All great things come to and end, or at least that is what we are led to believe. It should be no shock to any Steeler fan out there that our team is following that same creed.
The Steelers, coming off a 12-4 season, began the process of cutting the nearly 25 million dollars they were over the cap. The team started with a series of contracts restructures and since then they have begun cutting veteran players to get clear of their negative cap.
Two days ago the Steelers announced that their all-time leading receiver and Super Bowl XL MVP, Hines Ward, would be the first major cut in an attempt to save four million dollars. Hines was drafted in the third round, 92nd overall during the 1998 draft out of Georgia. Fourteen years later he will leave with a Hall of Fame resume; 1000 catches, 12,083 yards with 85 touchdowns.
Yesterday the team announced that former starting left guard, Chris Kemoeatu and former starting defensive end, Aaron Smith would be cut as well. Kemoeatu was drafted in the sixth round, 195th overall during the 2005 draft; he played in 75 games starting 53 of them. Aaron Smith was drafted in 1999 in the fourth round, 109th overall. He was a long time staple on the Steelers defense recording 453 tackles, 44 sacks and an interception.
Today was no different than the previous two days as James Farrior became the latest veteran to fall victim to the Steelers clean up. Farrior was drafted in the first round, eighth overall in 1997 by the New York Jets. He joined the Steelers prior to the 2002 season and during that decade he recorded 742 tackles, 30 sacks and eight interceptions while starting 154 of 154 games.
This is part of the game, but don't ever say it's part of the buisness. Fans see these people as members of their family and to see any of them go is depressing. I will say though that we better get ready for more cuts because the team isn't done yet.
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