No Progress On Parker Contract Points To Change

by Anthony Greco

With Willie Parker heading into the last year of his contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers are faced with a two-headed monster of a decision about what to do with the future of their running back position. Do they re-sign Willie Parker, or are they ready to make 2008 first-round pick Rashad Mendenhall their feature back of the future.

It’s still too early to tell, but based on some recent draft picks and the restructuring of Hines Ward, entering his 12th season in a Steeler uniform, it appears the Steelers might literally be running away from their “three yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy, that seems to have been here dating back to the days of Chuck Noll.

Whether it might be Mike Tomlin putting his stamp on the franchise, escaping the shadow of Bill Cowher a little more, the bigger picture is that this is Ben Roethlisberger’s team, no matter who is running the ball.

In its recent draft picks–dating back to the selection of Santonio Holmes, the surprise pick of Limas Sweed in the second round of 2008, the Steelers seem more concerned with getting some more weapons for their talented quarterback. Roethlisberger doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, and that’s good. Four seasons as a starter, two Super Bowls. There’s very little doubt that he can add one, maybe two more Super Bowl rings in the next four seasons. 

Parker has put together four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The fact that he has not been offered a new contract is intriguing at this point. The Steelers have always negotiated contracts before the start of the season. There’s still a lot of time, but if a deal is not done in the next two months, we’ll know for sure that the Steelers are going a different direction. Restructuring Ward’s contract was the first sign. They have more faith in a 12th year receiver, than they do a six-year running back, who has been productive with a less-caliber line than the ones Jerome Bettis had. It also signals a change in philosophy that has been an on-going process since Tomlin took over.

Also, with Steelers moves in the past, there’s no sign that indicates Rashad Mendenhall is the guy. There’s also no sign that he isn’t the guy. His rookie season was cut short due to a broken clavicle sustained in a Monday night game against Baltimore. That’s not the type of injury that will affect a running back, but still, it cheated Mendenhall of contributing and getting a year into the system.

The Steelers addressed some speed in the 2009 Draft, another sign that this is Ben Roethlisberger’s team. They took Mississippi receiver Mike Wallace in the third round–a speed guy who could replace Nate Washington, who departed via free agency. With Ward and Holmes, the Steelers have one of the top receiving tandems in the league. Ward has showed no signs of slowing down, and when it’s all said and done, has a chance to finish as the Steelers longest-tenured receiver in team history, surpassing the legendary names of Stallworth and Swann. Holmes has lived up to his billing since he came here, proving every day why the Steelers wanted him so bad in 2006. 

What the Steelers are proving now, by their offseason moves, and maybe their lack-of when it comes to no negotiations with Parker, is that they may be in a shift of philosophy. Sweed has a long way to go before he can become that third receiver, while Wallace will push him for that job in training camp. With this much activity on and off the field dedicated to the receiver position, compared to the questions facing the future of the running back position, it looks like the Steelers are ready to back their franchise quarterback, and become a pass-first team.

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