Pittsburgh Steelers Re-Sign Marcus Gilbert; Bring Back Brett Keisel
By Larry Snyder
As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to make decisions leading to their final 2014 roster, Marcus Gilbert was signed to a new six-year contract, locking up another player on their offensive line who had been in the final year of his deal.
The deal is worth up to $30.8 million, according to a league source, and includes a $7.65 million signing bonus. The 26-year-old Gilbert will remain in the Steel City through the 2019 season.
The Florida product was the only offensive lineman to start every game last season for the Black and Gold. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, Gilbert has started 34 out of 35 regular season games he has played for Pittsburgh.
Gilbert was taken in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
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At the beginning of training camp, general manager Kevin Colbert talked about re-signing Gilbert, along with outside linebacker Jason Worilds, cornerback Cortez Allen and placekicker Shaun Suisham, to new deals because they were all going into the final year of their particular agreements.
With Gilbert and Suisham now in the fold, Colbert has until Sunday, Sept. 7, when the regular season gets underway, to re-sign both Worilds and Allen.
Scott Brown of ESPN.com is reporting that the Steelers and Brett Keisel have agreed to a deal that will bring the veteran defensive end back for a 13th season. The 6-foot-6, 285-pounder is expected to be in the rotation at left defensive end with Cam Thomas and Stephon Tuitt.
The Arizona Cardinals were rumored to be interested in Keisel, who will be 36 in September, after losing defensive tackle Darnell Dockett to a season-ending knee injury earlier this week. The Brigham Young product put up 29 tackles and four sacks in 12 games last season.
The Steelers travel to Philadelphia on Thursday to take on the Eagles in Week 3 of the preseason.