Faneca Set To Move On After 10 Seasons

86WARD · Feb 26, 2008

Faneca set to move on after 10 seasons
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Those weren't dollar signs Alan Faneca saw yesterday, but a decade's worth of memories. His days with the Steelers have come to an end, and he will sign elsewhere, almost surely accepting another team's offer Friday, the start of another round of free agency in the NFL.

The Steelers could have made him their franchise player and forced him to work for them at least one more year. But they decided they could not pay him the kind of money he will earn as a perennial Pro Bowl guard and did not want to have him as a forced laborer. There has been virtually no contract talks going on because of it.

"No, nothing's happening," Faneca said yesterday from his home in Louisiana. "I've been preparing for this day for a year now; it is what it is."

Faneca, who made the past seven Pro Bowls and turned 31 in December, should receive a whopping contract in a free agent class bereft of top offensive linemen.

Still, he has spent time recently reflecting on his days with the Steelers after they drafted him in the first round from Louisiana State in 1998. He has started at left guard -- and in an emergency, left tackle -- every season since.

He has discarded the bitterness that occurred last spring when he realized the team would not extend his contract at the price he and agent Rick Smith believe he is worth.

"You spend 10 years somewhere and, you know, you go through the things you've been through with the guys there -- 10 years is a long time to make friends inside and outside the organization," Faneca said. "You know, it's 10 years! Ten years is a long time."

Faneca will join a list of Steelers stars who departed as free agents through the years, along with those who were released because team officials felt they no longer fit their salary structure or were injured. They include Rod Woodson, Greg Lloyd, Hardy Nickerson, Chad Brown, Leon Searcy, Carnell Lake, Joey Porter, Plaxico Burress, Levon Kirkland, Kevin Greene, Neil O'Donnell and more. :cryin10:

Faneca was the only guard who made the Steelers' 75th Season Anniversary Team last year.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08057/860434-66.stm
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:cryin10:

Crowned · Feb 26, 2008

He served his time, I wish the best to him wherever he goes.

Jtracey10 · Feb 26, 2008

Please God let us sign him!!!

Underground Dyer · Feb 26, 2008

Come to Chicago Alan, become a Bear help re-claim the NFC North!!

Dougerrrr · Feb 26, 2008

They include Rod Woodson, Greg Lloyd, Hardy Nickerson, Chad Brown, Leon Searcy, Carnell Lake, Joey Porter, Plaxico Burress, Levon Kirkland, Kevin Greene, Neil O'Donnell and more.
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Notice how many of these went on to bigger and better careers......???

86WARD · Feb 26, 2008

crowned said: ↑

He served his time, I wish the best to him wherever he goes.
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eepwallA: You make it sound like he was in Prison... :icon_lol:

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Faneca Set To Move On After 10 Seasons

86WARD -

Crowned Doesn't give a shit.

Jtracey10 Jets in '08

Underground Dyer Chicago Bears Know-It-All

Dougerrrr Laus Deo

86WARD -

Log in or Sign up

Faneca Set To Move On After 10 Seasons

86WARD -

Crowned Doesn't give a shit.

Jtracey10 Jets in '08

Underground Dyer Chicago Bears Know-It-All

Dougerrrr Laus Deo

86WARD -

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