The Steelers traded veteran center Sean Mahan to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed 2009 draft pick, the team announced today.
Mahan, a six-year veteran, signed with the Steelers prior to the 2007 season as an unrestricted free agent from the Buccaneers, who selected him in the fifth round (168th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Mahan started all 16 games in the regular season and the Steelers’ only postseason game in 2007.
The Steelers presently have 52 players on their active roster and will be able to add one more player prior to Sunday’s (Sept. 7) season opener against the Houston Texans at Heinz Field.
It's a somewhat surprising move considering Mahan's salary and the timing of it all, but the team obviously feels comfortable with Justin Hartwig at center.
11 comments:
Great news! They can use the roster spot and 7th-rd pick to trade for another useless return man....
I'm not surprised. At least they got something in return for him. I expect the Steelers will sign one of the UFA OL, Kemo is my guess, to a contract extension this week.
Looks like Stapleton will be groomed to replace Hartwig at center after next year.
Dale, any word on who the Steelers are planning to bring in to fill the last spot? Are they looking at veterans or free agents, or activating somebody from the practice squad?
I like this move, they obviously like the potential and price tag of Stapleton. Saves them some cap and a roster spot.
Speaking of cap, Dale, do you think this might be the precursor to an extension for one of our current players. Im thinking Marvel. If he is healthy (as they say he is), they are nuts to let him go next season.
dale...
Do you think any team will ever offer us anything for Gary Russell eventually?? Mahan must have potentially been a clubhouse cancer because they ditched him awful fast??? Any insight is appreciated.
-Weegie Thompson
Trading Mahan frees up almost $2.2 million in cap space for 2008, but will add $2.4 million in dead money next season. I do think trading Mahan had more to do with his attitude and salary cap crunch, then it did with the pick we got (6ht/7th) or his play on the field.
It might be likely we sit on the open roster spot through this week and wait until after week 1 to sign a veteran player. After week 1, veteran players are paid week-to-week, not for the whole season guaranteed.
del,
I'll email you back when im not reading about torts, contracts (right up our alley) and civil procedure.
Wouldn't it be wiser to take someone off the PS for a week (Roy Lewis), put them back on for week 2, then sign a vetern not garunteed? Is that feasible? I just can't see them only using 52, a roster spot is way too valuable.
That would probably be the better move, especially since whomever they sign won't be able to help this week.
Mahan frees up cap space as far as the future.
I still think they want to see Kemoeatu and Marvel play before they throw big money at them.
So Dale, do you think the Steelers will break with tradition and negotiate contracts during the season? I hope that's their thinking because we could be in a world of hurt next year if we don't take care of some of our FA.
Sean McHugh was signed to fill the last roster spot. McHugh played at PSU and was a hybrid TE/FB. The PSU coaches liked his size and made him a TE, but he is really more of a FB.
If they did it with Kendall Simmons, you have to think they'll do it with higher-quality linemen like Smith and Kemo.
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