There’s already a lot of talk starting about the 2009 season, and one player that may have played his last game in Black and Gold is inside linebacker Larry Foote. The former Michigan LB has a year left on his deal, but likely will get replaced in the starting lineup by former first-round pick Lawrence Timmons, who was pushing him for playing time at the end of the year.
Foote is due to make $2,885,000, in 09, which isn’t bad for a starter, but too much if he’s not going to be the starter. The team is going to need every penny for their free agents, any other free agents they may want, plus their draft picks. One guy sure to get a new deal is NFL Defensive MVP James Harrison. As far as Foote goes, the Post-Gazette says that he won’t accept a pay cut, meaning he’ll probably be somewhere else in 09.
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mark
February 5, 2009 at 3:15 pm
To put it in perspective, Larry Foote does not owe the Steelers anything. He has been a solid player since the day he took over for Kendrell Bell. I understand that Timmons is a beast and is sure to be the starter next season but if Foote will not take a pay-cut than the team must move on and let Larry Foote go play somewhere else where he can make an impact. A good player that I do NOT want to see leave but he deserves to start somewhere else.
Jay
February 5, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This question goes out to Mark who I see on a lot of these posts…What do you make of all these people questioning Santonio’s catch and complaining about the officiating? I’ve never seen anything like it before. I live in Eagles territory and have formerly rooted for them as my “NFC team,” and have also actually defended their fans but no more…I have officially become a Philly hater but won’t ever say anything negative until it’s spoken to me or about Pittsburgh first. Just wondering what your thoughts are about all this NONSENSE? Go Steelers!
mark
February 5, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hi Jay. Jay, I think it is a jealousy thing. I really do. Most people hate a winner and love to tear them down. Its very much like Ben not getting the MVP or even any of the respect that Im sure Brady, Manning or Favre would have gotten after a similar, big game performance. As far as the officiating, I really cant find any fault with the penalties. We all know Harrison was held all year and they were called in the Super Bowl. The only ticky-tac flag, I thought, was the roughing call on Ben. It looked like a shove and Ben is a big guy. The referees could have easily missed the hold on Hartwig late in that game and that call actually cost the Steelers 9 points and the lead. That alone should show that the Refs were not looking the other way during the game. To question the catch is, I guess, part of the “I cant believe he caught it” mentality. I said earlier that the ref was in the right place and immediatley signaled TD, based on the replay the refs got it right and it was a legitimate TD. It took a great throw and great catch to get it and some people didnt want the Steelers to pull that off. As for Philly fans, I guess it goes back to the jealousy thing. They can have the World Series, we’ll take the Super Bowl! Mcnabb is no Big Ben!
To sum up, the underdog gets a lot of people pulling for them. The Warner thing was a feel-good story and the Cards have been losers for a long time. These people are just mad that the Steelers did what they were supposed to do and there was no Cinderella ending.
Jay sabo
February 6, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Yeah, I kinda think that too…Just needed to hear it from someone else…Peace! (Sporting my four new Steelers championship t-shirt and such paraphernalia in Eagle country! Pray I don’t get shot!)
mark
February 6, 2009 at 1:07 pm
wear that with PRIDE. Never let another teams colors intimidate you as a STeeler fan!! Maybe when they get a SuperBowl, they can wear one too.
tim
February 6, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Mark,
Are you a Steelers fan?
I don’t understand your thinking. Don’t you want all the Steelers to come back?
tim
tim
February 6, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Mark,
What I mean is why would you succom (sp?) to figure that we would want to have Larry Foote go somewhere else? I understand about the $$, but as a TRUE fan you should not be thinking or projecting that, Get with the program and BELIEVE DUDE
mark
February 7, 2009 at 9:48 am
WHoaa!! Tim, hang on their buddy! I doubt you could find a bigger Steeler fan than me. I am just thinking logically as well as historically. I dont think the team will break the bank in order to sign EVERYONE. Of course I would like them all back, but it is a long shot at best to really think thats going to happen. I think the team will go with priorities and that, I believe, is McFadden and extensions to Miller and Harrison. They still need cap $ to sign Draft choices other free agents and they have Timmons in the wings to replace Foote, who by the way, has stated he will not be a back-up or take a pay cut. Also, Hines Ward is in his last year of his contract next season, what do they do there? I really didnt want to make anyone doubt my Steeler loyalty!!
Matt Loede
February 7, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Foote will be the next Clark Haggens…he’ll go somewhere else, and probably be OK at best. There’s a reason why Timmons was a first-round pick, just like LaMarr Woodley, he’ll be a playmaker once he’s in there.
mark
February 7, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Hey Matt. Matt, Good point about Foote. The thing that I really feel positive with Foote is that he was a great find and really stepped into the starter role after the Kendrell Bell fiasco. We all thought that Bell was the next great thing but injuries really destroyed his career. Larry Foote may not have been the impact player that Bell could have been, but the Steelers never took a step back with Foote in the starter role. He may not have been dynamic, but he was as solid as anyone. I think better than Earl Holmes but a step below a Levon Kirkland. A real good Steeler linebacker. Haggans was a good player but basically a Carlos Emmons. Good but the Steelers could always improve the postion. Thats why Woodley was starting and thriving.
Jay
February 7, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I totally agree with , Mark and Matt…I think, if the organization does not play its cards right in relation to free agency, that we could be one year removed from catastrophically losing A LOT of players. That is why I believe Miller and Harrison are priority and EITHER McFadden OR Washington. After that, I believe to only bring back Starks on the O-line because he has developed relatively solidly. I don’t care if we don’t get a single O-Lineman in free agency but I would like to see us build up the left side of our O-line with studs (i.e., LT-Starks; LG-first round pick; C-Hartwig (while grooming Stapleton); and then figure it out with the RG and RT—Maybe keep Stapleton at RG for now and (gulp) Colon at RT or Essex at RG and COlon at RT or move Colon to RG and take a gamble with either Essex at RT or even Hills (if he gains some weight). I love the idea of a solid left side to start the rebuilding of the line process and I believe it starts with long-terming Starks, getting a first round LG and grooming Stapleton at C (Hartwig is solid for now)…But, like I mentioned in an earlier blog, I know nothing in terms of the organization and whatever they do in the first round i s fine by me…but at this point, anything other than a big man seems to puzzle me in relation to keeping Ben healthy for the duration of his contract.
Gerrad in Erie
February 8, 2009 at 3:52 am
Timmons has already shown great potential as a starting ILB. This was a good season for him even for not starting every game. As much as I love the names and the team, I cant agree with someone getting a ton of money just becuase he was/is on the roster. We drafted Timmons early for a reason. In the same class as Woodley, and very capable in the 3-4 system. It seems like a no brainer. We need the cap room for the o-line re-sign/upgrade. Max Starks and McFadden have to be number one.
paul
February 9, 2009 at 2:05 am
Foote deserves the pay day and won’t get it in Pitt. Anybody remember Faneca? How long are we going to be the farm club to the entire NFL? At least dallas hasn’t come knocking for our players. Let’s stop developing talent that comes back to play against us. Keep the good players and send the rest to Arizona with the other rejects.