BRADENTON, Fla. —
The Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with what they know.
The Steelers re-signed linebacker Larry Foote and wide receiver Plaxico Burress on Tuesday while also tendering offers to four restricted free agents.
Foote, 32, agreed to a three-year deal while the 35-year-old Burress will stick around for 2013. Foote and Burress join offensive lineman Ramon Foster as potential free agents who opted to remain in Pittsburgh rather than test the open market. Foster agreed to a three-year contract on Monday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The signings give the Steelers some stability in key spots. Foote started all 16 games at inside linebacker last season and his return allows the Steelers to bring former third-round pick Sean Spence back slowly from a devastating knee injury suffered at the end of the 2012 preseason.
The 11-year veteran was his typically steady self for the NFL’s top-ranked defense, finishing with four sacks and 113 tackles.
Foote made $3 million in 2012 and expressed a desire to return to Pittsburgh at the end of a disappointing 8-8 season. If he had chosen to play elsewhere, the Steelers would have to find two new starting linebackers after they cut 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison on Saturday.
Burress should provide depth with the Steelers expected to lose Mike Wallace via free agency. Burress struggled to get onto the field after returning to the Steelers last November. The hope he would quickly regain his rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger never materialized. He caught just three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in three games and was made inactive three times.
There should be more opportunities for Burress to get onto the field if he can remain healthy. Wallace reportedly has agreed to a deal with Miami, opening up at least one spot on the depth chart.
The Steelers did tender an offer to Emmanuel Sanders on Tuesday, who will likely move to the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Antonio Brown. Sanders had 44 receptions for 626 yards and a touchdown in 2012 while working mostly out of the slot.
The Steelers also tendered offers to running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman, who will likely battle for the starting running back spot next season. Veteran running back Rashard Mendenhall, a free agent, will almost certainly not return to the Steelers.
Dwyer and Redman combined for 1,033 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 2012 but had trouble staying on the field due to injury problems.
The only notable free agent signing through the first day of the new league year remains cornerback William Gay, who agreed to a three-year contract last week.
The Steelers are unlikely to make a major splash during the signing period due to salary cap concerns.
The team has little wiggle room under the $123 million ceiling, though several players reportedly agreed to restructure deals, including Roethlisberger.
The cap problems will likely cost Pittsburgh a handful of starters, including Harrison, Wallace, Mendenhall and cornerback Keenan Lewis, who led the AFC with 23 passes defensed in 2012.
Local Sports
Steelers hanging onto Burress, Foote
- Local Sports
-
-
Defense attorney: Woman’s death an accident
A defense attorney for a Blair County man charged with homicide in the 1999 death of his daughter-in-law said the woman’s death was accidental.
-
College players dominate Point nominations
Pitt-Johnstown junior Jake Warner was perfect and extremely productive at the plate while earning the first two monthly nominations for the 2013 Point Stadium Award in February and March.
Mount Aloysius sophomore Derrick Capiak nearly reached perfection to take the April nomination. -
Pirates roll past Brewers
Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run over seven strong innings and Neil Walker hit a two-run single as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez (4-2) gave up six hits, walking one and striking out five. -
Dupuis coming through for Penguins
Dan Bylsma has been hearing it seemingly from the moment he took over at Pittsburgh Penguins head coach four years ago.
Every time the Penguins hit a rough patch, the murmurs about finding a polished winger to play alongside superstar Sidney Crosby pop up. Bylsma understands the sentiment. It’s just that it’s a little misplaced. -
Penn State guard leaving for pro career
Penn State guard Jermaine Marshall, the team’s second-leading scorer, is foregoing his senior year of eligibility to pursue a professional career overseas.
The team announced the surprise move in a statement Wednesday. The 6-foot-4 Marshall, who is on schedule to graduate this summer, cited his family including a 1-year-old son, in making his decision. -
Penn State coach blasts Sports Illustrated article
Penn State coach Bill O’Brien is fervently disputing suggestions raised in a report that player medical care has been compromised after the team doctor was replaced.
Speaking often in an angry tone that might be otherwise reserved for an argument with an official, O’Brien told reporters in a conference call that the health and safety of his players were his top priorities. -
Penguins advance on overtime goal
Brooks Orpik’s goal would have been memorable even if wasn’t in overtime and didn’t put the Pittsburgh Penguins into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
When you are a defensive-minded defenseman with only 12 goals in nine NHL seasons, they all tend to stand out. -
Liriano key to Pirates' victory
Francisco Liriano finally got to pitch for Pittsburgh and, just like that, the Pirates looked like a much better team.
He struck out nine and the Pirates teed off on New York’s pitching for an 11-2 win over the Mets on Saturday. -
Shade softball thriving on Karl’s watch
Frank Karl coached the majority of the girls who comprise Shade High School’s softball team from the time they played T-ball and coach pitch.
Karl was there when the group, as elementary-school students, once rallied from an 18-run deficit to win a game, and he hoped to be there when the group reached the varsity level. -
MIKE MASTOVICH: Junior put his stamp on tourney
This year, Junior won’t be on the Point Stadium field for the pregame hoopla associated with opening night of the 69th annual AAABA Tournament.
He won’t watch as dozens of Corvettes and hundreds of baseball players enter through the left-field gate with their respective teams from cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans, New Brunswick and Altoona. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Defense attorney: Woman’s death an accident
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
