Casey Hampton uses Wilfork's 'slap in the face' in reference to getting tagged

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_664780.html

Now I know that teams like to copycat our team because of its past success,Now we have players of the same position on other teams who are also likely going to be franchised,Casey Hampton voicing the same words of Vince.

For 2 of the most successful franchises in the past decade,The Steelers and the Pats have something in common - Not happy DL fat guys

Personally I can't see the Steelers giving a big contract to a guy that is still good,but you can see Casey slowing down a little and now in his 30s,I would think between Hampton and Wilfork that Vince is the more detremental to sign away from the tag and make him happy in difference between the two clubs.

The Steelers have a little less to lose IMO,Hampton is not in Vince's class.

 

[Rob0729]

At least I can see why Wilfork can say that the franchise tag is a slap in the face, but Hampton? The guy is going to be 33 when the season starts in 2010. He should hope the Steelers franchise him because he might not get $7 million over two years in a new deal.

Personally, I think the Steelers need to really start to move on from their old guys their defense is getting really old fast. Many of their starters from 2009 are in their 30s in cluding Brad Keisel (31), Farrior (35), James Harrison (31), Deshea Townsend (34 although he has been getting phased out already), Tyrone Carter (33), and Aaron Smith (33 who had a season ending injury). Not to mention many of their back ups are into their 30s (Travis Kirschke, Chris Hope, Rocky Boiman, and Ryan Clark). They would be stupid to commit long term to Hampton and not immediately groom their replacement.

On that note, I think we may be seeing the end of the Steelers from being an elite team. When Cowher was there, he knew when to get rid of players and infuse new talent. Tomlin seems content to keep the team together until age tears apart this team.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

At least I can see why Wilfork can say that the franchise tag is a slap in the face, but Hampton? The guy is going to be 33 when the season starts in 2010. He should hope the Steelers franchise him because he might not get $7 million over two years in a new deal.

Personally, I think the Steelers need to really start to move on from their old guys their defense is getting really old fast. Many of their starters from 2009 are in their 30s in cluding Brad Keisel (31), Farrior (35), James Harrison (31), Deshea Townsend (34 although he has been getting phased out already), Tyrone Carter (33), and Aaron Smith (33 who had a season ending injury). Not to mention many of their back ups are into their 30s (Travis Kirschke, Chris Hope, Rocky Boiman, and Ryan Clark). They would be stupid to commit long term to Hampton and not immediately groom their replacement.

On that note, I think we may be seeing the end of the Steelers from being an elite team. When Cowher was there, he knew when to get rid of players and infuse new talent. Tomlin seems content to keep the team together until age tears apart this team.

Indeed,Its no secret that the Steelers usually take a decade off after being so good in the decade before...after dominating the 70s the Steelers got old really fast and had bad years in the 80s with all the members of those championship years getting old and retiring leaving them with inexperienced and raw players for a good long time,they did make the SB in the 80s but that was only 1 decent year that they were really relevant.

I think as it looks now the Pats and Steelers could take a step back for a little while...hopefully not long for NE

 

[BionicPatriot]

A season away from a SB and ste Steelers are falling off? A little too much offseason time folks.

 

[Rob0729]

Indeed,Its no secret that the Steelers usually take a decade off after being so good in the decade before...after dominating the 70s the Steelers got old really fast and had bad years in the 80s with all the members of those championship years getting old and retiring leaving them with inexperienced and raw players for a good long time,they did make the SB in the 80s but that was only 1 decent year that they were really relevant.

I think as it looks now the Pats and Steelers could take a step back for a little while...hopefully not long for NE

I still think the Pats can rebound as soon as 2010. The Steelers are going through on defense what the Pats did already. The Pats have been working on the transition from the old guard already and a good offseason could rebound them back into the top team status. The Steelers will probably ride the old guard for another year and then be forced to make sweeping changes in 2011.

 

[TrueBeliever]

Actually I believe they're both ripping off the legendary "slap in the face" quote from one Mr. Ty Law.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I wish that someday I could say that being offered $7M for one year of work is a slap in the face

 

[tuckeverlasting]

I wish that someday I could say that being offered $7M for one year of work is a slap in the face

that's the same place i want to get in my life. you can slap me in the face like that anytime.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I still think the Pats can rebound as soon as 2010. The Steelers are going through on defense what the Pats did already. The Pats have been working on the transition from the old guard already and a good offseason could rebound them back into the top team status. The Steelers will probably ride the old guard for another year and then be forced to make sweeping changes in 2011.

the steelers are in a much better position than are the pats.......3-4 DL's are easier to find than top notch 3-4 LB's.....and with woodley and timmons, they have 2 good ones......they also have fox replace farrior, so in the next couple of years they only need to worry about replacing harrison, but the steelers have always been historically been able to replace their LB's

they drafted ziggy hood, and will likely be in competition with the pats for some of the same guys (odrick, graham, hughes), but their front 7 situation is much much better than the pats

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I wish that someday I could say that being offered $7M for one year of work is a slap in the face

well then, get to work replicating wilforks ability

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

well then, get to work replicating wilforks ability

I've already started hitting the weights

 

[RobertWeathers]

When Cowher was there, he knew when to get rid of players and infuse new talent. Tomlin seems content to keep the team together until age tears apart this team.

Sounds like a team I know.....

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Sounds like a team I know.....

the flipside is that the steelers offense has 2 guys worth mentioning who are over 30 (ward (33) and hartwig (31))...their OL is mostly young and under contract and have youth at both WR and RB and already have a TE better than anyone the pats have had for awhile

the steelers can literally focus on defense only this offseason, and like I mentioned before, at least have some talent to play at LB

 

[RobertWeathers]

the flipside is that the steelers offense has 2 guys worth mentioning who are over 30 (ward (33) and hartwig (31))...their OL is mostly young and under contract and have youth at both WR and RB and already have a TE better than anyone the pats have had for awhile

the steelers can literally focus on defense only this offseason, and like I mentioned before, at least have some talent to play at LB

Very true.

 

[Rob0729]

Very true.

Well it is true if the Steelers don't care if Ben Roethlisberger lives or dies next season. His offensive line was miserable last year. Roethlisberger was sacked 50 times last year, second most in the league behind Aaron Rogers with 51. I mean many fans here think the Pats need to rebuild parts of the o-line here for getting Brady "killed" and he was only sacked 18 times last season (3rd least). Also, their o-line wasn't really helping the running game which was 19th in the league last year.

The Steelers' number 1 priority this offseason is rebuilding their offensive line. They will probably just try to keep the defense together as is for one more year and add a piece or two here or there.

 

[scout]

Well it is true if the Steelers don't care if Ben Roethlisberger lives or dies next season. His offensive line was miserable last year. Roethlisberger was sacked 50 times last year, second most in the league behind Aaron Rogers with 51. I mean many fans here think the Pats need to rebuild parts of the o-line here for getting Brady "killed" and he was only sacked 18 times last season (3rd least). Also, their o-line wasn't really helping the running game which was 19th in the league last year.

The Steelers' number 1 priority this offseason is rebuilding their offensive line. They will probably just try to keep the defense together as is for one more year and add a piece or two here or there.

While it is true what you mentioned, it is also a little misleading. Big Ben will hold, hold, hold, hold, release and splat, thud, boom, and get pummeled. Brady usually does the quick release and still manages to get hit, tho not registered as a sack.

 

[muzz]

If James Harrison is what all Old Guys play like, I want nothing but Old Guys on my defense.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Well it is true if the Steelers don't care if Ben Roethlisberger lives or dies next season. His offensive line was miserable last year. Roethlisberger was sacked 50 times last year, second most in the league behind Aaron Rogers with 51. I mean many fans here think the Pats need to rebuild parts of the o-line here for getting Brady "killed" and he was only sacked 18 times last season (3rd least). Also, their o-line wasn't really helping the running game which was 19th in the league last year.

The Steelers' number 1 priority this offseason is rebuilding their offensive line. They will probably just try to keep the defense together as is for one more year and add a piece or two here or there.

Superhuman play by Big Ben was difference between the Steelers being 9-7 and 4-12. Also, it's unfair to blame Tomlin for the block obsolescence coming to this team. You are allowed short windows and you have to try to take advantage. Had the pats not been contenders, we would have seen more change in the 06/07/08 timeframe.

The reality is that Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu are the two most important players on their defense. Without them, this is a pretty miserable defense that just gets lit up. It also shows how clownish the worship we see on this board to "blitzing OLB's" really is.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Steelers have no choice but to do just that, and they probably should pay him as well.

After all, big 3-4 NTs don't grow on trees, Dallas' Jay Ratliffe(who was unearthed in the 7th round) is an exception, but nonetheless finding a 3-4 NT is much harder than finding an LT.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I've already started hitting the weights

And you better start eating 4 McDs Big Macs a day as well