By Corey J. Corbin
Allied News Sports Editor
AS YOU PROBABLY noticed, Alan Faneca was at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ mandatory mini-camp this past weekend.
By late Friday morning, the 6-time Pro-Bowl guard had made it known he wouldn’t return to the ‘Burgh until training camp in July and couldn’t foresee himself being a Steeler at this point in 2008.
I have one thing to say to Kevin Colbert: ‘Trade him!’
Get whatever you can out of him. It’s better than letting him walk and receiving absolutely nothing in return. Placing the franchise tag on him won’t do anything but create an offseason full of drama and name-calling.
It’s not like the Steelers don’t have talent at guard with Kendall Simmons, Chris Kemoeatu and free-agent signee Sean Mahan.
We all know how the Steelers operate, which means they will allow Faneca to play out his contract and then sign with another team next March.
? On the other hand, the Steelers need to change modus operendi when it comes to the contract status of All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu, who is entering the final year of his contract. The Steelers still haven’t come to terms with Polamalu. What are they thinking? Polamalu is arguably the best safety in the league and they’re not willing to pay him?
I have a tip for Colbert and the Rooneys — use the money you’ll save from not paying Faneca next year and give it to your all-world safety.
Next to Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger, Polamalu is the most recognized Steeler. As Rod Coleman would have said in Jerry Maguire, ‘Show Him the Money!!!!!’
? In other Steelers’ news, they signed Kevan Barlow to a free-agent pact last week.
I have mixed reactions about the signing. At first, I really didn’t like the signing, because he hasn’t played overly well the past two or three years, but then there’s the Jerome Bettis factor.
Barlow, who rushed for 1,024 yards in 2003 as a 49er, has seen his rushing average dip from a 5.1 average in 2003 to 2.8 this past season with the J-E-T-S. “The Bus” also saw his numbers plummet over his final few seasons with St. Louis before coming to the Steelers. We all know how that acquisition turned out.
I’m not saying Barlow will become the next Jerome Bettis. What I am saying is let’s watch the battle between Barlow and Najeh Davenport play out down in Latrobe this summer. Although, I give the edge to Barlow, because he’s a better receiver out of the backfield and he picks up the blitz better than Davenport.
No matter which big back wins the right to back up ‘Fast Willie’ Parker, it should be fun to watch.
