Steelers Had No Choice But to Sign Casey Hampton

Casey Hampton, the Pittsburgh Steelers noseguard, signed a three-year, $21 million extension earlier this morning. It wasn't unexpected and it's not outrageous money, but it was a necessary move that the Steelers had to make, and did.

In today's NFL, noseguards are at more of a premium than quarterbacks. Being able to find a guy in the area of 6'3, 350 pounds, and athletic is no easy feat. There's only a handful of real noseguards in the league, Hampton being one of them, and it was imperative that they not let him hit the market.

Had he hit the market on March 5th, he would have been off the market at about 3AM.

Hampton is what makes the Steelers' defense go. Others will claim it's this guy, or someone else, but it is Hampton -- as is the case with every 3-4 defense. Without a good noseguard, your defense cannot properly operate.

Hampton probably won't get another contract after this due to his age (32), but for at least the next two-three years the Steelers will have peace of mind with Hampton in the middle.

Expect them to draft someone either this year or the next to groom and take over for Hampton.