Even for laid-back Pittsburgh, the Steelers' reluctance to sign other teams' free agents through the first three weeks is unusual.
They have signed eight free agents in one form or another, all of them their own. Only two free agents from other teams have paid them a visit, Tennessee cornerback and returner Chris Carr, who signed with Baltimore, and Tampa Bay wide receiver Joey Galloway, who signed with New England. The Steelers were trying to negotiate contracts with each when they signed elsewhere.
They have signed every one of their offensive linemen they were interested in. The latest is guard-tackle Trai Essex a versatile four-year veteran who could challenge Darnell Stapleton for his starting job at right guard. Essex has performed well whenever called to duty either at tackle or guard.
Their starting five from the Super Bowl remain intact after they franchised Max Starks, signed Willie Colon to a one-year RFA tender and re-signed guard Chris Kemoeatu to a five-year deal after he became a UFA.
They had no interest in re-signing longtime left tackle starter Marvel Smith, who visited San Francisco this week. Smith had back surgeries in each of the past two seasons. And they released former starting right guard Kendall Simmons, who has diabetes and tore an Achilles tendon last season.
That takes away any desperation they might have felt going into the draft for offensive linemen. They'd like to get a young guard or tackle or both, but with their five top linemen back, they won't need one to play right away.
They still have not signed a backup quarterback. Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch are both UFAs, and the Steelers want one or the other to back up Ben Roethlisberger in 2009 with second-year man Dennis Dixon again as No. 3.
Keyaron Fox, a backup linebacker and good special teams player, is the only one of their free agents left they'd like to sign other than one of the backup quarterbacks.
They still might pursue a veteran wide receiver to give them a little peace of mind entering the draft. At the moment, they have Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Limas Sweed, who was little used as a rookie. Torry Holt could be on their list to bring in for a look.
