Steelers Ink Simmons to New Deal Worth $24 Million

The Steelers made a solid roster move on Sunday, announcing they have signed right guard Kendall Simmons to a 4-year contract extension that will keep him with the Black and Gold through the 2011 season. The deal will make him a little less than $24 million in new money with $7.85 million in guarantees. The way the Steelers are phrasing it, they have the former first-round pick signed for five years for $24 million.  The 6-foot-3, 315 pound Simmons was the teams first-round draft pick (30th overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Auburn.

He has started 60 regular-season games for the Steelers, including 14 as a rookie, and six postseason contests at right guard.  Simmons could play center if need be, but normally he will be at the right guard spot.  The team will enter the season opener with Willie Colon at right tackle Simmons at right guard, Sean Mahan at center, Alan Faneca at left guard, and Marvel Smith at left tackle.  The O-line has been a spot of shuffling for new coach Mike Tomlin, but now hopefully with the opener a week from today, that spot will be more solid.

Simmons, the Steelers’ recipient of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the team’s top rookie in 2002, has come back twice in adverse situations to help anchor the offensive line. In 2003, Simmons discovered he had a diabetic condition and lost over 30 pounds due to the condition. He still started all 16 games that year. He then missed the 2004 season after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training camp and was put on the season-ending Reserve/Injured List.