[jerseykingpin]

NFL.com Wire Reports

Larry Foote quickly realized how much he disliked losing.
After a disheartening season spent with Detroit, the inside linebacker is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers, signing a three-year contract Monday worth $9.3 million and a $1.8 million signing bonus, reports NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
Foote started when Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl during the 2004 and 2008 seasons, but asked for his release and subsequently signed a one-year contract with his hometown Lions because he knew the Steelers planned to make Lawrence Timmons a starter.

Foote started in Detroit, but told friends with the Steelers last season that he wearied of losing as the Lions went 2-14.
"I'm begging -- I want to get back to a winner," Foote said while visiting the Arizona Cardinals last week. "And I'm more comfortable in a 3-4 (defense)."
Foote knows the Steelers' system and provides flexibility at a position where defensive co-captain James Farrior is 35. If the Steelers incur any injuries, Foote could start inside and Timmons -- a 2007 first-round draft pick -- could move outside.
"I'm here for depth," Foote said Monday. "I'm here to back up those guys, James and Lawrence, and help contribute to the team. I accept that role."
Foote, a former Michigan player who will be 30 in June, preferred to remain a starter and recently visited with the Redskins and Cardinals. He said he was ready to sign with Arizona, but did not work out terms and wound up back in Pittsburgh. He started every regular season game for the Steelers from 2004-08.
The Steelers almost never bring back players once they have left the organization but, this month, they have signed both Foote and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. Randle El played for Washington from 2006-09 after spending his first four NFL seasons with Pittsburgh.
"I didn't think it would happen, but I'm glad to be back," Foote said.
It's not a coincidence the Steelers chose to bring back two players who were popular in the locker room and were viewed as team leaders. Steelers management felt the team that went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs lacked some of the locker room chemistry and character that their most recent teams did, and the hope is Randle El and Foote will help restore it

"My relationship with the people, the brotherhood there," Foote said of his reasons for returning to Pittsburgh. "The winning, the community -- I had seven years there, and I've never spent that much time outside Michigan."
The Steelers normally are one of the NFL's least active teams in free agency, but they have signed six players in eight days -- and only of them, safety Ryan Clark, is expected to be a starter. Clark unexpectedly re-signed with Pittsburgh after he appeared ready to sign with Miami.
The Steelers also signed safety Will Allen and wide receiver Arnaz Battle mostly to strengthen their deficient special teams and offensive lineman Jonathan Scott to provide depth along an offensive line that lacked experienced backups.
Before the NFL free agency signing period started March 5, they also re-signed nose tackle Casey Hampton to a three-year contract and designated kicker Jeff Reed as their franchise player.
Last season, Foote led the Lions with 99 tackles despite missing the final two games of the season with a foot injury, ending his streak of 94 consecutive NFL games started. He also had two sacks and forced a fumble.

[slacker00]

Another solid move. Steelers are starting to look like the team to beat in the AFC.

[iwantcougars]

all this offseason steelers moves, led me to believe they are drafting heavy OL. Also if big ben is guilty, they still will have a chance to make the playoffs with strong D and power running game as the last season jets

[msec512]

Steelers will be a much improved team this year. If they have a solid draft, they will be a force in the AFC. They might have the best receiving core in the NFL - Ward, Holmes, Wallace, & Randle El. Put Ben and the shotgun with those options, it will be fun to watch.

[icancount2one]

Steelers will be a much improved team this year. If they have a solid draft, they will be a force in the AFC. They might have the best receiving core in the NFL - Ward, Holmes, Wallace, & Randle El. Put Ben and the shotgun with those options, it will be fun to watch.

Wow, I see a lot of over the top compliments to the steelers on this forum but this one may take the cake. Better receiving corps than Steelers:

Saints
Vikings
Chargers
Texans
Cardinals (even without Boldin)
Eagles

maybe the Colts, or maybe it's just how good Peyton is.

That's just what I can come up with off the top of my head. One circus catch in a big game does not a great receiver make. You could say that the Steelers have the most "clutch" receivers in the NFL.

[stealthyburrito]

One circus catch in a big game does not a great receiver make. You could say that the Steelers have the most "clutch" receivers in the NFL.

yea not the best, but maybe the grittiest. Ward fears no one and holmes is good for the big play.

I just hope for the steelers sake they dont use randle el as a returner, the skins learned that lesson a little too late

[iwantcougars]

steelers receivers corp is good but not an elite receiving corp, probably if ward was younger and wallace had a couple of years of experience it will be elite, but until then is good.

The colts have the best wr corp in the afc, and probably the nfl (now the cards without boldin and warner)