DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Sean Mahan,

By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, March 10, 2007

Looking to address needs at linebacker and on the offensive line, the Steelers met with a pair of free agents Friday at the team's South Side practice facility.

Colby Bockwoldt, who would give the Steelers some depth at outside linebacker, sounded as if he were ready to sign with the team.

The same could be said for offensive lineman Sean Mahan, even though the four-year veteran would likely face stiff competition at center.

"I plan on being a starter, so I'm not going to go someplace and not play," Mahan said.


Mahan has visited the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks and said his agent is talking with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about re-signing him. He started 28 games for the Buccaneers in 2005-06.

The Browns and Seahawks are looking at Mahan at right guard, he said, while the Steelers and Buccaneers are interested in him as a center.

Bockwoldt, a third-year pro, said he has offers from the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers but is hopeful a deal can be reached with the Steelers.

"This is the place where I want to be," Bockwoldt said, "so if it comes down to a close call, this is where I hope I end up."

The 6-2, 239-pounder spent last season with the Titans and the previous two with the New Orleans Saints, who took Bockwoldt in the seventh round of the 2004 draft out of Brigham Young University.

Bockwoldt racked up 89 tackles for the Saints in 2005 but was released before last season. He signed with the Titans and had 21 tackles in a reserve role.

The Steelers were thin at outside linebacker even before they released Joey Porter. Adding to Bockwoldt's appeal is his willingness to play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.

If he signs with the Steelers, he would become the fourth player from BYU on the roster.

"I think the Steelers have great linebackers, but there's no doubt that I can probably be a contributing factor to the group," said Bockwoldt, who played two seasons at BYU with starting defensive end Brett Keisel. "That's all I'm looking for, a chance to prove myself."

The Steelers, in a sense, have asked Mahan to do the same.

While Jeff Hartings has retired, the Steelers still have Chukki Okobi at center. The team told Mahan that it might also give right guard Kendall Simmons a look at the position.

Mahan, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2003, started 12 games last season and played primarily at left guard because of injuries along the Buccaneers' offensive line.

The 6-3, 301-pounder said he is comfortable playing both guard positions as well as center.

As for when he hopes to sign with a team, Mahan said, "I've got no time frame, but the sooner the better."

Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

If he says he wants to be a starter, well, what's the problem with signing with us, as he would probably be our starting right guard. Instead if he signs with Steelers as a centre, like the columnist says, he faces stiff competition and might end up sitting the pines. I will wonder why Savage never gave this guy an offer he couldn't refuse as he seems to be a fit for our needs. JMHO

Someone should tell this guy that starting positions are earned, not given.

He would defninitely start for us, PIT, and SEA. On Tampa he would have to battle with John Wade so he's not guaranteed to start there even though he probably would. I don't think he'll come here simply because pittsburgh and seattle actually are good teams while we are bottom of the division yearly.

So this guy can play both guard positions and center. Is he any good? That's what i wonder about these FA's. i just get word that we're gonna get a guy like Cosey Coleman. You know he was a FA and he sucked. LOL. i hope these guys like Peek and Smith aren't all really bad players. That's why i don't like this FA game, we're really getting other team's trash. Jamal Lewis is a boom or not bust (but not be here next season) guy, big time. I like it. and i also like Steinbach. He got paid the same amount as the other FA Guards, but they all aren't as good as him. Although i think that decent guards are attainable through the draft (see Aaron Sears or Blalock in the 2nd round) our deal with Steinbach was the best of the bunch. Dielman is a one year name in my book. I've always heard about Steinbach. Steinbach's young and has been starting on the Bengals for years. but with that guy from the skins who plays CB, Peek, this Smith guy from the Bengals: those guys might suck as far as i'm concnerned.

I've seen Tim Thomas a bit living near NY. He really is nothing special. Good tatical acquision i think, being that he is a burner and can make plays with his feet. But he really has done nothing. I think Harrison shows little as a PR and we gotta replace Cutt. i remember Thomas used to return kicks, although i don't remember punt or kick

Stabber, i would imagine that the problem isn't him being a starter for us but Mahan probably wanting more the Phil is willing to give to a guy who is no better then average.

there are to many better guards to be had than waste more money on a below average guard. I would rather have Sears, Grubbs, Blaylock, Duckworth, Ramirez, kyle young, that left guard from Texas always forget his name. Anyway he is nothing special looking for big money but hey didnt leonard davis get 21 mil guaranteed lol

it´s official

Steelers | Mahan agrees to terms
Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:45:31 -0800

Jim Flynn, of PewterReport.com, reports free agent OL Sean Mahan (Buccaneers) has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Screw it...Go to the draft with Sowells temporarily penciled in...

Trade UP 5 spots if need be and get

1) Sears
2) Blalock

Pencil em' in at RG Day One...

These 2 are better than Mahan and Timmerman...NOW...

Best thing for us to do is exactly what we did for LB last year...

Thomas and Back it up with Sears/Blalock...

This guy is average at best. Glad the Stoolers got him and we didn't.

Good work Phil

I think a consideration is that there is...

Sowells, Smith, Matua, and to a lesser extent Hoffman, one of these may emerge.

Friedman is also an adequate player.

I just did not see Mahan as being a difference maker.

Well Steelhack should be eating a pizza since PUKESBUGH signed a FA...

Steelers | Mahan contract update
Sat, 10 Mar 2007 10:57:09 -0800

Updating a previous item, Pittsburgh Steelers OL Sean Mahan's new deal with the team is a five-year contract. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

I don't know if Savage did not want this guy or if Mahan didn't want to play in Cleveland, but I'm glad we didn't get him.

Guard in round two to start day one.

That's quite a bit more than Fraley got, right? I don't think he is as good as Fraley.

I also agree w/you about not drafting a first day guard if we picked him up.

Good non-sign.

he probably saw that one average guy who got 7 mil and wanted something like that. I think they overpaid for him, he doesn't seem to be the power guard/center guy the steelers like.

I think they overpaid for him too.

One thing though.........While the Steelers had a power running game for years, it was mainly due to their backs. Their offensive line has always employed a lot of gap blocking, cutting, and trapping. Guys like Faneca are among the most mobile in the entire NFL. I prefer that style of blocking over the pure base blockers. Most fans will disagree w/that, but I think the mobile run blockers open up better holes, get to the second level much better, and are much more effective.

I'm a Bucs fan. Unfortanally, I don't Mahan will be that good of a starter. He got pushed around at times at guard and could never suplant John Wade at center, supposidly his best pro position. I definately would have wanted the Bucs to bring him back as his youth and versatility could have been a plus for depth and competition however there are plenty of center options in the upcoming draft. Mahan has some potential, but I just don't think he will be that good of a starter. He is a soild back up, but a below average starter IMO