Report Now Says Woodley The Steelers #1 Priority

It had been reported by ESPN that the Steelers were not going to rush to get a new deal in the hands of OLB LaMarr Woodley, but now according to NFL Network’s Insider Jason LaCanfora, that is not the case, and Woodley is the teams #1 target to get inked to a new deal.

On Tuesday night’s Total Access program, NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora threw cold water on a recent ESPN report that (falsely?) indicated the Steelers aren’t in any rush to re-sign contract-year linebacker LaMarr Woodley. The positivity of La Canfora’s report was backed up by the Saginaw News on Tuesday.

According to La Canfora, re-signing Woodley remains the Steelers’ “No. 1 priority.” La Canfora added that he can envision “no scenario where Woodley is not” a Steeler in 2011, going so far as to predict the Steelers would franchise tag Woodley if such a designation is still available. La Canfora was adamant that Woodley isn’t going anywhere.

The Saginaw News wasn’t quite as strong, but directly disputes ESPN. According to the newspaper, the idea promoted in ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker’s report “doesn’t mean the Steelers won’t sign Woodley to a new contract. Once the new collective bargaining agreement is in place, the Steelers are expected to sign Woodley to a multi-year contract.”