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Contrary to recent published reports suggesting that the Steelers are hot for safety Chris Hope, a league source tells us that Hope is not one of the team's top priorities as free agency approaches.
On February 20, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli wrote that the Steelers have made "verbal overtures" to Hope's agent. The source for the story was, coincidentally, Hope's agent.
"They've told us that Chris is one of their top targets [to re-sign]," Braylon Bennett (a/k/a Some Dude We've Never Previously Heard Of) told Pasquarelli, "and we're taking them at their word."
Just how low of a profile does Bennett have? He has negotiated only one active contract. And his first name isn't even spelled right in the Monday report. It's actually "Bralyn," according to the NFLPA's web site.
Hey, "Bray" or "Bra" or whatever the shorthand version of your name is, you're about to get a lesson on how not to negotiate with the Steelers.
Word is that the folks in the 'Burgh are extremely unhappy with Bennett's posturing, primarily since the team doesn't regard Hope as a "top target."
And as seasoned NFL agents well know, the path to getting a deal done with the Rooneys does not include a stopover on Piss 'Em Off Lane.
Drafted near the bottom of round three in 2002, Hope has spent four years with the Steelers. He was a restricted free agent in 2005, and the Steelers offered the low-end, one-year tender of $656,000. Hope received no offers from any other teams.
Though we don't know where Hope will be playing in 2006, we have a pretty good idea as to where he won't be playing, if his agent continues to misstate the team's position to the media in a manner that makes mad the team that knows a thing or two about letting former draft picks walk away.
Contrary to recent published reports suggesting that the Steelers are hot for safety Chris Hope, a league source tells us that Hope is not one of the team's top priorities as free agency approaches.
On February 20, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli wrote that the Steelers have made "verbal overtures" to Hope's agent. The source for the story was, coincidentally, Hope's agent.
"They've told us that Chris is one of their top targets [to re-sign]," Braylon Bennett (a/k/a Some Dude We've Never Previously Heard Of) told Pasquarelli, "and we're taking them at their word."
Just how low of a profile does Bennett have? He has negotiated only one active contract. And his first name isn't even spelled right in the Monday report. It's actually "Bralyn," according to the NFLPA's web site.
Hey, "Bray" or "Bra" or whatever the shorthand version of your name is, you're about to get a lesson on how not to negotiate with the Steelers.
Word is that the folks in the 'Burgh are extremely unhappy with Bennett's posturing, primarily since the team doesn't regard Hope as a "top target."
And as seasoned NFL agents well know, the path to getting a deal done with the Rooneys does not include a stopover on Piss 'Em Off Lane.
Drafted near the bottom of round three in 2002, Hope has spent four years with the Steelers. He was a restricted free agent in 2005, and the Steelers offered the low-end, one-year tender of $656,000. Hope received no offers from any other teams.
Though we don't know where Hope will be playing in 2006, we have a pretty good idea as to where he won't be playing, if his agent continues to misstate the team's position to the media in a manner that makes mad the team that knows a thing or two about letting former draft picks walk away.
