Steelers Free Agency History Doesn't Bode Well For Team

Best Free Agent Acquisition?
James Farrior

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their fan base (SteelerNation) now have had to sit for 2 weeks with a feeling that isn't very common amongst the black n' gold faithful.  They are being forced to watch OTHER teams participate in the playoffs.  Now starts the speculation.  I did it, you did it, Mike Tomlin did it, the Pittsburgh media did it, and now Art Rooney Jr. has chimed in as well.  Now also starts the venom that accompanies fans favorite team under performing.  Who is the blame?  I wrote an entire article about that, and I got alot of feedback with other fans' perspectives on who exactly is to blame for the Steelers skid in the second half of the season (and if you are counting Todd Haley was the winner by a LANDSLIDE on fans thoughts on who was to blame for the horrible 2nd half).

With all of that anger and frustration starting to calm down, fans are starting to look ahead to next season.  If you read my article regarding the Steelers' Free Agent situation you would know that there isn't really alot the team can do other than let some quality players go their separate ways.  This is the danger of the salary cap and being strapped to it (as the Steelers organization is right now).  The one thing that still surprises me is when fans say the following: "The Steelers need to go out and get a free agent running back (or any position) to start next year."  Are you serious?  You must be joking...are we talking about the same organization?  When was the last time the Steelers made a "splash" move in Free Agency besides letting their players leave?  They've watched the likes of Chad Brown, Kevin Greene, Levon Kirkland, Joey Porter, Jason Gildon, Rod Woodson, Kordell Stewart, Mike Wallace (coming soon), just to name a few of the players that have left the Steelers via free agency or have been "cap casualties".  Lets name some big free agent pick ups that have come in and started for the Steelers: James Farrior, Ryan Clark, Sean Mahan, Jeff Hartwig, Jeff Hartings, Kimo VonOelhoffen (sp?), just to name a few.  Look at that list...where do you see star standouts besides Farrior, Clark, and Hartings?  Even Hartings wasn't a star when he came to the 'burg from Detroit.  Ryan Clark was essentially let go from the Redskins and the Steelers saw a quality young safety that fits their system.  None of those FA pickups will "blow your doors off".

I'm not trying to say that the Steelers haven't made moves in Free Agency...they obviously have.  What I AM trying to say is that the Steelers aren't "that" team that is going to sell the farm for a player (not just a RB) that is going to be able to come in and be a productive starter for the team.  Those players don't just grow on trees and sometimes the risk is far more dangerous than the possible reward.  If you've followed the Steelers for any length of time, you will know that they build themselves from the inside out...they draft players to fit their scheme, and they develop those players underneath quality starters for them to blossom when they are ready.  SteelerNation, brace yourself for yet another boring Free Agency in the Steel City.  I'm sure they will bring players in and talk with them, but almost all of those players end up signing elsewhere.  The question the Steelers need to answer now is do they have the depth and the quality young players to fill in for those players who are destined to leave the team for greener pastures?  That is the biggest question, and quite frankly, the answer scares me...