POSTED 9:05 a.m. EDT, August 23, 2002 (FRIDAY)
STEELERS SAY NO TO STEWART EXTENSION
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that talks on a contract extension for Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart will commence after the season.
The story, which was printed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and attributed to sources close to Stewart, conflicted with prior reports regarding the Steelers' decision to take a wait-and-see approach with Kordell.
A league source tells us that, despite the recent story, nothing has changed in this regard.
According to the source, the Steelers will make no decision on whether to discuss a potential contract extension with Stewart until the team can determine whether Kordell will continue to perform at a high level for a second straight season.
The source also tells us that folks within the front office were surprised by the Trib-Rev's recent report, and that they attributed it to boredom on the part of the beat writers.
But we think there's something else going on here. Stewart has openly politicked for a new contract, and the team politely has ignored him. The presence of Charlie Batch could be making Stewart a little nervous about his long-term job security, and it could be prompting Stewart and "sources close to" him to try to save some face and/or to continue the propaganda campaign aimed at getting more coin in Kordell's pockets.
WEINKE ON THE WAY OUT?
A league source tells us that new Carolina coach John Fox has decided to bring in a new potential starting quarterback after the 2002 season.
According to the source, Fox doesn't view current starter Chris Weinke (or any other signal-callers on the roster) as the long-term answer at the position.
Fox's concern, however, is that drafting a quarterback in 2003 necessarily will entail a learning curve, which will prevent the Panthers from realizing their full potential for a few years. Thus, it's possible that the Panthers will look for a free agent who can come in and take the job next season.
PANTHERS MADE LATE RUN AT TATE
For a guy who fell off the depth chart in Minnesota, he had plenty of options elsewhere. The Ravens, the Packers, the Jaguars, the Panthers, and the Steelers all expressed an interest in veteran defensive back/kick returner Robert Tate.
Tate ultimately signed with the Ravens, but word is that the Panthers made a late play for him.
With special-teams ace Michael Bates gone for the year, the Panthers need another kick/punt returner, since Steve Smith will be assuming a bigger part of the offense.
Tate also would have been a factor in the Panthers' defensive backfield. Last year's starting corners (Jimmy Hitchcock and Doug Evans) are long gone, and the current case of characters at the position could've used a lift.
ROSENFELS TRADE MAKES SENSE
The shipping of quarterback Sage Rosenfels from D.C. to South Florida meshes with two separate stories we've been tracking over the past several months.
First, when the Redskins signed Shane Matthews in April, giving them four quarterbacks on the roster, coach Steve Spurrier's primary concern was that he didn't want to ultimately have to release Matthews or Danny Wuerffel, both of whom played for Spurrier at the University of Florida.
At the time, the word was that Spurrier would keep all four signal-callers on the roster, if the only other option was cutting Matthews or Wuerffel. But with both former Spurrier pupils taking to the NFL's version of the Fun-'N'-Gun like a Gator on a poodle, Rosenfels became the odd man out -- to Spurrier's sure delight.
Second, when the Dolphins shipped Cade McNown to San Fran, we reported that Dave Wannstedt and company never, ever would allow one of the two undrafted free agents (Tim Levcik and Zak Kustok) to serve as the team's third quarterback. Though we expected Miami to sign a veteran free agent, the pool is shallow -- and Rosenfels was the next best thing.
Finally, we've got to give some credit to Coach Visor for learning that, in the NFL, you've gotta hold your cards close to the vest. When Matthews was still a member of the Bears, Spurrier's obvious interest drove up the price tag for a potential trade.
So when Matthews wasn't available via trade, the 'Skins drafted quarterback Patrick Ramsey in the first round -- and the Bears released Matthews.
This time around, Spurrier and company stayed mum on the potential release of Rosenfels, who likely would've been cut outright absent the trade. Instead, Spurrier got a late-round draft pick in exchange for a guy they likely would've tossed onto the waiver wire.