Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff likely to undergo changes in the offseason

• Non

  

  The Steelers should sign David Baas
  
  He's a guard for the 49ers. 28 years old and going to be a restricted free agent.
  
  He was a second round pick out of Michigan and based on what I saw Monday night, he might just be entering his best years.
• thavoice

  ^^Cannot comment on that player because, well, I dont know much about him.
  
  Thing is this...if next year is uncapped because of the unsettled CBA then it changes the year a player becomes a restricted FA. If that happens a player must have 6 years of service instead of 4 like it is now to be an UNRESTRICTED free agent. I dont know what his official status would be. Also, if he is that good teams also have three tags, franchise and TWO transition tags they can use to keep a player. (franchise is avg of top 5 paid at that position, transistion is avg of top 10 at that position...or it could be more if the player already is making that $$..he wont be making less).
  
  
  
  So....the rules as we know them right now could change for the next year or two as far as free agency and teams protecting players.
• Non

  

  I'm not sure what his status will be. I've looked at a few different sites and some have him as UFA and others have him as RFA.
  
  He's played five seasons and just turned 28.
  
  I think these sometimes are the best players to get. When they're around 27-28 and aren't necessarily big names but just entering their prime. Bryant McFadden was this way. I think Baas is underrated and the kind of guy the Steelers might be able to get as a center/guard.
• thavoice

  I agree, getting a guy that age who has been in the league is a great route to go, but the downside is that good ones are hard to come by and come with a hefty price tag...but ya usuallly know what you are getting compared to drafting a guy.
  
  It is difficult right now to know who is actually going to be available. As of right now when the pundits talk they will say what they are...under this current agreement...but the rules change if they go to the uncapped year.
  
  I know the 6 year mark is the key if they go to the uncapped year.
  
  Believe I read where this can affect up to 200 players around the league that fall inot that 4-5 years of service and could see their options be limited.
  
  Many are projecting that the uncapped year is inevitable. Before this all came up I said I believed that it wont happen. Both sides are doing their saber rattling and it will only get worse. Players union state they will never go back to a cap if they play without a capped season.
  
  I dont think it will go to an uncapped year but that seems to be a minority opinion if ya believe both sides of this issue.