quote:Steelers Sunday Spotlight: The D-Line
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Gerry Dulac 1/28/13
The Steelers likely will lose the anchor of their defensive line -- five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is not expected to be re-signed despite starting all 16 games in 2012. He will be the second piece of what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has called "the best defensive line I've ever coached" to depart in as many years, joining Smith.
There is little question that if the most important element of the Steelers' 3-4 defense is the ability of the outside linebackers to pressure the quarterback, then the second-most significant ingredient is a nose tackle who is harder to move than a corner cabinet -- a role Hampton performed superbly for 12 seasons after being a No. 1 draft choice.
Hampton played well in 2012, especially in the second half of the season when his knee started feeling better after he missed the offseason and training camp with anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Hampton took a $3.5 million pay cut to return for one more season and felt so good that he said he plans to play at least one more season -- if not for the Steelers, then for another NFL team. But Hampton will be 36 in September, and it appears the Steelers are prepared to move on without him.
That would turn the job over to McLendon, who played very well in the preseason but, surprisingly, saw only limited playing time in the regular season. Even Hampton has given him his stamp of approval, calling McLendon a "beast" and saying he is ready for the role. continue
quote:Hampton: Two more years, though maybe not with Steelers
timesonline.com
By Mike Bires
Hines Ward never could envision himself wearing a uniform other than the one he wore 14 years with the Steelers. But Casey Hampton doesn’t feel the same.
“I’m a little different than Hines,” said the Steelers’ burly nose tackle.
Hampton, however, believes he can play for two more years. He'd prefer to finish his career where it started. But he also understands the business side of football.
If the Steelers don’t re-sign him, Hampton will sign with the highest bidder as an unrestricted free agent.
“I want to play, and if someone wants me to play for them, I’m going to play," Hampton said. "That’s just the way it is.”
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Could be had on the cheap (might not be a big market for him), understands the defense as well as anyone, seems to have at least one more year in him, and we're in bad need of defensive line depth. Casey at NT would let Raji and Pickett play the ends and get CJ in as more of a rotation guy. Wonder if the Saturday signing would make TT hesitate though.
