Farrior signs five-year contract extension

By Jerry DiPaola
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 23, 2004

The Steelers' James Farrior won the race for big money Thursday over his
teammate and next-door neighbor at inside linebacker, Kendrell Bell.

Steelers officials also found time during a busy day of negotiations to
reach a contract agreement with fifth-round draft choice Nathaniel Adibi and
move closer to a deal with their third-round pick, offensive tackle Max
Starks of Florida.

That leaves only Bell, Starks and No. 1 draft pick Ben Roethlisberger among
the players the team currently wants to sign.

But the big catch yesterday was Farrior, a mobile linebacker who is just as
effective in pass coverage as he is defending the run.

Farrior and the Steelers agreed to the terms of a five-year, $16.4 million
contract extension that carries a $4.5 million signing bonus. He did not
sign the contract, but that formality may occur as soon as today.

"It's good to know you are wanted and well-liked by the organization," said
Farrior, who is in New Orleans training with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor.

Farrior, 29, has been with the Steelers since 2002 when he was signed from
the New York Jets to replace Earl Holmes, who was allowed to leave through
free agency. A first-round pick (eighth overall) in 1997, Farrior was a
regular starter in only two of his five years with the Jets and is not as
worn down as many linebackers of the same age.

"He never took a beating in New York," said Farrior's Pittsburgh-based agent
Ralph Cindrich.

Farrior has been among the most reliable linebackers in the league, missing
only six games in seven seasons. With the Steelers last season, he played
most snaps in run and pass situations, leading the team with 127 tackles and
recording an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. He had seven
passes defensed, more than anyone on the team with the exceptions of
cornerbacks Deshea Townsend (12) and Chad Scott (eight).

He played outside linebacker with the Jets, and could assume a similar role
with the Steelers in an emergency.

For his career, he has 581 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks, seven forced fumble, five
fumble recoveries and four interceptions.

Farrior acknowledged that his new contract could help him assume a larger
leadership role on the team.

"I feel like I'm going to be the same guy and do the same things I did on
the field last year and the year before that," he said. "I'll have the same
leadership qualities, but (more) players may look up to me as a leader."

The Steelers have been negotiating with Farrior and Bell through much of the
spring, trying to prevent both players from reaching unrestricted free
agency next year.

Farrior's deal, however, does not mean that the Steelers have ended talks
with Bell, 26. Negotiations are ongoing with Bell's agent Todd France, who
always has had an excellent relationship with the team's front office.

But Farrior's demands were more in line with what the Steelers planned to
spend on an inside linebacker approaching his 30th birthday.

On the other hand, the price tag for younger inside linebackers took an
unexpected jump recently when Keith Bulluck of the Tennessee Titans, Al
Wilson of the Denver Broncos and Takeo Spikes of the Buffalo Bills pocketed
signing bonus checks of $12.5 million, $10.4 million and $9 million,
respectively. Julian Peterson turned down a $15.5 million bonus from the San
Francisco 49ers.

For better or worse, the Steelers have most of the key members of their
defense signed beyond the coming season. Only Bell and free safety Chris
Hope among the starters do not have contracts for 2005, and Hope will be
eligible just for restricted free agency and probably will return.

Signing Farrior creates little new trauma on the Steelers' salary cap. The
contract is structured in such a way that it will cost the team only
$160,000 more than Farrior's previous deal.

Farrior, who had received a $275,000 roster bonus earlier this year, will
get base salaries of $660,000 this year and $2.1million, $2.9 million, $3
million and $3.24 million through 2008.

Meanwhile, Adibi, a defensive end at Virginia Tech, received a signing bonus
of $121,500 in a three-year, $1.0415 million contract. He will move to
outside linebacker with the Steelers and also will get an opportunity to
contribute on special teams.

Starks probably will sign before the first day of training camp next
Thursday and compete for the starting job at right tackle against veterans
Oliver Ross, Todd Fordham and Barrett Brooks.

When Starks' deal is finalized, the Steelers can concentrate on
Roethlisberger, their quarterback of the future.

The parameters of Roethlisberger's potential deal started to come into focus
yesterday when the Houston Texans signed cornerback Dunta Robinson, who was
drafted 10th overall, to a five-year, $10.698 million contract.
Roethlisberger was No. 11.

Robinson received a two-tiered signing bonus totaling $8 million, nearly 10
percent more than last year's No. 10 pick received.

Roethlisberger won't get $8 million, but his agent Leigh Steinberg may push
for about a 10 percent increase over the $6.5 million that Seattle Seahawks
cornerback Marcus Trufant received last year as the No. 11 pick.