Steelers football blog

Smith endures

Aaron Smith did not have an easy go of it the past three seasons. Two of the three were ruined by severe arm and shoulder injuries, he caught the swine flu and his son was diagnosed with leukemia.

About to turn 34 years old, a time when many defensive ends have retired, Smith will enter his 12th season with the Steelers undaunted by the recent trouble he has shouldered and with the optimism of a 22-year-old.

He looks at it this way: His latest injury has long healed, he feels strong and still at the top of his game, his son has done well since the diagnosis 1 1/2 years ago, and his favorite coach will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. Continue

Hampton signs 3 year deal

The Steelers and nose tackle Casey Hampton have come to a a three-year contract agreement worth more than $21 million this morning.

The deal comes ahead of today's 4 p.m. deadline in which the Steelers planned to make Hampton their franchise player.

The team then placed the franchise tag on kicker Jeff Reed, meaning he will earn $2,814,000 in 2010 -- the average of the top five kickers in the NFL.

Hampton, who will be 33 years old next season, will remain with the Steelers through the 2012 season under the new deal. Hampton would have been paid a $7 million salary if he had been franchised. Continue

Hampton still seeks long term deal

The agent for Casey Hampton said Tuesday that the veteran nose tackle wants to sign a long-term contract with the Steelers even if the team places a franchise tag on him.

The two sides have been working toward a new deal, but the Steelers only have until 4 p.m. Thursday to use a tag that would prevent Hampton, an unrestricted free agent, from hitting the open market March 5.

A franchise tag, which Hampton has said would be a point of contention with him, could significantly extend the negotiating period for the Steelers and Brian Overstreet, Hampton's agent.

"All you can do is take people at their word, and the Steelers committed to us that they want to get a deal done long term," Overstreet said. "All we can hope is that they're serious about it. Both sides are working real hard to get it done, and hopefully, it happens." Continue

Steelers add help on D

The Steelers have signed cornerback David Pittman and linebacker Renauld Williams.

Pittman, a third-round draft choice by the Ravens in 2006, has played parts of three seasons in the NFL. The 5-11, 185-pounder spent time on the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans' active roster in 2008.

Williams, who played in seven NFL games from 2004-06, spent the previous three seasons with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. During that time, the 6-foot 228-pound Williams recorded 97 tackles and had 29 special-teams tackles. (Pitt Tribune)

Steelers will use franchise if necessary

Casey Hampton has made it clear he does not want the Steelers to use a franchise tag on him.

In less than two weeks, the Steelers may do so anyway and tell the five-time Pro Bowler that it is simply business.

By tagging Hampton, the Steelers would effectively deny the veteran nose tackle the chance to hit the open market.

"Our stance on the tag is that while we don't like to use (it), we're never going to say that we're not going to use something that is collectively bargained as a tool in this process," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said Friday.

Translation: the Steelers will use a franchise tag on Hampton as a last resort March 5, when the free-agent signing period starts. Continue

Pro scout moves to Bills

Steelers pro scouting coordinator Doug Whaley will become the Buffalo Bills' new assistant general manager, according to multiple media reports.

Whaley was responsible for scouting Steelers opponents and evaluating pro players. Before joining the Steelers, he was an area scout with the Seattle Seahawks.

Whaley played football at Pitt and Upper St. Clair High School.