Alan Faneca has meant as much to the Steelers success in the past decade as any other player. Losing him would hurt a great deal, but, it appears that something must be done. This article certainly doesn't fill me with confidence. The words from Hines Ward at the end worry me even more.

 

I think the problem might be that Faneca & Polamalu's contracts are both up after this year. Perhaps the Steelers cannot afford both. As much as I like Faneca, and it would be a tough choice, but, if you can only keep one, it's got to be Polamalu.

 

:D

 

 

Unhappy Faneca says his days here are numbered

 

Saturday, May 12, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

 

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette

An unhappy Alan Faneca glances at new offensive line coach Larry Zierlein during the Steelers' minicamp drills yesterday at the team's South Side facility.

Click photo for larger image.

 

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Alan Faneca, among the most decorated and respected Steelers over the past decade, turned hotter than his long mop of red hair yesterday. He stood up from the seat in front of his locker and issued the kind of passionate words usually reserved for an opponent.

 

Only in this case, Faneca's foe is Steelers management.

 

"This will be my last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler," Faneca declared, his left hand shaking slightly to betray his emotion.

 

Faneca, among the best offensive linemen in club history, ended three months of silence by ripping into management for not being fair to him in contract negotiations.

 

He said he repeatedly has asked to be traded, does not believe he wants to serve as a team captain for a fourth season and cannot predict what kind of focus he might bring to the team and its new coach in 2007.

 

Faneca, 30, has one year left on his contract that will pay him another $3.375 million on top of the $1 million roster bonus he received in March. He wants a new contract that would pay him closer to the $7 million annually that other guards have received recently as free agents. He said the Steelers' offer is not even among the top 10 that NFL guards make.

 

He said he has lost any hope a new contract will be forthcoming before he becomes a free agent next March.

 

"There is no progress," Faneca said of contract talks. "They've been crystal clear in the fact they're not going to sign me this year, and that's it."

 

Faneca said the only reason he showed up for this three-day minicamp is that it is required by NFL rules. If a player skips required attendance -- games, practices or an event -- he can be fined $5,000 daily plus lose a prorated portion of his signing bonus. In Faneca's case, his prorated amount for 2007 is $1,597,750.

 

"No, I don't want to be here," Faneca said flatly. "It's a matter of them being able to do what they can monetarily and come after me. That's the only reason I'm here, on that chance that they would."

 

Faneca will depart Pittsburgh Sunday night when practices end and said he won't return until training camp, which starts July 23.

 

"I've been asking since February to trade me, to let me go," Faneca said. "I've done my piece, I've done my time, I've done everything I can for this organization.

 

"I lived and breathed Steelers football for nine years and gave them everything I had, helped them win a Super Bowl. In my mind, I've earned the right to be treated fairly. To make me go out there this year, play football with no security ... for what I've done for this organization, in my mind is not right."

 

Faneca's six Pro Bowls are more than any guard in team history. He made one of them even though he agreed to switch to left tackle during the 2003 season because of injuries.

 

Faneca repeated that he was not happy when Russ Grimm was passed over to be the next Steelers head coach, and with the release of linebacker and fellow co-captain Joey Porter in March.

 

"What am I to think? What are the guys in this room to think? If they can do it to me and everybody else and let Joey go and do things like that, what does that say to the rest of the guys?"

 

Faneca said he's talked to "everyone," including Art Rooney, Dan Rooney and Kevin Colbert, in the front office.

 

 

 

 

Listen In

 

Steelers guard Alan Faneca returns to minicamp and tells the reporters that he wants out of Pittsburgh:

 

"This is my last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler ..."

"I don't want to be here ..."

No progress has been made

It's part of the business

What message does it send?

It will be "hard" to remain captain

Listen to the entire interview

Mike Tomlin's reaction

 

 

 

 

 

None of those Steelers executives would comment on what Faneca said yesterday, but coach Mike Tomlin took a pragmatic approach.

 

"Negotiations and the CBA and the things we're going through right now with him are not unlike probably things other people in other cities are going though," Tomlin said. "It's an emotional deal for him, and rightfully so -- it's his livelihood. That's what he does.

 

"But from an organizational standpoint, we're going through the contract negotiation process. We're not talking about it a great deal publicly because that's our policy.

 

"Along the line, he's going to express some frustration, but as long as he does what he's supposed to do professionally, which is come to work for mandatory minicamps and play football at a high level like he did today, then we move forward."

 

Receiver Hines Ward, who went through his own protracted contract talks in 2005 and held out 10 days at the start of training camp, does not like the way things are shaping up in the Steelers' locker room for 2007.

 

"It sets a precedent," Ward said, "because other guys look at Alan as 'Wow, this guy is a great citizen, he does a lot for the city of Pittsburgh, he's obviously a Pro Bowl player. He's done everything you ask him to do.' The younger guys just sit back and look at that situation.

 

"It's different now; there's no question this locker room is totally different. You lose a locker-room favorite like Joey -- not having Joey on that field is different. It's a different feel. God forbid if Alan's not out there.

 

"You can't put a value on leadership and being a veteran. Alan is the first guy to get here, the last guy to leave. He's worked just as hard as anybody on this team," Ward said.

 

"He paid his dues, he put in his time and he's a productive ballplayer. ... If he's upset, Wow! But, at the same time, he's a professional. He's here. It's not like he didn't show up."

Edited by Menudo
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It's interesting to see how different Troy Polamalu's take on the situation is.

 

:D

 

Polamalu wants to stay

 

Like Alan Faneca, strong safety Troy Polamalu has one year left on his contract and missed the first minicamp three weeks ago. That's about where the similarities end.

 

Polamalu explained to Tomlin that he wanted to miss the first minicamp because he had made a commitment to a church camp, and he said he's not worried about the progress of talks to extend his contract.

 

"Hopefully, it will all work out," Polamalu said. "Only God knows."

 

Polamalu signed a five-year contract after the Steelers drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2003. He is scheduled to earn a salary of $1,088,000 in his final year plus another $1,722,000 in a reporting bonus.

 

He wants to stay.

 

"Definitely, I'd love to be here. This is home. I live here year-round. I don't think I have to make a case for that."

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This article certainly does not make me feel good. Alan Faneca has meant as much to the Steelers success in the past decade as any other player.

 

 

ESPN showed a list of 4 or 5 linemen with $50Million contracts who have never been to the probowl.

 

Faneca's contract was for $14Million. While he would get a raise next year he feels slighted. Can't really blame him.

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ESPN showed a list of 4 or 5 linemen with $50Million contracts who have never been to the probowl.

 

Faneca's contract was for $14Million. While he would get a raise next year he feels slighted. Can't really blame him.

 

 

 

Yeah, I seen this too. and despite the fact that he says he is coming back for the year, if he keeps saying the kinds of things he is saying Pitt will have to get rid of him, he is attacking the way the Steelers front management conducts biz. he acts as though he is speaking for all the Steeler players when he attacks the team(and he may be,I don't know). I can see him being a bad influence in the clubhouse if he stays as hyped up as he was in that interview.

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The Steelers have been a smartly run organization over the last 20 years.

I think there was a recent thread on best salary cap run teams, and Pittsburgh was up there with Philly, New England, etc.

They aren't going to change their ways and pay a position more than the value they've put on that position, like some teams have (Buffalo). Faneca sees Dockery getting 7 yrs, $49M and he has a right to want some of that action, but the Steelers aren't the Bills.

 

Look at the Pats, center is a more important position than guard, but they weren't going to pay Woody more than the number they put on that position. They were semi-ridiculed for letting him walk to Detriot, but draft Koppen and he's been stellar.

Edited by charty
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You can't throw this bit in there and then not tell us who it is. :D

 

 

He was a practice squad player, but, yeah, that is a funny story. :D

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I think his days are done. I think he wants his days to be done. I don't know how these two sides could get together. Faneca wants top ten NFL gaurd money but the Steelers just aren't about paying that kind of money. I'm sure they would make him a rich man and all but he will fetch a lot more somewhere else.

 

I am going to hate to see him go but this is the nature of NFL today.

Edited by Skippy
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ESPN showed a list of 4 or 5 linemen with $50Million contracts who have never been to the probowl.

 

Faneca's contract was for $14Million. While he would get a raise next year he feels slighted. Can't really blame him.

 

 

Yeah, I can't blame him either. However, if the Steelers are choosing Polamalu over him, and they can't afford both, I guess I can't blame them either. The situation sucks from a Steeler's fan perspective.

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Yeah, I seen this too. and despite the fact that he says he is coming back for the year, if he keeps saying the kinds of things he is saying Pitt will have to get rid of him, he is attacking the way the Steelers front management conducts biz. he acts as though he is speaking for all the Steeler players when he attacks the team(and he may be,I don't know). I can see him being a bad influence in the clubhouse if he stays as hyped up as he was in that interview.

 

 

Doc, that is exactly my concern.

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I think his days are done. I think he wants his days to be done. I don't know how these two sides could get together. Faneca wants top ten NFL gaurd money but the Steelers just aren't about paying that kind of money. I'm sure they would make him a rich man and all but he will fetch a lot more somewhere else.

 

I am going to hate to see him go but this is the nature of NFL today.

 

 

I agree Skippy. Well, it looks like we know what position we will be selecting in the 1st round of next year's draft. I'm starting to get concerned that the pick will be sooner than I want it to be. :D

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i want them to concentrate all their contract negotiations to polamalu and big ben. this is troy's last year and ben's 2nd last.. might as well start saving some money for ben. i do not want to wait another 25 years to find a franchise qb and i do not want to see another rod woodson type talent get away again.

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Dead on comment here for just about everyone who's a fan of any team (well, not sure Detroit fans ever say this).

 

 

Yeah we say stuff like that. we just are not lucky enough as some other fans to talk about superbowls wins. you know what I mean.

Edited by Doc Holliday
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Minnesota could really use a RG and has a ton of cap space left, but I doubt they are going to give even more hugh money to another o-lineman.

 

 

Well, he has been a LG, but, I'm sure the transition would be easy. The one thing that I've always found special about Faneca is his ability to block on the move and in open space. They use him so often as a pulling guard on their trap plays, and I've never seen anyone better in a Steeler uniform at hitting that big pulling block to spring the long run. He will certainly be missed, and whoever gets him will be extremely pleased. Faneca will be nearly impossible to replace.

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I have always been a big fan of Faneca. I am a little shocked by him going public with his comments. This shows how unhappy he really is about his contract. He has been there 9 yrs and knows that the Steelers management doesn't like these kind of things to go public. It is almost as if he is in a way trying to get the Steelers Management as upset as he is and hope they will come back with either cutting him or trading him. IMO the Steelers will get much less in a trade now for Faneca now than they would have prior to his comments. The rest of the league now knows how bad he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

I would hate to see Faneca leave but it looks like it will happen. The Steelers are on the verge of losing their guard just on the heels of Hartings hanging them up. The interior o line could be in BIG trouble. This will not be good for Parker owners.

 

:D But at least they traded up in the 4th round of the draft and gave up their 6th round pick to get a punter :D

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How bad would the Cardinals want him? He could reunite with Russ Grimm. As much as I'd hate to lose him, they better do something before he becomes a cancer in the locker room. Man, I can't even fathom AF doing this. Thanks to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum someone will have to pay him hugh bucks now. And for that, I really can't blame Faneca. Just wish he would have kept this in house. :D

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How bad would the Cardinals want him? He could reunite with Russ Grimm. As much as I'd hate to lose him, they better do something before he becomes a cancer in the locker room. Man, I can't even fathom AF doing this. Thanks to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum someone will have to pay him hugh bucks now. And for that, I really can't blame Faneca. Just wish he would have kept this in house. :D

 

 

 

Yeah ,players who want to leave teams for more money only hurt their value by airing their problems. making it harder for the team to trade him. gives leverage to the other side.

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I have always been a big fan of Faneca. I am a little shocked by him going public with his comments. This shows how unhappy he really is about his contract. He has been there 9 yrs and knows that the Steelers management doesn't like these kind of things to go public. It is almost as if he is in a way trying to get the Steelers Management as upset as he is and hope they will come back with either cutting him or trading him. IMO the Steelers will get much less in a trade now for Faneca now than they would have prior to his comments. The rest of the league now knows how bad he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

I would hate to see Faneca leave but it looks like it will happen. The Steelers are on the verge of losing their guard just on the heels of Hartings hanging them up. The interior o line could be in BIG trouble. This will not be good for Parker owners.

 

:D But at least they traded up in the 4th round of the draft and gave up their 6th round pick to get a punter :D

 

 

I guess everyone has their breaking point...

 

Agreed with your thoughts on the O-line...the Steelers still have their butter (quality RB's) but their bread (the O-line) is now becoming moldy. Sorry for the cheesy abalogy, but I think you'll understand my point.

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I guess everyone has their breaking point...

 

Agreed with your thoughts on the O-line...the Steelers still have their butter (quality RB's) but their bread (the O-line) is now becoming moldy. Sorry for the cheesy abalogy, but I think you'll understand my point.

 

 

Even with Faneca, the O-line and especially o-line depth was my biggest concern this year. Without him, it could be bad.

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Faneca went public because he was INSULTED by the Steelers and he wanted to show his anger and disgust.

 

I would be worried about him dogging it or riding out this season if I was the Steelers or even letting a couple bg plays happen against the Steelers at important times in the season. I mean he can still play well most of the time and kind of let some things happen at other times and still leave for another team next season.

 

 

If i was the Steelers I would have a heart to heart with him and let him know he is appreciated as a Steeler and just be honest with about where they are going in the future. You can let a guy go without insulting him and being repectful could have really avoided this mess. You low ball the guy through his agent and this is what you get. I would even approach him with we want you to be succesfula and will help you in anyway possible to get you into a situation you would like to be in and would be best for you kind of approach.

 

NOW you have a angry player and in a position where you have to really watch him. You might be better off tradign him now for what ever you can get of flat cutting him.

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