| Profootballweekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the major news from around the NFL. 
Steelers re-sign Witman
Steelers FB Jon Witman re-signed with the team on Monday after being cut March 1 in a
cost-cutting move. Witman has been the Steelers’ starter for most of the last three
seasons but may have to compete for the job after breaking his leg in October and missing
the remainder of the 2000 season.
Buchsbaum: He’s a solid blocker, an above-average complementary back and a real
tough guy.
Profootballweekly.com: Jerome Bettis has had a couple of different blockers
over the years. How does Witman work with him?
Buchsbaum: He works well with him, as does the backup Dan Kreider.
The status of Herman Moore
WR Herman Moore is signed through 2005 in Detroit, but the Lions have expressed an
interest in reworking his contract so they can afford his services. Despite a diminishing
role for the Lions’ career leading reciver, team president Matt Millen said he would
like to keep Moore in Detroit but that it’s not feasible under his current contract.
Buchsbaum: Moore’s play has declined a great deal, and he’s never had good
chemistry with (QB) Charlie Batch. Before this, the other Detroit quarterbacks knew that
Herman was not going to get great separation, but if you put the ball up, he’d take
it away from people. Batch has never developed that type of confidence in Herman, so when
Herman isn’t open, he goes in another direction. And Herman was catching half his
passes when he wasn’t open before.
Profootballweekly.com: If Moore isn’t back, how would the Lions’ wide
receiver situation look with Johnnie Morton and Germane Crowell?
Buchsbaum: Well, those two would be the starters, but they would have to look for a
third.
Patriots sign Compton and Patten
The Patriots signed Mike Compton Monday, giving them an offensive lineman who has seen
action at all five positions along the line and started 86 games in nine seasons with the
Lions.
Buchsbaum: He’s not a very good athlete, but he is a good football player and a
smart and very versatile player who can do a more than adequate job as a starting center
or guard in this league and can also fill in at both tackle spots. He’s a producer.
Profootballweekly.com: Is this just a continuation of what they’ve been
trying to do all offseason in bringing in smart football players instead of pure talents
who aren’t going to do the little things.
Buchsbaum: Right, it is. They also signed David Patten, a little guy with great speed
who can return kicks and be a fourth receiver. |
