DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Faneca won't play for Steelers after this season

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2867828&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

PITTSBURGH -- All-Pro guard Alan Faneca is upset at the Steelers' contract extension offer and said Friday he is determined not to play for Pittsburgh beyond this season.

Faneca, an All-Pro left guard every season but one since 2001, said he reported to the team's three-day minicamp only because it is mandatory and he could be fined for not attending. He didn't threaten to boycott the season, even though he has no contract protection beyond this year, but made clear his unhappiness.

"This will be my last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler," Faneca said.

Faneca, widely regarded as one the NFL's top offensive linemen, said the Steelers' only offer to him wouldn't have made him one of the league's 10 highest-paid guards. Faneca will make $4.375 million this season, including roster bonuses, in the final year of his current contract.

Faneca's criticism is nearly unprecedented for a player of his accomplishments in Pittsburgh. The Steelers usually re-sign their key players.

The Steelers did not immediately respond to Faneca's comments.

Faneca also said the club's decision to release former Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter sends a poor signal to other players only 15 months after the club won the Super Bowl.

"What are the guys in the room to think?" Faneca said, sweat still dripping off him after a two-hour practice. "If they can do it to me and everybody else and let Joey go and do things like that, what does that say to the rest of the guys?"

The team could still make a long-term offer to Faneca before the season starts in September, but he all but said he will not re-sign even if the Steelers offer an unexpectedly large contract.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

That's too bad..come on down Faneca!!!

LT. J. Thomas
LG E. Steinbach
C L. Bentley
RG A. Faneca
RT R. Tucker (or Shaffer, provided he;s here)

That line would bow to no one IMO. I know that'd be a lot of cash for the offensive line but what could d-lines do against that?

lol! omg.... we could bring back PP as our runningback and still rack up 1400 yards behind that line!

not to mention how he would have a bigtime grudge when we play pitt....

Starting to look like a Steeler meltdown:

http://kdka.com/video/?id=27622@kdka.dayport.com

Perhaps his next step will be to threaten to hold his breath until he turns blue?

how old is he?

Quote:

---

lol! omg.... we could bring back PP as our runningback and still rack up 1400 yards behind that line!

---

Sweet. I'd have a current players shirt again then!! Let's go JJ!!

born in 76.. no thanks.. he's probably almost done with..

and for some reason, i dont understand why we always have to get other teams talents... why can't we just let ours blossom? i mean i think Sowells and Matua could learn something from Steinbach, Bentley (when he comes back), and Thomas...

Born in 76 isn't old. He is 30. He still has a few more years in the tank and has been an all-pro every year since 2001 but one. Steal him while hurting Pitt is always fun!

Not in your wildest dreams will he ever become a Brown ladies and gentlemen. Honestly, he'll probably go to the Cardinals as Wisenhunt and Grimm are both there.

Quote:

---

LT. J. Thomas
LG E. Steinbach
C L. Bentley
RG A. Faneca
RT R. Tucker (or Shaffer, provided he;s here)

---

Heck we could let GM QB behind that beast of an OLine....That would, without a doubt, be the toughest, baddest, most awesome OLine I would ever see. I mean you look at some of the Great Olines lately...KC the last couple years, Seattles dominant Left side, The Cowboys of the 90's, The Hogs in Washington, Miami in the 80's, The Rams lead by Pace.....None of them would come close to what these guys could do......Heck the weak point of that OLine is Joe Thomas!!!!!!!!

We wouldn't have to worry about RB... Because we could either take that kid form Arkansas int he 2nd....and no I am not talking about McFadden...we won't have a shot at him....or heck...make a move for Chris Wells....if not the draft...we will have a line outside of the complex in Berea of RB FA's that would want to play for us...LOL

Of course the finances would probably not work out for us unless he really has a grudge against Pitt. and wants to do the one thing to hurt them the most.....LOL But it is a lot of fun to imagine

The Steelers will probably put the franchise tag on him next year, and then trade him. No way the Steelers trade him within the division.

Looks like he may not be playing for the Steelers this season, so forget next season.

www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl


Steelers | Faneca wants to be traded
Fri, 11 May 2007 10:59:07 -0700

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers OG Alan Faneca has asked the team to trade him. "I've been asking since February, to trade me, to let me go. I've done my piece, I've done my time, I've done everything I can for this organization," Faneca said. The Steelers have offered him a contract, but he said it is more of a "non-offer."

We can trade for him for Shaffer

Hutchison,Faneca.Faneca,Hutchison.Depending on your personel preference,the best LG in the NFL.
His discontent began when Whisehunt and Grimm left,and now his contract problems are adding fuel to the fire.I'd be sorry to see him go,as I have enjoyed watching him twice a year.I guess watching Stienbach for a full season will have to suffice.

He is still a wrecking ball. maybe we will become an OL "magnet" of sorts. relatively cheap cash if he seems to be the missing stud in the mud that we need. Come to the pond, son!
Go Browns! Use the Draft, Phil! And may the Elf be with you!

Great player, but no thanks.

Quote:

---

Starting to look like a Steeler meltdown:

---

I still haven't really been made to understand how they could cut Porter.. The Fanaca thing I kinda understand. He's been in the league 9 years. At the end of this upcoming year, he'll have 10 years in the league. He's approaching 32 years old and you have to ask yourself, how much is left in the tank and how much should he be paid?

Between his age and number of years in the league,, what is it he expects.

Frankly, I'm not sure I blame the Steelers.... I also have no love for players who take thier fight to the public like he's doing... Don't like it at all..

He's a 32 year old Millionaire. He's made enough that he never has to work again for the rest of his life.. if he doesn't want to.

He's popular enough to open a business in Pittsburgh and the people there would support it... But frankly, having grown up in that area, I'll tell you, I don't think the fans respect this one bit..

Nope,,,, Not at all,,, What say you Steelhack?

Why would you move a perfectly good pro bowl LEFT guard ove to the right side.

Keep him on the left. with JT They'll open the tank size holes even Green couldn't miss

Quote:

---

Between his age and number of years in the league,, what is it he expects

---

To be paid according to his accomplisments and the same as others in his
position making ten times as much.

Even players have the freedom of speach. I don't care if he bad mouths the Steelers FO. Especially if what he says is true

Being a millionaire is irrelavant

What player, in his right mind, would want to open a business in Pittsburg?

Check out the last few paragraphs in this story. On Pittsburgh's Scout.com website message board, alot of their fans are none too happy with what they claim looks like a potshot, by Hines Ward, at Steelers management in Faneca's defense...

Unhappy Faneca says his days here are numbered

Saturday, May 12, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Alan Faneca, among the most decorated and respected Steelers over the past decade, turned hotter than his long mop of red hair yesterday. He stood up from the seat in front of his locker and issued the kind of passionate words usually reserved for an opponent.

Only in this case, Faneca's foe is Steelers management.

"This will be my last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler," Faneca declared, his left hand shaking slightly to betray his emotion.

Faneca, among the best offensive linemen in club history, ended three months of silence by ripping into management for not being fair to him in contract negotiations.

He said he repeatedly has asked to be traded, does not believe he wants to serve as a team captain for a fourth season and cannot predict what kind of focus he might bring to the team and its new coach in 2007.

Faneca, 30, has one year left on his contract that will pay him another $3.375 million on top of the $1 million roster bonus he received in March. He wants a new contract that would pay him closer to the $7 million annually that other guards have received recently as free agents. He said the Steelers' offer is not even among the top 10 that NFL guards make.

He said he has lost any hope a new contract will be forthcoming before he becomes a free agent next March.

"There is no progress," Faneca said of contract talks. "They've been crystal clear in the fact they're not going to sign me this year, and that's it."

Faneca said the only reason he showed up for this three-day minicamp is that it is required by NFL rules. If a player skips required attendance -- games, practices or an event -- he can be fined $5,000 daily plus lose a prorated portion of his signing bonus. In Faneca's case, his prorated amount for 2007 is $1,597,750.

"No, I don't want to be here," Faneca said flatly. "It's a matter of them being able to do what they can monetarily and come after me. That's the only reason I'm here, on that chance that they would."

Faneca will depart Pittsburgh Sunday night when practices end and said he won't return until training camp, which starts July 23.

"I've been asking since February to trade me, to let me go," Faneca said. "I've done my piece, I've done my time, I've done everything I can for this organization.

"I lived and breathed Steelers football for nine years and gave them everything I had, helped them win a Super Bowl. In my mind, I've earned the right to be treated fairly. To make me go out there this year, play football with no security ... for what I've done for this organization, in my mind is not right."

Faneca's six Pro Bowls are more than any guard in team history. He made one of them even though he agreed to switch to left tackle during the 2003 season because of injuries.

Faneca repeated that he was not happy when Russ Grimm was passed over to be the next Steelers head coach, and with the release of linebacker and fellow co-captain Joey Porter in March.

"What am I to think? What are the guys in this room to think? If they can do it to me and everybody else and let Joey go and do things like that, what does that say to the rest of the guys?"

Faneca said he's talked to "everyone," including Art Rooney, Dan Rooney and Kevin Colbert, in the front office.

None of those Steelers executives would comment on what Faneca said yesterday, but coach Mike Tomlin took a pragmatic approach.

"Negotiations and the CBA and the things we're going through right now with him are not unlike probably things other people in other cities are going though," Tomlin said. "It's an emotional deal for him, and rightfully so -- it's his livelihood. That's what he does.

"But from an organizational standpoint, we're going through the contract negotiation process. We're not talking about it a great deal publicly because that's our policy.

"Along the line, he's going to express some frustration, but as long as he does what he's supposed to do professionally, which is come to work for mandatory minicamps and play football at a high level like he did today, then we move forward."

Receiver Hines Ward, who went through his own protracted contract talks in 2005 and held out 10 days at the start of training camp, does not like the way things are shaping up in the Steelers' locker room for 2007.

"It sets a precedent," Ward said, "because other guys look at Alan as 'Wow, this guy is a great citizen, he does a lot for the city of Pittsburgh, he's obviously a Pro Bowl player. He's done everything you ask him to do.' The younger guys just sit back and look at that situation.

"It's different now; there's no question this locker room is totally different. You lose a locker-room favorite like Joey -- not having Joey on that field is different. It's a different feel. God forbid if Alan's not out there.

"You can't put a value on leadership and being a veteran. Alan is the first guy to get here, the last guy to leave. He's worked just as hard as anybody on this team," Ward said.

"He paid his dues, he put in his time and he's a productive ballplayer. ... If he's upset, Wow! But, at the same time, he's a professional. He's here. It's not like he didn't show up."

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07132/785478-66.stm

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Starting to look like a Steeler meltdown:

---

Frankly, I'm not sure I blame the Steelers... I also have no love for players who take thier fight to the public like he's doing... Don't like it at all.

---

That's it in a nutshell. The Steelers have never made any bones about how they handle their player negotiations, or the value they put on their players. If your time is up and you don't meet their value system, they allow you to move on. Faneca is looking for Steingbach money, his ire and outrage at the way he's being treated is marketing more than anything. But this is the way the Steelers do business. It's always been the way. Nothing going on here except a public display designed to stir up contraversy and dissent because it's falling on deaf ears. The Steelers would rather clean house than capitulate and one way or another it will eventually be business as usual. The big question is, under the new coaching regime, can they continue to install young, quality talent to step in when they lose quality guys like Faneca and Porter.

Hack...

Do you thing the Steeler organization will ever change how they deal with these typs of situations? It has not seemed to hurt them to this point as they always seem to make the right decisions.

But now you have a couple of guys in Ward and Faneca who by all acounts pretty stand up guys in both the league and in Pittsburgh. I just think the Steelers are going to eventually going to get hurt by this mentality. I think you are going to have people not wanting to go there for fear of not being taking care of when it matters... Thoughts??

That would probably be smart.. I kinda wish we had the luxury of doing that with Tucker.. But right now, until we actually know what we have, it's best we keep Tuck in the fold... Same with Shaffer..