The average age of the projected starters on the Steelers defense is nearly 31, making them one of the few units that could benefit from an extended layoff this off-season, reports Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Nose tackle Chris Hoke thinks the majority of veteran players are fine with the lockout.
“I would say 90 percent of the veteran players are fine with this lockout right now,” Hoke said. “I want to be in training camp, but, if we’re not going in now, when’s the last time I could go work out 3-4 hours in the morning and have the afternoon with my wife? Never.” 90% of veteran players on the Steelers, or 90% of veteran players with active contracts may not mind more time with their families this off-season, but I’m not so sure that the hundreds of veteran free agents who remain unsigned and unpaid this off-season are as fine with the lockout as Hoke apparently is. Hoke, who turned 35 in April, happens to be one of those players without a contract for next season.
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
DrGeorge
May 30, 2011 at 9:51 am
An extended lockout is a great disadvantage to the rookies and UFAs waiting to join a team. However, to veteran squads like the Steelers, with core players who know the system and have the discipline to keep in shape, the lockout is much less problematic, almost a vacation. The lockout will give the vets a shorter season and a big experience advantage against the younger teams when the CBA is finally negotiated and signed and play begins after a much shortened training camp. Hoke isn’t worried about his contract because he is good at what he does and the Steelers have no one else who can play NT as well as he and Hampton do.