Pittsburgh
Steelers

Actually, only one player really overpriced himself and that was free safety Ryan Clark. They wanted to sign him, but his idea of what he was worth and their willingness to pay were not anywhere near each other. Clark eventually re-signed at a more comfortable price for Pittsburgh.

They already are paying Troy Polamalu an average of $6.5 million a year with his cap number over $8 million in 2010 and they were not about to sink more than $6 million into their other safety.

They signed five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton and put the franchise tag on Jeff Reed. Kevin Colbert, their director of football operations, announced that all others would be permitted to go into the market and if they do not find something to their liking, the Steelers might like to have some of them back.

Among those they might want back is one of two veteran defensive ends, Travis Kirschke or Nick Eason. Aging cornerback Deshea Townsend could be another, especially since he has played some free safety and they need help there. Townsend has played 12 seasons in Pittsburgh and has established roots there and would love to stay.

The Steelers are notorious for not only starting slowly in free agency but for completely ignoring any of the bigger names or top-tiered free agents and this year is no different. They signed no one of note last season and little the year before. They did sign starting center Justin Hartwig in 2008 but only after the Atlanta Falcons had cut him.

This year they've signed free agent WRs Arnaz Battle and Antwaan Randle-El to three-year deals, adding depth to their receiving corps. Battle, a former 49er, was a UFA. Randle-El, who played his first four seasons with Pittsburgh, was cut by Washington after four seasons with the Redskins.

The Steelers' last significant signing was free safety Ryan Clark in 2006 and before that halfback Duce Staley in 2004 and linebacker James Farrior in 2002. Those are three significant signings in the past eight years, so little is expected of them as the first week of free agency winds down.

They have gambled in their secondary by not signing Clark or Townsend and placing only a low tender on RFA starting cornerback William Gay. Granted, Gay did not play well last season and ended up being replaced by Townsend at the end but he did well splitting time with Bryant McFadden in 2008, so much so that they did not make a big play to keep McFadden from leaving as a free agent.

Gay is young, spunky and in the past two seasons has had one good one and one bad one. He might fit better as a nickel back and even there, with more demands for cover corners in the league, someone might see a fifth-round draft choice for him a bargain or at least worth a try.

That also could be the case with tight end Matt Spaeth, although he would cost a team a third-round pick as a RFA. The Steelers use Spaeth in a way that is puzzling. He is a 6-foot-7 target who has been virtually ignored in their passing game and used primarily as a blocker. When they do throw to him, he's been capable but they prefer to throw to No. 1 tight end Heath Miller. Spaeth, though, is not much of a blocker due to his size.

If another team does sign him, it would be toward making him a pass-receiving tight end, which is what he was when he won the 2006 Mackey Award after catching 47 passes for 564 yards and four touchdowns at Minnesota. He caught five passes for the Steelers last season.

--Whisenhunt took what many believed was a subtle shot at Tomlin, who got the job Whisenhunt wanted with the Steelers in 2007.

"If you look at an organization like Pittsburgh, where you lose a Bill Cowher and the next coach comes in and a lot of elements were in place that allowed it to continue and be successful, certainly that would be attractive to a head coach," Whisenhunt said at the NFL scouting combine. "And they went on and won a Super Bowl. There were a lot of questions about Arizona that have been answered, with the new stadium, could they win if they had a plan. And I think we've showed that to a degree."

--A judge dismissed charges of simple assault and resisting arrest against Steelers K Jeff Reed, accused of raising his fists at a Pittsburgh police officer last fall when ordered back in his vehicle as police dealt with a teammate. Reed must perform 40 hours of community service and if he does so two summary charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness against him likely will be dropped. The Steelers made Reed their franchise player two weeks ago.

--SS Troy Polamalu missed the final seven games of the season with a torn PCL (following an earlier sprained MCL) and then left Pittsburgh to work out in California, as he did the previous two offseasons.

"We're not concerned about that," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said of Polamalu's readiness for 2010. "Troy is a give-it-all type player. Injuries can happen. He is on the road to recovery from his knee injuries. That's going to happen. We're not going to sit there and worry about Troy being available because it can happen to anyone."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "If you have a great pass rush, you might be able to get by with a lesser defensive backfield." -- Kevin Colbert, director of football operations.

The plan also is to pick up a running back somewhere because Willie Parker almost surely will leave unless he finds nobody wants him. Parker is not happy with how he was used last season after he returned to health.

--LB Larry Foote has finalized a three-year deal to return to the Steelers worth $9.3 million and including a $1.8 million signing bonus, according to NFL.com. He spent the 2008 season with the Lions.

TEAM NEEDS

1. Cornerback: Even though the Steelers drafted corners in the third and fifth rounds last season, they got woeful play at the position and could lose starter and RFA William Gay and veteran UFA Deshea Townsend along with starting FS Ryan Clark.

2. Linebacker: The Steelers have little depth and no starting prospects behind their starting four, two of whom are well into their 30s -- inside linebacker James Farrior will be 35 this season and outside linebacker James Harrison 32. Larry Foote was signed to at least help the depth.

3. Defensive line: Although they re-signed NT Casey Hampton and drafted a defensive end on first round last season, the Steelers three starters are all in their 30s and they need to groom someone to take over for Hampton and one defensive end over the next two years.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: PK Jeff Reed (tendered at $2.814M).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--QB Charlie Batch is a reliable, when healthy, backup and that is the issue because he missed all of 2008 and ended 2009 with a broken wrist. He wants to return.

--LB Rocky Boiman was a late edition to try to save their drowning special teams. He's not likely to return.

--SS Tyrone Carter won't get a contract from the Steelers again unless he finds nothing from anywhere else.

--FS Ryan Clark would like to return and the team wants him back, but they are not likely to settle on a price before free agency begins.

--DE Nick Eason, if he's willing to return at a minimum salary, could re-sign.

--WR Joey Galloway was a late signing after Limas Sweed was placed on injured reserve. He did not dress for either game and he is not likely to be invited back.

--DE Travis Kirschke, although he turns 36 this year, has been dependable and could re-sign if he does not go elsewhere, especially if they get nothing at the position in the draft.

--RB Willie Parker has seen his last days in Pittsburgh. They would love to have him back as a backup to Rashard Mendenhall but he wants more playing time than that.

--CB Deshea Townsend thinks he can still start in the league and the Steelers have no plans for him to do that. If he finds nothing of his liking in free agency, they will offer him a contract to return.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--RB Carey Davis (not tendered as RFA)..

--OG Darnell Stapleton (not tendered as RFA) was their starting right guard until an injury put him on injured reserve.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)

--*OT Willie Colon (tendered at $2.521M with first-round pick as compensation) entering third season as starter at right tackle.

--CB William Gay (tendered at $1.101M with fifth-round pick as compensation) had a disappointing first season as a starter but not bad enough that they want to lose him.

--P Daniel Sepulveda (tendered at $1.101M with fourth-round pick as compensation) was middle of the road and not likely to receive a high tender. He was drafted in the fourth round.

--TE Matt Spaeth (tendered at $1.101M with fifth-round pick as compensation) is No. 2 behind Heath Miller. He plays a lot but rarely is used as a target and he's not a good blocker.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--LB Patrick Bailey was their rookie of the year for his special-teams play in 2008, but dropped off last season.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--NT Casey Hampton: Potential UFA; $21.3M/3 yrs, $11M guaranteed/$6.5M SB.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--S Will Allen: UFA Buccaneers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

--WR Arnaz Battle: UFA 49ers; $3.975/3 yrs, $975,000 SB.

--LB Derrick Doggett: CFL FA; terms unknown.

--LB Larry Foote has finalized a three-year deal to return to the Steelers worth $9.3 million and including a $1.8 million signing bonus, according to NFL.com. He spent the 2008 season with the Lions.

--WR Antwaan Randle El: FA Redskins; $7M/3 yrs, $900,000 SB.

--OT Jonathan Scott: Not tendered as RFA by Bills; 1 yr, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST: None.