Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign Trai Essex to year deal, in difficulty to retain WR Mike Wallace-NFL News
The Pittsburgh Steelers have landed offensive lineman, Trai Essex, a fresh one-year contract and the player is set to rejoin the squad in the offseason into consecutive eighth year of his career with the team.
Essex was drafted as a third-round pick by Steelers in 2005 and he has played out his entire professional league career with them.
The player recently said to be aiming for renewal of his previous year-long deal, which he had won from the team in 2011 summer.
Since Pittsburgh Steelers had relatively been calm during initial month of free agency, after its start on March 13, 2012, there was some confusion and uncertainty about his chances to be retained by the side.
Steelers have now bucked the trend and the last couple of days have turned out to be the busiest period for the managers as far as signing and re-signing of the players is concerned.
They have signed as many as three players in three days. Essex’s re-signing comes a day after the managers had landed a $3 million, two-year deal to wide receiver, Jerricho Cotchery.
The terms of Essex’s deal including value have not been disclosed by either side.
Essex has tweeted to be excited over winning the new deal from Steelers. He wrote:
“I am ecstatic to announce that I am back with the @Steelers ! There is no place like #SteelerNation #EverydayIsABlessing.”
Since his joining in 2005, Essex has played 75 games while starting 28. He has been rather consistent in his form and fitness, with rarely any attention-seeking incident.
The comparatively cool character of the player has made him a well known and respectable figure in the team. It is also a reason behind his choice against moving elsewhere in the league. Essex has not made an effort for such a move to anywhere else.
Meanwhile, centre, Doug Legursky, has confirmed through his tweets that he is returning to Steelers next season.
He said:
“Me and @TraiDay79 are back! BASH BROTHERS!!! (mighty ducks style).”
He refrained from hinting anything about the tenure and value of the deal. He is probably going to join the squad for the offseason workout starting next week.
Legursky arrived at Pittsburgh in 2008. In the last season, he was given the starting role in 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are also learnt to have signed free agent wide receiver, Mike Wallace, to a first round tender.
Wallace, however, has protested the move and is said to be looking for a long-term deal from the team. As of the latest, he has reportedly attracted interests from some other potential suitors around the league.
It is not clear if he is going to move out of Pittsburgh, which is possible if Steelers are unable to match the tender offer from an outside party.
One problem that the team faces in the way of matching rather expensive tender offer from another suitor is the salary cap issue, which has already forced a number of veterans such as Hines Ward out of Pittsburgh.
In that case, Steelers are set to lose Wallace in spite of their expressive desire of retaining him for more seasons.
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