I haven’t thought from day one that NT Casey Hampton would be back in 2010. Let’s face it, he’s had some weight issues, and the Steelers usually don’t give big money to older players, and that’s exactly what Hampton will be in 2010, as he’ll be 33 come opening day 2010. With that said, Hampton told the Tribune-Review that he does not want the franchise tag, something the Steelers rarely use, but they did a season ago on Max Starks.
Steelers NT Casey Hampton, who will be a free agent after the season, said he does not want the Steelers to place the franchise tag on him this offseason because he wants the opportunity to get one more long-term, lucrative contract. Hampton’s salary is only $3.075 million this year, down slightly from last year. If the Steelers choose to franchise Hampton, who was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl earlier in the week, it would double his salary to a little more than $6 million for the 2010 season. “That is something I do not want,” Hampton said. “I think when I am healthy that I am a dominant player,” Hampton said.
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carydog
January 2, 2010 at 9:15 pm
If the draft looks to have depth at DT and DE, as much as I like Hampton, I say let him go. He only plays on 1st and 2nd down, and he’s already hit his peak. He won’t get better than he has been.
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DrGeorge
January 3, 2010 at 11:03 am
On every successful NFL team there are four or five players, at critical positions, who rise above ordinary NFL mortals in speed,strength, toughness, or sheer athleticism. I refer to them, affectionately, as ‘freaks of nature,’ genetic wonders who come along one or twice in a decade. Polamolu and Bettis in recent years fit that description; or Joe Greene and virtually all the Steel Curtain team from an earlier era. Hampton belongs in that company, too. He has been a great NG in our 3-4 for many years and deserves all the accolades he has received. As the man said, when he’s healthy, he is a dominant player.
But age catches up to all of us, including the legends named above. At 33, Hampton is prone to injury, and the time when his ability required two blockers to neutralize him is over. Hampton himself recognizes this in deflecting the franchise tag; he doesn’t want a $6 million year, but the larger upfront guaranteed bonus that comes with a long-term contract. He knows he won’t be around to finish out the contract. But for management, it is difficult to justify spending more than the 1 year franchise salary on an aging freak of nature, if that much. The Steelers might indeed keep him one more year because there is no one in this draft class remotely like him (maybe Nuh of Nebraska, but he won’t be around when the Steelers pick). Ngata in last year’s class was as close to Hampton in sheer ability as any player I’ve seen in many years. On top of all that, his dependable backup, Chris Hoke, turns 34 in April. Nor is this the only position on defense where talent is aging and depth is lacking. And even if we pay Hampton $6 million for one more year, he’s going to be unhappy and lack motivation; that won’t be good for Hampton or the team.
Player turnover is simply a fact of NFL life in order to maintain a championship level of play. The human body achieves peak performance for only a few years, and then declines. For the Steelers, the only rational choice is to allow Hampton to find what gold he can elsewhere; let him depart with dignity to some lesser team; and use the $6 million to buy needed young defensive talent. It may require an adjustment to our defensive scheme to do it, but it’s the best course for all concerned.
jay
January 3, 2010 at 3:54 pm
About the Miami game, Oh, now Arians runs the ball after Miami pulls to within three…the fact that Arians dropped Ben back on the previous drive up by ten to get him sacked is unacceptable….ALL of our defensive backs in uniform are a disgrace to NFL defensive backs…They all suck beyond belief….I can’t believe how we can build leads and not hold them…I’m sitting here prior to the beginning of our drive that had us up by 10 saying please don’t throw the ball…and they throw…then I’m sitting here prior to the subsequent drive saying, please don’t run now, they know it’s coming; and they run….Arians and our secondary are not even high school caliber…fuck’ em!
jay
January 3, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I TOTALLY AGREE with Dr. George about Hampton! I loved him but the freeing up of $ fir his departure will or should allow $ to be spent elsewhere. I opine that, even though Hood is no replacement for Hampton, if he adds 10 or so pounds without losing anything athletically, he can play NG situationally. The Steelers can then go and sign a younger, lower profile NG (who will inexorably cost less) to balance out the playing time for run downs…I’m thinking Gabe Watson or Johnny Jolly or someone like that. The remainder freeing up of cap space with departures such as Parker and gay (purposefully not capitalized), Spaeth may be able to afford a FS such as Bethea, or Collins (G.B.) or even Branch in Oakland to be brought in or a cornerback. I believe Ike Taylor would be a very nice NUMBER 2 Corner…which means a NUMBER one would have to be either drafted or signed. Also, I like some of these big college backers (i.e., Spikes, McClain). We’ll see but MOST of this can be fixed in the offseason with shrewd free agency and savvy drafting.