[vincesanity82]

Steelers guard Alan Faneca said on Friday that 2007 will be his last season in Pittsburgh. As of March 2008, Faneca will become an unrestricted free agent. And he intends to leave the team at that time.

In this regard, Faneca is overlooking the franchise tag, which would allow the team to limit his movement in free agency via the extension of an offer equivalent to either the average of the five highest-paid players at the position or to 120 percent of his 2007 cap number, whichever is greater.

It's possible that the Steelers will apply the tag to Faneca and then trade him. It's also possible that the Steelers will trade him before the 2007 trading deadline. Already, there are rumblings in league circles of a possible deal that would send Faneca to Arizona.

It's an obvious potential destination. The Cardinals need help on the offensive line. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm already work there.

But whoever gets Faneca had better be ready to cough up at least a seven-year, $49 million deal, with $18 million or so of it guaranteed. That's the current high water mark, and amounts like that have been paid to lesser players.

And, clearly, Faneca's dissatisfaction is solely about the money. Or, specifically, the lack thereof that the Steelers are offering. Consider these quotes that he gave to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"You go somewhere, you've been here for nine years; to do what I've done to help this team out. The things I've done for this team . . . and the offer I get is pretty much a non-offer. 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 [Porter] go and do things like that, what does that say to the rest of the guys?
"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.
"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."

The bottom line, then, is that Faneca wants protection against suffering a serious injury in 2007, which would then limit his market value in 2008. So he wants his big payday now, not after his contract expires.

But it's the Steelers' prerogative, in our view, to decide to simply finish out the contract and go from there. They're not required to sign him to a new deal. They're not obligated to pay him as much money as other players are getting elsewhere.

Should he be surprised by the fact that the Steelers aren't inclined to put too much cap space into one player? They've never done it.

And if Faneca wants sympathy for the fact that he has no security beyond 2007, he'll find none here. That's the system. You finish your contract, and then you become a free agent. The team has no obligation to safeguard him or any other player against the possibility of his future value being diminished by an injury suffered in the final year of his deal. Every year, players risk getting hurt in the season before they hit the market; the fact that Faneca is a Pro Bowler and owns a Super Bowl ring does not exempt him from that. Heck, even Peyton Manning had to complete his contract with the Colts in one piece before getting a new one.

So Faneca will participate in the mandatory minicamp, leave town, and return for training camp. And he likely will pout and sulk and act like a baby. If he does, shame on him. Plenty of better players have been in the same boat, and not a peep has ever been heard from any of them.

Faneca says he wants out

[suprasad]

Well said, Vincesanity. Faneca may be one of my favorite all-time Steelers, but he's not getting any sympathy from me. If other teams want to give Snyder-like money to guards who've never made a Pro Bowl, then Faneca can try to find one, because the Rooneys don't roll like that...

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by suprasad

Well said, Vincesanity. Faneca may be one of my favorite all-time Steelers, but he's not getting any sympathy from me. If other teams want to give Snyder-like money to guards who've never made a Pro Bowl, then Faneca can try to find one, because the Rooneys don't roll like that...

hey suprasad welcome to gtg, I actually didnt write that article, all I did was copy and paste the important parts, but I agree he needs shut his trap and show everyone why he should get more money by his play..

[suprasad]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

I've seen countless favorites of mine leave the Stillers, and I got over it. More importantly, so did the Stillers!

They BETTER sign Troy, however...

[Lefty Noob]

Looks like things are starting to get pretty heated between Faneca and the organization.

According to the Associated Press, "An angry Alan Faneca boycotted the first of the Pittsburgh Steelers' two minicamp practices Saturday because of a comment made to him by management during a morning meeting, but returned for the second practice after talking briefly with new coach Mike Tomlin... Faneca, the five-time All-Pro left guard, promised Friday this will be his final season in Pittsburgh after the two sides held only cursory offseason talks regarding a new contract. Faneca is in the final season of a contract that was initially worth about $25 million in 2002 but was subsequently renegotiated... Still upset on Saturday, Faneca became angrier during the meeting with ownership -- apparently, with team president Art Rooney II, the son of owner Dan Rooney. Faneca would not reveal what the remark was."

[suprasad]

WAAAHHH!

I love how he's bringing up "security!" He didn't worry about the Steeler's security had he gotten hurt i the 1st year of his deal, after collecting a fat signing bonus.

This is business, and Faneca is turning this situation real ugly with his public comments.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by suprasad

WAAAHHH!

I love how he's bringing up "security!" He didn't worry about the Steeler's security had he gotten hurt i the 1st year of his deal, after collecting a fat signing bonus.

This is business, and Faneca is turning this situation real ugly with his public comments.

I'd like to see them trade him. Maybe to the Texans. See how much he likes it down there.

[vincesanity82]

Disgruntled guard Alan Faneca left Pittsburgh on Sunday following the conclusion of minicamp, and he doesn't figure to return until training camp in July..

The o-line is important and all but the guard position can be replaced easier than any of the others. No reason why Pitt should break the bank open for a disgruntled player.

If this gets uglier, I can't see how he will play this season for them.