Expect the usual from the Pittsburgh Steelers from now until August
It isn’t like anyone was expecting the Pittsburgh Steelers to run out and sign anyone else this offseason.
Like every year, Pittsburgh remains one of the quietest teams in football. Besides bringing back Martavis Bryant and cutting Ladarius Green, the Steelers haven’t done much since their AFC Championship loss back in January.
Not that it’s shocking to see this team remain under the radar until August. After years of practically nothing during free agency, it’s pretty standard for the Steelers to stay low key and make the minimum amount of moves during the offseason.
This year, if cutting you long-time long snapper didn’t make headlines, Pittsburgh’s biggest story would’ve been the release of an injury-prone tight end, and even that only stuck in the news for about 24 hours.
It’s this time of year. The Steelers go out, much like they have so far, and sign guys who have almost no value to this team, just to have players compete during the offseason. They give guys like Coty Sensabaugh and Justin Hunter the spotlight while other teams are out there signing Adrian Peterson and Jeremy Maclin.
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It’s just who they are. No matter what their record is the year before, or what holes they need to fill during the offseason, Pittsburgh isn’t the team to do it through free agency. Instead, they’ll wait it out with a draft pick, or find someone on the roster who’s shown the slightest bit of light and give them a chance.
Now, this isn’t to reiterate that the Steelers are one of the most boring teams in the NFL from March to August, but to remind everyone that the rumors they hear should be considered nothing more than “rumors.”
For one – the consideration of signings Gary Barnidge. No matter how sold the Steelers are on their young tight end core; rumors are still flying around about Barnidge joining the Steelers for 2017.
Despite being 31-years-old, Barnidge is still a valuable option in this league. However, the Steelers don’t need to slow the development of Jesse James and Xavier Gramble any longer, as they’ve proven they can handle the job during Green’s absence last season.
So, instead of signing Barnidge, which likely isn’t even a realistic option for the Steelers, they’re going to role with their group of young tight ends and be happy with the decision.
While the remaining rumors seem to all, include “five veteran free agents the Steelers could sign,” chances are, Pittsburgh is actually considering none of them. Even DeAngelo Williams, who Steelers fans would love to see back, isn’t going to hear from the team unless it’s an in-season emergency.
It’s just who they are. The Pittsburgh Steelers have always been the team to avoid bringing in outside superstars, and that isn’t going to change now. Even if guys like Barnidge, Williams and Eric Decker are floating around the free agent market, Pittsburgh is content with the team they have.
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Maybe it is the most boring time in the NFL, but it isn’t like the Steelers were going to make it interesting anyways.
Just be happy they made moves like signing Justin Hunter and Daimion Stafford. If they actually work out, it’d be one of the biggest moves Pittsburgh has made in a long time.