Faneca to the Jets

For Alan Faneca it was all about the money. And now he'll have more money than ever after agreeing to a five-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets that includes $21 million guaranteed. Although many fans probably don't agree with me I think the Steelers were wise to let Faneca go, even though the team may experience a significant drop-off at his position in 2008. I can eaily envision a scenario where Faneca's play declines dramatically just a year or two down the road, or he decides to retire prematurely (leaving New York with a lot of "dead money" counting against its salary cap).

Kemoeatu the future at LG?

Say goodbye to All-Pro LG Alan Faneca. Say hello to Chris Kemoeatu, a restricted free agent and former fifth-round pick who is the odds-on favorite to play the left guard position in 2008. Expect the Steelers to offer Kemoeatu a one-year tender before the start of unrestricted free agency, although it's possible that the team could reach a long-term contract agreement with the fourth-year pro.

Kemoeatu would be paid $927,000 next season if the Steelers offer him a "low tender." In that case the club would receive a fifth-round pick if he went elsewhere in free-agency. However, if the Steelers offer a $1.47 million tender it would cost another team a second-round pick to sign Kemoeatu.

Steelers' Pro Bowl Update

Our favorite big boy, NT Casey Hampton, will make his fourth Pro Bowl (2003, 2005 and 2006) after being chosen as a replacement for the injured Jamal Williams (San Diego).

Hampton joins Ben Roethlisberger, Alan Faneca and James Harrison in Honolulu, Sun. 02/10.

Two Steelers players will miss the game with injuries, running back Willie Parker (broken leg) and safety Troy Polamalu (sprained knee). Aloha!

Steelers' first-round pick?

In its first mock draft of 2008 Pro Football Weekly predicts the Steelers will select OG-OT Brandon Albert (Virginia) in the first round, saying, "Versatility was a big theme of the Steelers’ upon Mike Tomlin’s arrival. Albert’s ability to play guard or tackle, with Alan Faneca possibly departing and the edges not being secured last season, will be attractive." Click here to read PFW's projections for the entire first round.

Dead Money on Steelers' Cap Now Over $10 Million

Pittsburgh has always done a solid job of managing the salary cap, keeping the amount of "dead money" counting against its cap to a bare minimum. But after cutting Joey Porter, Duce Staley, and Chris Gardocki (among others) $10.335 million of the Steelers' 2007 salary cap is now taken up by players no longer on the team [per updated figures posted on August 1 by Steelers Live 'Xtra]. With this year's cap set at $109 million that's roughly 10.5 percent of the team's allowance, a higher percentage than in years past.

In case you aren't familiar with the mechanics of the salary cap, here's an oversimplified example of how a team is charged with dead money: Let's say a player signs a four-year contract with a $1 million signing bonus and base salaries of $500,000 each year. The cap charge for his first season would be $750,000 ($500,000 for his salary and $250,000 for one-quarter of his signing bonus). If that player is released after, say, only one season with the team, the remaining prorated portion of his signing bonus ($750,000) "accelerates" and counts against the cap the following year, even though the player is no longer on the roster. Meanwhile, the remaining $1.5 million that would have been paid in salary (over the next three seasons) "disappears." This arrangement explains why the Steelers are sqeamish about signing aging veterans like Alan Faneca to long-term contracts that include enormous signing bonuses.

Of course, a certain amount of dead money is inevitable. Draft choices—like Orien Harris, Charles Davis, Cedrick Humes and Omar Jacobs—sometimes don't pan out, and veteran players (like Jeff Hartings) often retire before completing their contracts. So the Steelers certainly aren't the only team above $10 million. According to NFL.com, Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New Orleans and Oakland are all over the $10 million mark—and there may be others. Yet, when it comes to this problem no one compares to the Houston Texans, currently saddled with more than $30 million in dead money, a serious competitive handicap.

As for players who remain on the Steelers' roster, LT Marvel Smith is scheduled to count $6.645 million against the Steelers' cap in 2007, the most of any player on the team. LG Alan Faneca, NT Casey Hampton, WR Hines Ward and DE Aaron Smith have cap charges of $6.12 million, $6 million, $5.92 million and $5.46 million, respectively.

Unhappy Camper?

Today, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that LG Alan Faneca plans to report to training camp on time and promises not to create a distraction for the team. Steelers fans should expect no less. After all, Faneca has a contract, one that pays him rather well, I might note. As I previously opined on this blog, Faneca should not expect sympathy from fans just because the front office doesn't feel it's in the team's best interest to give a 30-something guard a $50 million extension. If you disagree, feel free to post a comment below.