A possible move for another nose tackle?... Casey Hampton *Merge*

[Stash]

Casey Hampton on the outs?

Posted by Mike Florio on September 2, 2009 7:32 AM ET
As the huge roster reduction from 75 to 53 approaches (the deadline is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. ET), some veteran players could be on the bubble.

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."

Wow.

Last year, Hampton showed up for training camp well above his target weight, and he was held out of practice until August 10. (Thanks, Rotoworld.) He went on to start 13 regular-season games and three postseason contests, including the Super Bowl.

This year, Hampton showed up within his proper weight, and he has started each of the three preseason games. And while he's entering the final year of his contract, at a salary of $3.075 million, the Steelers typically don't move guys that they might not be planning to re-sign. Instead, the Steelers allow them to finish out their deals, and then to leave.

As word of La Canfora's opinion has made the round, Hampton addressed the matter after practice on Tuesday.

"Oh, they're going to cut me today?" Hampton said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

But Hampton then addressed his uncertain future, given that defensive end Brett Keisel was picked to receive a five-year deal -- and Hampton wasn't.
"If they let me get to free agency, everybody knows what it's going to be," Hampton said. "There ain't nothing to even talk about."

If La Canfora's "sniffing around" Hampton yields other than the smell of Twinkie crumbs, Hampton might be a free agent six months before he otherwise planned to be.



Ratliff is great, but I'm not sold on Siavii as his primary backup.

The Cowboys have plenty of cap room, Hampton is a Texas guy, why not bring him in for this season?

 

[adbutcher]

I doubt Hampton is going any where.

 

[dbair1967]

I doubt Hampton is going any where.

Me either, and I cant see them releasing him outright either.

He'd probably be traded if anything, and I dont think trading for a backup NT that might play a dozen or so plays a game is really worth it, unless its for a late rd pick.

Odds are if he were available via trade or as a free agent, somebody would trade for/sign him to be their starter. I dont think he'd want to be Ratliff's backup.

 

[dmq]

I hear Jerry gives away high draft picks for players coming into the last year of their contract.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Wonder if big bill would trade for him...Jason Ferguson is no spring chicken.

 

[silverbear]

Casey Hampton on the outs?

Posted by Mike Florio on September 2, 2009 7:32 AM ET
As the huge roster reduction from 75 to 53 approaches (the deadline is Saturday at 6:00 p.m. ET), some veteran players could be on the bubble.

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."

Wow.

Last year, Hampton showed up for training camp well above his target weight, and he was held out of practice until August 10. (Thanks, Rotoworld.) He went on to start 13 regular-season games and three postseason contests, including the Super Bowl.

This year, Hampton showed up within his proper weight, and he has started each of the three preseason games. And while he's entering the final year of his contract, at a salary of $3.075 million, the Steelers typically don't move guys that they might not be planning to re-sign. Instead, the Steelers allow them to finish out their deals, and then to leave.

As word of La Canfora's opinion has made the round, Hampton addressed the matter after practice on Tuesday.

"Oh, they're going to cut me today?" Hampton said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

But Hampton then addressed his uncertain future, given that defensive end Brett Keisel was picked to receive a five-year deal -- and Hampton wasn't.
"If they let me get to free agency, everybody knows what it's going to be," Hampton said. "There ain't nothing to even talk about."

If La Canfora's "sniffing around" Hampton yields other than the smell of Twinkie crumbs, Hampton might be a free agent six months before he otherwise planned to be.



Ratliff is great, but I'm not sold on Siavii as his primary backup.

The Cowboys have plenty of cap room, Hampton is a Texas guy, why not bring him in for this season?

Don't tease me, stash... it's just cruel...

 

[Alexander]

Wonder if big bill would trade for him...Jason Ferguson is no spring chicken.

Neither is Hampton.

I doubt we are interested, but there are a host of teams that run the 3-4 that might trade for him.

I question the idea though and therefore dismiss this as a reach by PFT. The Steelers may not want to extend him, but trading him right now would be an uncharacterisically stupid move right now. They have nobody on that roster who could start in his place. Ziggy Hood is a good looking rookie, but I doubt they are going to move him from end.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Neither is Hampton.

I doubt we are interested, but there are a host of teams that run the 3-4 that might trade for him.

I question the idea though and therefore dismiss this as a reach by PFT. The Steelers may not want to extend him, but trading him right now would be an uncharacterisically stupid move right now. They have nobody on that roster who could start in his place. Ziggy Hood is a good looking rookie, but I doubt they are going to move him from end.

The idea for Bill would be to rotate the two...if he was interested.

Then again I was thinking Hampton was a player that bill liked in the draft but that was not Hampton it was the New England NT that I was thinking about.

 

[CATCH17]

He probably wants to start as well.

He is a guy that I would definetely like to have though.

 

[DavidS]

No way in hell that Pittsburgh releases Hampton.

Jason La Confora should be fired for that studpid *** rumor.

I hate that nerdy prick. *** was NFL Network thinking when hiring this ***?

He doesnt know his head from his ***.

 

[Hostile]

I doubt Hampton is going any where.

Me too. Who do they have behind him that is their Anthony Spencer to Hampton's Greg Ellis?

 

[Stash]

Me too. Who do they have behind him that is their Anthony Spencer to Hampton's Greg Ellis?

I think the guy's name is Chris Hoke (sp?). He played well in place of Hampton a few years ago.

You guys are probably right in that he's not going anywhere, but I'd love to get some form of a rotation of him and Ratliff.

 

[Section446]

Quit trying to replace our freaking all-pro NT.

 

[Stash]

Quit trying to replace our freaking all-pro NT.

Who's trying to replace him?

Reading is fundamental.

 

[robb01]

Who's trying to replace him?

Reading is fundamental.

Who has time for that

 

[sjordan6]

Casey Hampton reacted to Internet rumors that the Steelers will release the veteran nose tackle before the start of the regular season.

"Oh, they're going to cut me today?"

Hampton said after Tuesday's practice.

If he didn't seem too concerned, neither did inside linebacker James Farrior, who's long benefited from Hampton occupying multiple blockers up front.

"Been nice working with you, dawg," Farrior said, with a laugh, as he left the Steelers' locker room.

Unfortunately for Hampton, Farrior may say something similar to him in the not-so-distant future.

Hampton is one of a handful of starters heading into the final year of his contract, and the Steelers may be finished doing business until after the 2009 season following the signing of defensive end Brett Keisel to a five-year deal Monday.

"If they let me get to free agency, everybody knows what it's going to be," said Hampton, who's made four Pro Bowls.

"There ain't nothing to even talk about."

That might be another way of saying that Hampton is out of here if the Steelers don't sign him to a new deal prior to the regular-season opener Sept. 10.

Hampton spouted the same company line that others in his position have said since preseason practice started -- sort of.

"I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me, but that's part of the business," Hampton said.

"But I'm not going to worry about it. I'm not going to make a grudge and say, 'I can't understand why they didn't sign me.' I understand it's a business, but being here this long ... I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't bother me because I do want to be here."

Of course, there's some risk for the Steelers if they choose to sign the 6-foot-1 Hampton, who's listed at 325 pounds, to a long-term deal.

He's on the wrong side of 30, and his weight is always going to be a concern.

The risk in not signing him, of course, is trying to find someone to plug into the middle of the Steelers' 3-4 defense.

Those players aren't nearly as easy to find as, say, linebackers. His present backup is Chris Hoke.

And Hampton, who turns 32 on Thursday, said he still has plenty of good years left in him.

"Ain't no question in my mind. I know what I'm capable of doing," Hampton said.

"I was banged up all last year, played through it, never complained. I'm feeling real healthy this year, and I feel like when I'm healthy ... we're going to see."

But, he added, his contract situation won't become a distraction or a problem for the Steelers.

"Just trying to win a Super Bowl," Hampton said.

"Not trying to be complacent like we were last time. Just trying to show these young guys to work to get back to where we were at."

Get er done Jerry!!

 

[DCBoysfan]

He may want to go somewhere he can start, he would be a backup here in Dallas, and I doubt that Dallas would want him beyond this year due to his age.

 

[joseephuss]

He may want to go somewhere he can start, he would be a backup here in Dallas, and I doubt that Dallas would want him beyond this year due to his age.

There is nothing wrong with having a back up nose tackle for one season. I think Dallas could accept that. There are other factors that will have more influence than him being a stop gap back up player.

 

[sjordan6]

Hampton still has about three high level years in him and it would allow Ratliff to move to his more natural DE position and add more of a pass rush. I think trading a late round pick for this season would be great and let Spears walk next year. Hampton/Ratliff would be ideal for the middle.

 

[Avery]

Good player and big DT's can play for a long time (Ted Washington for example), but I don't see us moving Ratliff outside as well as spending big bucks on him.