Sportsbook had the Pittsburgh Steelers signing note tackle Casey Hampton to a big three-year deal and putting the franchise tag on kicker Jeff Reed. Thursday was a busy day in the NFL as teams had to decide what to do with their franchise tags. The Steelers are considered a Super Bowl contender in sportsbook online odds and Hampton anchors their defensive line.
Sportsbook has seen Hampton playing in at least 13 games each season since 2005. The Steelers have been excellent against the run as sportsbook stats indicate and Hampton is a big reason why. They were 3rd in the league a year ago in rushing defense and in the past five years they have been second or third every season. Hampton’s deal is worth about $21 million over three years with $11 million guaranteed. Hampton had 43 tackles and 2½ sacks last sportsbook season for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers decided to use the franchise tag on kicker Jeff Reed. It will be a one-year deal worth just over $2.4 million. Reed was 27 of 31 on field goals last year for Pittsburgh as sportsbook numbers had it and he scored a total of 122 points. He has hit 83.3 percent of his field goals in eight seasons with the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is 10-1 at the sportsbook to win the 2010 Super Bowl. The Steelers are definitely a serious contender next season. They are not the favorites though at the sportsbook. That role goes to the Indianapolis Colts who are 6-1 in sportsbook online odds. They are followed by the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers are 7-1 each in sportsbook online future odds.
Pittsburgh was an official disappointment a year ago. They finished just 9-7 straight up and a very poor 5-10-1 against the sportsbook online number. The Steelers had decent overall statistics but they simply didn’t win the games they were expected to win. Pittsburgh finished in the Top 10 in both offense and defense a year ago and normally when a team is in the Top 10 in both they are Super Bowl contenders. That didn’t happen with Pittsburgh as they lost games against Oakland and Chicago that a good team just shouldn’t lose. Pittsburgh will be expected to bounce back in 2010 with a much better season and keeping Hampton and Reed with the team will help.