Free Agents

LB Patrick Bailey (RFA) -- Special team stud; probably tender a low offer, which no other team will trade a draft pick to match.
QB Charlie Batch (UFA) -- Could he just take Ken Anderson's job, and Ben take Bruce Arians'?
S Tyrone Carter (UFA) -- Slow, 34 year old backup safety; would have to come pretty eFfing cheap to stay with us.
S Ryan Clark (UFA) -- Slow, hardhitting, 31 year old starting safety who showed an inability to contain deep pass plays without Polamalu on the field. I like him, but he'd have to be willing to be paid by the hour. Otherwise we're just going to have to swallow some lumps and field rookies/cheap-scrubs in the secondary.
OL Willie Colon (RFA) -- Yes, we're going to make an offer, and no, it can't possibly be low enough that another team will be willing to match it and risk trading a 7th round draft pick for Willie Colon.
FB Carey Davis (RFA) -- I love this guy. Am I the only one? Yes. Expect him to get low-balled or nothing, and then expect us to re-sign him next year when Mewelde Moore goes on the IR.
DE Nick Eason (UFA) -- Nick Eason will be 30 years old and coming into his prime as a journeyman backup. I don't care what happens here, except for the fact that we're running low on linemen.
CB William Gay (RFA) -- I'm telling you, he's going to get better. If nothing else, it makes sense to sign him to one of those one year, restricted free agent deals, and if he doesn't pan out, then he's gone.
NT Casey Hampton (UFA) -- This is the big one. Big Snack played very well on both first and second down this year. That's not a reason to give a 33 year old who weighs 350 lbs a multi-year, multi-million dollar extension. If there was a way to pro-rate his contract, I'd do it. He's still got 12-20 good games left in him, but whoever picks him up will be paying for at least 40.
DE Travis Kirschke (UFA) -- At age 36, he's a tough sell for his agent.
CB Anthony Madison (RFA) -- This time we may want to keep Madison (btw, remember losing at least one game because of bad special teams? I wonder if we'd be playing next week had Madison been on the unit all season long).
RB Willie Parker (UFA) -- If you haven't read a story about what a class act Willie's been this season, go do yourself a favor and buy a paper. He's really taken on the role as sideline mentor, even though it was crazy that he was being limited to so few touches. Best of luck, Willie.
K Jeff Reed (UFA) -- Sigh.
P Daniel Sepulveda (RFA) -- Signed.
TE Matt Spaeth (RFA) -- Why not tender an offer.
OL Darnell Stapleton (RFA) -- How many of this guy do we have at this point? The only case Darnell Stapleton could make for himself would be if he can still cover the center position as a backup. Otherwise, it seems a little redundant to have four mediocre RGs.
CB Deshea Townsend (UFA) -- We are either going to have a very mediocre, old secondary, or a very young, question-mark filled secondary.
LB Rocky Boiman (UFA) -- The heart and soul of the 2009 '3rd place finish in the AFC North' Pittsburgh Steelers. Thought you were upset when we gave Joey Porter his walking papers? You're going to cut yourself when you find out Rocky's gone.

In summary: our offense is going to be left almost entirely intact. The defense could get a lot shakier.

This is what I was saying last year when I kept using the phrase: borrowed time. It's about to catch up with us.