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P-G sports online editor Dan Gigler blogs about the Steelers.

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Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron

Ed Bouchette reports:

  • The Steelers just came to a contract agreement with guard Chris Kemoeatu that will pay him $20 million over the next five years. There were reports that Kemoeatu was about to sign with the New York Jets for the same amount, but he decided to stay with the Steelers instead. Full update
  • The Steelers signed their second free agent within hours this afternoon when they came to terms with their fullback, Sean McHugh. McHugh, who also plays tight end, received a three-year contract worth $2.57 million. It includes a signing bonus of $390,000.
  • Guard Kendall Simmons, released by the Steelers Thursday, is traveling to Buffalo today to meet with the Bills. Simmons will cost the Steelers $4.71 million against their salary cap this season, the amortization left on the $7.85 million signing bonus he received on the contract extension he signed 18 months ago.

The Kemoeatu signing/Simmons cutting has sparked some lively discussion in the comments section of this post -- weigh in with your opinion of these moves ...

More free agency:

We'll continue to update throughout the day as more news happens

Mock Draft Madness

With the 32nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select ...

Links N@

  • BNG is thrilled to have made the Elite Eight (thanks Sean!) though the selection committe should've added the PBC
  • L.A. suburb to build NFL stadium. The Bills, Vikes & Raiders named as possible future tenants, which sickens BNG. These are great fan bases (even those Oakland nutjobs) and none of them deserve this. Take Jacksonville.
  • Finally, we'd be remiss not to mark the one-year anniversary of Myron Cope's passing. Pittsburgh is greater for having had him, lessened by his loss, and strengthened by his legacy. Can only imagine that he and St. Peter tossed back a coupla celebratory Toddys after the Super Bowl. PSAMP has a nice commentary, along with a cool new format on their blog. And if you're missing that trademark golden voice, tune in to WEAE today.

P1000743

Posted Feb 27 2009, 12:25 PM by Dan Gigler
Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

Comments

SteelFan43 wrote re: Simmons to Buffalo?
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 1:41 PM

I'm still trying to figure out why the Steelers released Simmons?  The only thing I can come up with is they needed the cap room to sign Harrison.  Does anybody know what the deal is?

steelrhino1 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K. to stay
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 2:52 PM

Maybe I didn't pay enough attention, but during the games it always seemed to me like Kemoeatu was playing with his head in the clouds.  Am I assessing that wrongly?  I'm happy to be told I don't know what I'm talking about.  Is he honestly that good or were the Steelers just trying to keep the line as intact as possible?  I still hope we can land a good OL in the draft - Unger, Mack, Robinson - someone...  Interested to hear others' thoughts on Chris K.'s signing...

MikeinNC09 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K. to stay
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 3:03 PM

As I understand it, the Steelers do not save anything on the cap by cutting Simmons.  Actually, its a larger cap hit because of the pro-rated signing bonus that must all be counted this year.  

I think Chris K got better as the year went on.  I think though that we can't go into the year with Stapleton as the other guard.  He was clearly overmatched, IMO.  Drafting a guard, high should be a priority.  Definitely need to sign a a free agent or 2 also..  

SteelFan43 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 4:04 PM

Alright, if it's not a cap move then why cut him?  This makes no sense to me! How about some insight Ed!

Also, Now that Snyder has given the bank to Haynesworth, it will be that much harder to sign Harrison to a long term deal!  I don't know what numbers they were talking, but whatever it was just got tossed out the window!  

As for Kemo, the Steelers had to keep him after they released Simmons!  What choice did they have?  Like Ed pointed out, they would of only had two guards left; Darnell Stapleton, their only experienced guard and Jeremy Parquet, who has very little experience.  So, like I said before, why release Simmons, it just doen't make any sense to me!

AFPilot wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 4:10 PM

I guess they need a decent guard but I can't count the number of times Ben was on his a$$ and Kemoeatu was standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face wondering why his defense assignment ran around him like he was standing still.  In his defense much of it was in the first half to middle 3/4's of the season and he did step it up in the end so hopefully he'll keep it going.  $20 mil with $4 mil signing bonus?  That sounds steep but it what it is, that O-line needs to stay together to get better so hopefully it was a good move.  With their schedule next year it won't be near as tough, at least that's what I'm hoping.  

SteelFan43 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 4:10 PM

MikeinNC09 you're right!  I just read the simmons article again and it will cost the Steelers more this year (4.71 mil) to get rid of him than to keep him (4.67 mil).  I guess in the long run they'll save money, but it sure doesn't do anything to help them out this year.

MikeinNC09 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Fri, Feb 27 2009 4:35 PM

They will save the salary money, just not cap money this year.  THey will 'save' on the cap due to the move the next 2 years..but next year might be an uncapped year, so it won't matter.  I don't see how it makes sense to make the move.  You take a larger cap hit now, and when it will benefit you cap wise, there is no cap....  

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on Fri, Feb 27 2009 6:01 PM

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on Fri, Feb 27 2009 9:18 PM

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on Fri, Feb 27 2009 9:51 PM

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on Fri, Feb 27 2009 10:10 PM

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on Sat, Feb 28 2009 8:36 AM

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NuttingHostage wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Sat, Feb 28 2009 8:51 AM

Steelfan43,

The Steelers did not save any cap room in cutting Simmons, in fact just the opposite, they will have $4M of dead cap space due to the amortization of his original signing bonus.

This move was not about cap space, it was about saving real payroll dollars, roughly $3M. Perhaps that $3M is going toward Kemo's signing bonus, or they may be saving it for other free agents or even a signing bonus for James Harrison.

The Rooney's are not the Nuttings. I have all the confidence in the world everything they do is aimed toward giving the club the best opportunity to win in the coming season. They will use the $3M in real payroll dollars they saved in cutting Simmons for a good purpose, be that Kemo, Harrison, or someone else.

SteelFan43 wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Sat, Feb 28 2009 11:40 AM

Thanks for clarification!

NuttingHostage wrote re: Free agency: Chris K., McHugh to stay; links N@ & Myron
on Sat, Feb 28 2009 11:43 AM

Steelfan,

No problem.

Man, I wish more people posted on here. - Like they do on Dejan's PBC Blog.

It's weird, this is a football town and no one posts on this blog, yet the PBC Blog is wildly popular.