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PLAYER MOVEMENT

Unrestricted Free Agents

Player	What to Expect / What Happened
LB Jason Gildon	Re-signed.
LB Earl Holmes	It doesn't look like the Steelers want him back too much. That's a shame, because the Hitman has led the team in tackles for the past three years. I think the Steelers under-estimate his value.
CB Deshea Townsend	By far the most underrated player on the team, and would be a starter if not for the fact that Scott and Washington are set as the cornerbacks of the future. He will leave because another team will deservedly make him a starter.
CB Jason Simmons	An average player who could come back knowing that he has a good shot at becoming the #3 CB when Townsend leaves.
WR Bobby Shaw	A valuable third down receiver who made some big plays last year (like his 90 yard TD against Baltimore). He is replaceable, but it would be nice to have him back. Again, someone else will probably make him a starter.
S Myron Bell	Boo is on his second stint with the Steelers. He will not command a lot of attention from other teams, so it's really just a matter of if the Steelers want his veteran experience back or not.
LB John Fiala	Re-signed, presumably to replace Holmes.

Other Possible Departures

K Kris Brown	They'll give him another chance, but they will bring in another kicker in camp just to make it look like they are putting pressure on him. They are also giving him some slack seeing as how so many other kickers (including college kickers) sucked at Heinz Field this past season.
WR Will Blackwell	Yes, that's right - he is actually still on the team!! Can you believe that?! He has 3 receptions in the last two years! Please, please, please dump him!!!!
WR Troy Edwards	Closest thing to a cap casualty this year, but unless they can strike a trade or force him out in camp, he may actually be back.
OL Roger Duffy	Didn't he retire four years ago? He should have.
QB Tee Martin	Rumor has it that Tee has upset the coaches with his lack of effort in practice. If he plays well in Europe this spring, he may win back his clipboard-holding job.

2002 Draft: An Early Look

For the first time in a long time, the Steelers don't really need that much help! They will probably look at DB's, especially if (when) they lose Townsend and Simmons. You can also never be too deep at offensive and defensive line, but right now, the Steelers just don't need that much help from the draft. Still, if this year's draft is even half as successful as last year's draft (which produced two starters and the NFL Rookie of the Year), then the Steelers should be sitting pretty in the AFC North.

2002 Opponents

The Steelers will play in the new AFC North Division in 2002, but they will still play one game against former division foes Tennessee and Jacksonville. They will also renew their old rivalry with Houston, albeit with Dom Capers' Texans and not the Oilers. They will also play Tampa Bay again, a team with which they seemed to develop some kind of odd tension between last year, especially with Lee Flowers' "paper champions" comment. They have a rematch with New England, and play the Saints for the first time in nearly a decade. But the real battle will probably still be with those hated Baltimore Ravens. Here are the opponents (the schedule will be released later):

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