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Friday, March 21, 2014

Steelers sign Moore, to host Blount

The Steelers on Friday bolstered their thin wide receiver group by signing veteran Lance Moore to a two-year deal.

Pittsburgh was in dire straights at receiver, having lost both Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery in free agency to Denver and Carolina, respectively, earlier this week.

Moore, who has 346 career receptions for 4,281 yards and 38 touchdowns, gives the Steelers another veteran option. The only other receivers with NFL experience on the roster behind Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Derek Moye, have a combined eight career receptions, all of which came in 2013.

The Steelers would have preferred to keep Cotchery, but when he scheduled a visit with Carolina earlier this week, they immediately contacted Moore and had him in for a visit.

The addition of Moore could give the Steelers a MAC-heavy starting offense in 2014. Brown, Moore and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger all played in that conference.

Ironically, Moore also signed as a rookie free agent with Cleveland in 2005 before joining New Orleans after his release. Now, Moore will play against the Browns twice a year for at least the next two seasons.

@ The Steelers are expected to host free agent running back LeGarrette Blount next Friday. Blount rushed for more than 700 yards with seven touchdowns for New England last season despite sharing the running back duties.

Pittsburgh hosted Maurice Jones-Drew earlier this week. But Jones-Drew is reportedly seeking an offer of at least $3.5 million per year, which is more than the Steelers are willing to pay at this point.

The Patriots want to bring Blount back next season, while Baltimore is also reportedly interested in his services.

@ Tight end Michael Palmer also was re-signed by the Steelers Friday to a one-year deal.

11 comments:

joe said...

moore takes the recieving core from very, very thin, to very thin. maybe two receivers in the draft ?

isn't blount the douche that sucker punched a dude in college ?

adamg said...

I'm a bit surprised they have an interest in Blount given his past character issues.

The Steelers picked 2 WRs last year and neither of played much.

Noel said...

I like this signing. We aren't going to see much from the fourth and fifth receivers unless besieged by injuries; so now they have the top spots filled at almost every position and they have more flexibility going into the draft. If we need depth later there will be cuts from other teams following the draft. It would be nice if some of last year's picks develop and make the issue moot but if they don't there will be quality veterans available.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad we signed Moore but I hope we don't sign lots of mediocre veteran receivers and then leave wheaton and other young guys to ride the bench. Acting that way is why our depth sucks to begin with.

It's time this team draft young players and COACH THEM UP instead of just signing more veterans.

Dale Lolley said...

Couldn't go into the season with Brown being the only veteran receiver.

Yes, Blount punched a kid in college - six years ago.

Anonymous said...

Blount would be a good pickup, imo.

Anonymous said...

It was a great punch.

Anonymous said...

I'd rather have a guy who punches people than a guy who doesn't care like Mendenhall.

BlackNGold said...

adamg,

As far as I know, I don't think Blount has had any incidents in the last several years. Sometimes people learn their lesson and straighten up.

Anonymous said...

LeGarrette Blount decking some dude on the field 6 years ago shouldn't have anything to do with why the Steelers shouldn't want him around, his 3 or 4 fumbles per season should.

Guy puts the ball on the ground way, way too much.

Eric T said...

Steelers getting compensatory picks in the 3rd, 5th & 6th rounds.