As much as I hate to admit it, the Antwaan Randle El era in Pittsburgh is coming to a close. I thought during the week before the Super Bowl that it might be the last time we see him wearing the black-n-gold, and after reading his comments in the Chicago Tribune - it sounds like as long as the Bears make him a fair offer, he's going to take it. In fact, it sounds like he's beginning to pack his bags already. After his comments, I'll get into why it really doesn't bother me that he'll probably leave.“Certainly my family members want me to come here and play here. Also my friends and those who are involved in marketing and that sort of thing,” Randle El said.…“I have to make sure I make the decision based on the important things,” he said. “If God leads me here to Chicago, I certainly prefer that situation for my family if it is the best situation for me coming in and playing. If this is a team that needs a receiver or a punt returner or what have you … those are the things that are most important.”
“The money is not the biggest factor,” Randle El said. “Of course there’s a business side to it. But you have to make sure what is best for your family. You have to make sure you don’t go to a team that doesn’t have a clue about using a guy like myself. You want to go to a team that understands that I want to be a punt returner and I want to be a starting receiver.
“I would rather know before March ends,” he said. “I want to get the playbook. I want to know my team’s offense so there is no problem when it comes to the season starting. And I want my family to be settled and situated before the season hits.”…“Some teams undervalue [special teams play] a little bit,” he said. “They have to understand that the hidden yardage and field position factor into every game. If you have got a guy who can break it open, it becomes a big factor and it is very important.”
Oh yeah, he's looking to move. That's Ok. He will be missed on special teams, but not in the starting 11 for several reasons. First, he's a slot receiver at heart and we had him on the outside. I'd be curious to know exactly how many of his catches came from strictly playing the outside instead of going in motion to the slot. Cedric Wilson is the same build although not as shifty a player as Randle El. When Wilson was signed for 2 million a year last off-season, it may have been because the Steelers already realized what Antwaan's value would be on the open market this year. Also, the Steelers typically resign players they are going to keep before they become unrestricted free agents.
Second, he lacks size. I think Quincy Morgan was brought in last year to regain some of the size they lost when Plax wasn't resigned. Fred Gibson was drafted for size, but getting someone of Morgan's ability for a song and dance contract was too good to pass up. The Steeler wideouts need to be ferocious downfield blockers and smallish "crafty" receivers aren't really conducive to that.
Third, let me introduce you to Heath Miller. With Heath emerging as a serious threat, the 2nd wide receiver in the Steelers offense is only the 4th option in the attack behind Parker, Ward and Miller. Not many teams pay their 4th option crazy money. Some team will step up and pay him what he wants, but it won't be us. Didn't the Lions pay crazy money for Az-Ahir Akeem after a standout stint with the Rams? Maybe that was because all the DBs were too concerned with Holt and Bruce. Akeem was going 1-on-1 with dime backs and killing them. As a starting wideout, he did little to warrant his contract. There are too many other examples of this scenario to even name.
The last reason the writing was on the wall in my opinion was the fact that there are so many other key players that need to be signed or extended. Troy Polamalu only has 1 year left on his contract. He must be resigned before he reaches free agency. Ike Taylor is also a priority, although he is a restricted free agent. Chris Hope, on the other hand, is unrestricted and I'll focus on him in a future article. The secondary has gone from a weakness to a strength over the past two years. Continuity is key in the defensive backfield and these young guys are only going to get better the longer they play together. And what about Ben? Carson Palmer got a contract worth over $100 million. When will the Steelers have to seriously consider resigning Ben? True, he got a ton of money upfront, but there is no way he'll play out his original contract. They will have to redo his contract next offseason at the latest. Today's dollars are worth far less than dollars 3 years from now.
Randle El will be sorely missed in the punt return game, but there were times last year when I felt he danced too much before the coverage got to him and it hurt him instead of just going north as soon as he touched the ball. I know we all think he's great in this capacity since we're Steeler fans, but the reality is this: Of all players in the NFL with 10 or more punt returns - he finished 10th in the league with a 10.2 yard average per return. Rosco Parrish finished first with a 13.3 average. The player that finished 20th had an 8.4 average. While Randle El took 2 to the house, Parrish had no TDs. Antwaan's longest return was more than double Parrish's yet Parrish still averaged 3 yards more per return. What does that tell me? That tells me that Parrish was probably a lot more predictable, actually having many returns in the 10-15 yard range. It also tells me Randle El had several long runs and several short runs. He was more of the "dance and get 2" or "dance and get 20" type. Ike Taylor returned 1 punt this year and it was for 17 yards. I think Ike or Cedric Wilson could do a respectable job returning punts for the Steelers. Maybe they will draft another small, shifty receiver in the later rounds this year.....how about Santana Moss's younger brother?
Anyway - the Steelers look prepared to let Randle El go to another team. Let's not hate either side on this issue. I love Randle El as a Steeler. That being said, the long term salary cap health of the team is far more important than this particular player. 'Nuff Said.
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