Casey Hampton on the Cutting Block

[JimToss]

Take this with a grain of salt but Florio cites an NFL network stooge as saying Casey Hampton may be on the Steelers cutting block.

One such player, according to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network (i.e., don't blame us), possibly is Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton.

Asked during a Monday chat whether he sees any potential surprises on the cut-down horizon, La Canfora wrote, "One player I am sniffing around on right now is Casey Hampton. [Editor's note: That's one hell of an image with which to start the morning.] Steelers could use some cap room, he may not be [someone] they would extend at this point. [I'd] think a trade is more likely, but some people I know close to the situation say they would not be stunned if a move of some sort was made."

While I highly doubt he will be cut, and if this is even close to truth, is more likely it is being done to entice a trade. But, I slobber at the idea of Casey Hampton being available.

Casey Hampton has proven to be an elite NT in this league, and have watched him destroy linemen for years, seeing that Big JimToss is a diehard Steeler. I love Ferguson but he is getting old and has never been on Hampton's level. Solai is still a wildcard.

What would be the cost to get him? Again assuming the rumors are true, there would most likely be a bidding war for his services. There are many new teams running the 3-4 like the Broncos, Chiefs and Packers (to name a few) that have no established NT. I would think it would take a 2nd-3rd rounder to win the potential war. Which in my opinion is well worth it, as long as we have the cap room for an extension, or to tag him the following year (6mill in 2009.) Additionally, I would argue we will be spending a 3rd or better on a NT prospect in the draft next year.

Usually I hate these type of threads, especially seeing that this is complete hearsay, but I have outlined my case.

Now all I wait for is X-pocalyse to read this and reply "No."

 

[ChambersWI]

Hampton was at one time IMO the best 3-4 NT in the league. I think he can still be very good, but his weight issues have concerned me as I'm pretty sure it's gotten bad enough that Pitt has placed him on the PUP during TC and preseason a couple times in recent years (could be wrong though)

Not saying no, but I'm weary

 

[Adam First]

I highly doubt this. Elite nose tackles are rare, and when Hampton isn't showing off his questionable work ethic, he's up there with Wilfork, Jenkins and Shaun Rogers.

 

[X-Pacolypse]

I usually would say "no" but not in this case. Good NT's are hard to find and while Soliai has come along nicely, I think it would be kind of hard to pass up on Casey Hampton if he became available.

 

[emeraldfin]

Interesting, heres what Hampton had to say on that rumour

Casey Hampton laughed yesterday and so did coordinator Dick LeBeau over the "report" on the NFL Network that the four-time Pro Bowl nose tackle could be cut or traded before the start of the season.
That has as good a chance of happening as did the signing of Michael Vick by the Steelers.
What's not a laughing matter is that this could be Hampton's last season here and, the way he spoke yesterday, it likely will be his last with the Steelers.
Let Hampton connect the dots.
"Yeah, it's coming down to that," Hampton said. "If they don't do contracts during the season, then that'll make me a free agent."
And ...
"If I get to free agency, man, I mean everybody knows what it is. So I don't need to say something about that. If they let me get to free agency, everybody knows what it's going to be, so there's no need to even talk about it."
Did someone say talk? There has been nothing of the kind on a contract extension for Hampton, one of six starters who will play under their final contract year in 2009. He actually will earn less in salary this season than last, more than $700,000 less. His salary for 2009 is $3,075,000. It was $3.8 million last season.
At that, he looks like a bargain, even as he turns 32 years old tomorrow. He is one year older than defensive end Brett Keisel, who now makes more than Hampton after signing his new contract Monday for five years and nearly $19 million with a $5 million signing bonus.
The Steelers also could put the franchise tag on Hampton next season, which would require a one-year contract of more than $6 million.
"They ain't going to do that," Hampton insisted. "It ain't going to happen."
Hampton does not want to think about why the Steelers signed his linemate -- who has not made a Pro Bowl --and not him, and he does not want to think about what might happen after the season.
"All that don't matter, man," Hampton said. "My main focus is going back to the Super Bowl. I ain't no selfish guy, I've never been a selfish guy since I've been here. I've always been a team guy, and my main focus is to get back to the Super Bowl, helping these guys and showing them how to work and get back to it. We can't get complacent like we were last time. That's my goal."
Yet there are times he just cannot help himself.
"Being here this long and just being here and playing for them this period of time, I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't bother me because I do want to be here. You know what I'm saying? And I would like the security of being here, but I understand it's a business."

​

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09245/994809-66.stm#ixzz0Pw17hiH0

 

[zackattack54]

I work at a casino outside of Pittsburgh and see Casey a lot (in the off season). Ill see if I can get him thinkin about wearing the aqua and orange like Porter is now lol.

 

[Vaark]

It'll never happen but this is one of the rare potentially available players we argue over ad nauseum (although most turn out to be a pipedream), whose bandwagon I'd definitely jump on. At this point we can't count on Solai's encouraging preseason to be anything more than that.

 

[JimToss]

It'll never happen but this is one of the rare potentially available players we argue over ad nauseum (although most turn out to be a pipedream), whose bandwagon I'd definitely jump on. At this point we can't count on Solai's encouraging preseason to be anything more than that.

We should also be hitching up the Terrance Cody and Vince Wilfork bandwagons while we are at it.

 

[dolpns13]

Sirius just said this story is incorrect and the Steeler DL coach sad Hampton was one of the best NT in the league recently. Its most likely a false report. Dont put too much stock into it.

 

[FinAtic8480]

Can you just imagine if we would sign Hampton and on running downs we would slide Ferguson to RDE. How much beef would that line have. Man nobody would be able to run on us.

 

[Pinkboy]

Can you just imagine if we would sign Hampton and on running downs we would slide Ferguson to RDE. How much beef would that line have. Man nobody would be able to run on us.

Ferguson is not a DE.. You can't just plop bodies wherever you want. You need a longer body to play 3-4 DE and Ferguson doesn't have it. Bowling balls don't fit as 3-4 DE's and Ferguson is a bowling ball.

Asking Ferguson to play 3-4 DE is like asking a center to play tackle. You need guys who can move better than Ferguson to play DE.

Langford is 6'6" , McDaniel is 6'7", Merling is 6'4", and the rest.. Those guys have long arms and long bodies to engage long tackles with Guards chipping. And they can move better than the 35 year old Fergy. Ferguson doesn't fit the 3-4 DE mold at all..

 

[FinAtic8480]

Just sounded fun, besides Hampton won be cut. Relax!

 

[emeraldfin]

Ferguson is not a DE.. You can't just plop bodies wherever you want. You need a longer body to play 3-4 DE and Ferguson doesn't have it. Bowling balls don't fit as 3-4 DE's and Ferguson is a bowling ball.

Asking Ferguson to play 3-4 DE is like asking a center to play tackle. You need guys who can move better than Ferguson to play DE.

Langford is 6'6" , McDaniel is 6'7", Merling is 6'4", and the rest.. Those guys have long arms and long bodies to engage long tackles with Guards chipping. And they can move better than the 35 year old Fergy. Ferguson doesn't fit the 3-4 DE mold at all..

I'm not saying your wrong or anything, but if that is the case, why are the Chiefs lining Glen Doresy up to play DE?

 

[Pinkboy]

I'm not saying your wrong or anything, but if that is the case, why are the Chiefs lining Glen Doresy up to play DE?

Because they have no other choice. All because they will put him there doesn't mean he will be good at it. Check KC boards and they have been saying for months that Dorsey has no place in a 3-4 D-line. And they would like to trade him.

When they drafted him they were a 4-3 defense.

I can't believe anyone can argue that Ferguson is not a 3-4 DE.. His game is not conducive to that position at all.. He needs to be over center with that body type.

Look at the best 3-4 DE's in the NFL. They are not Ferguson's mold. Richard Seymour and Ty Warren are 6'6 and 6'5 respectively.

Randy Starks is 6'3 and a half but look at him standing next to Ferguson as they wait for the offense. Their bodies are not the same, Starks is a long body type while Ferguson is a bowling ball. If you look at them side by side, Starks clearly looks taller and longer, I don't care what the measured reports are.

And Starks is our shortest DE

 

[emeraldfin]

Because they have no other choice. All because they will put him there doesn't mean he will be good at it. Check KC boards and they have been saying for months that Dorsey has no place in a 3-4 D-line. And they would like to trade him.

When they drafted them they were a 4-3 defense.

I can't believe anyone can argue that Ferguson is not a 3-4 DE.. His game is not conducive to that position at all.. He needs to be over center.

Look at the best 3-4 DE's in the NFL. They are not Ferguson's mold. Richard Seymour and Ty Warren are 6'6 and 6'5 respectively.

Randy Starks is 6'3 and a half but look at him standing next to Ferguson as they wait for the offense. Their bodies are not the same, Starks is a long body type while Ferguson is a bowling ball. If you look at them. Starks clearly looks taller and longer, I don't care what the measured reports are.

I'm not arguing that Ferguson should play DE, I'm just stating the fact that KC are giving Doresey a try at that position even though they drafted Tyson Jackson and if they were very worried about Dorsey, they could have picked up a player like Vonnie Holliday to play DE.

I know that after speding such a high pick on Dorsey they needed to do something with him or trade him, but there must be some promise if they are going to run with him at DE>