The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have the season they were hoping for in 2013 and are hoping for a strong bounceback in 2014. After staying relatively quiet in free agency and the draft, could the Steelers be looking to bring back two of their most storied veterans? Pittsburgh does not have much in the way of salary cap space and have corssed off most of the things on their offseason to do list, so the chance that Santonio Holmes and James Harrison get re-signed are very slim.
According to veteran Ika Taylor, both Holmes and Harrison are hoping for a return to Pittsburgh this upcoming season as both sit on the open market. Both players are heroes for the Steelers. They made their impact in Super Bowl XLIII. Despite a strong resume to their name, neither player has gotten much interest from others.
"It's for sure the both of them want to come back," Taylor said, via ESPN.com. "I've talked to both of them. [Harrison] still wants to play football, and of course his first option would be Pittsburgh. He came over to my house, and when he shook my hand, his hand felt like a brick. I told [him] he can't shake my hand like that anymore. He's probably in the best shape of his life. Right now he looks like the Hulk. He's been banged up, and he feels he has something to prove."
Holmes has the best shot of getting picked up mainly because he has not other option but to agree to a veteran's minimum deal. The Steelers have lost Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery in the past 15 months. They did sign Lance Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey along with drafting Martavis Bryant in the fourth round. The Steelers do not need Holmes unless injuries strike in camp.
Harrison is also not needed. He played last year for the Cincinnati Bengals after a long career with the Steelers. He has the best history of anyone in Pittsburgh after winning Defensive Player of the Year, two Super Bowls and five Pro Bowl nominations. However, he turns 36 in May and that might not work for a new contract. The Steelers are loaded at the defensive end of the ball after several draft and free agent upgrades so the chances Harrison is forced into retirement is high.
