Steelers sign safety Burnett
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� The Steelers continued their low-key approach to free agency Tuesday by signing safety Morgan Burnett to a three-year contract for a reported $14.5 million.
The signing of Burnett comes on the heels of the Steelers signing linebacker Jon Bostic. Both players have a recent history of nagging injuries, with the 29-year-old Burnett missing 10 games in the last three seasons due to groin, hamstring and calf issues.
Burnett is a 6-1, 209-pound safety who无毛视频檚 spent multiple seasons at both free and strong safety for the Green Bay Packers. He made nine solo tackles last year against the Steelers and finished with 68 tackles in 12 starts.
Burnett said he signed with the Steelers because of 无毛视频淭he history of Pittsburgh, the tradition. 无毛视频� Coming from Green Bay it was the same tradition.无毛视频�
A third-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2010 (71st pick), Burnett started the opener of his rookie season but didn无毛视频檛 play in the Super Bowl against the Steelers that season after being placed on injured reserve (ACL) following the fourth game.
Burnett started the 2011 season at strong safety, was moved to free safety in 2012 and back to strong safety in 2014. According to Packers Report publisher Bill Huber, Burnett无毛视频檚 primary position last season was 无毛视频渓inebacker in the dime,无毛视频� which was dubbed the Nitro by the Packers and was their most-used package.
Burnett无毛视频檚 second job was box safety in the nickel, according to Huber. 无毛视频淭hen the slot. Deep safety was waaaaaaay down the list.无毛视频�
Burnett even wore the 无毛视频済reen dot无毛视频� on his helmet as the hub of communication with the sideline. He called the defensive plays, which is primarily the job of a linebacker.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 normally for linebackers,无毛视频� Burnett said. 无毛视频淲hen they brought it to me, I was kind of like, 无毛视频榃hoa, that无毛视频檚 nothing I无毛视频檓 used to doing.无毛视频� But it doesn无毛视频檛 take long. The only thing you无毛视频檙e doing is repeating what you hear in your helmet. Sometimes it can be a tongue-twister, but you无毛视频檝e got to improvise and make sure everyone gets it right.无毛视频�
So, while Burnett will no doubt be trumpeted as the Steelers无毛视频� next free safety无毛视频� it无毛视频檚 possible he无毛视频檒l replace William Gay at the dime linebacker position.
无毛视频淭hey haven无毛视频檛 said anything yet,无毛视频� Burnett said of his specific position. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 just coming in, like I said, everything无毛视频檚 new. I无毛视频檓 coming in to do my job the best I can do, wherever I fit, to be accountable as a teammate and earn the respect of the coaches and get into a routine with the rest of the fellas.无毛视频�
In his eight-year career, Burnett has 718 tackles, nine interceptions, 46 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and 7.5 sacks.
Former NFL scout Matt Williamson described Burnett this way:
无毛视频淰ersatile enough to do pretty much anything asked of him, and quite credibly. Burnett is more of a strong safety. He无毛视频檚 a steady player and a strong positive influence in the locker room. An accomplished veteran such as Burnett could prove to be very valuable behind the scenes for a young secondary, as well as to a probable high draft pick at the safety position. Burnett has played a lot of football but don无毛视频檛 think he无毛视频檚 near the end of the line. As was the case with the entirety of Green Bay无毛视频檚 secondary, Burnett wasn无毛视频檛 at his very best in 2017. Still, he just turned 29 in January, and with his savvy should be a major contributor for the next several seasons at least. It isn无毛视频檛 uncommon to see crafty safeties playing well into their mid 30s. Burnett would contribute equally in zone or man coverage and probably would immediately supplant Davis as Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 answer for opposing tight ends in man coverage. Burnett also is a far better player versus the run than any safety on Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 roster, and is an excellent tackler. Burnett would be a glue guy for the Steelers in very many ways.无毛视频�