STEELERS BLACK -N- GOLD POST A Pittsburgh Steelers Blog from the heart of Steelers Nation.

by Ramona Dye

Our Steelers who have never been very vocal in the NFL free agency have become the busy-bee.

Our Steelers have re-signed Ryan Clark to a four-year, $14 million dollar deal.

"Coach Tomlin talked with me about being a nomad, a journeymen, but if I finish my contract here, that's eight years in the same place, and that's an accomplishment. I didn't want to leave. My neighbors didn't want me to leave. They didn't want to get new neighbors."

                                ~Ryan Clark

Steelers signed free-agent safety Will Allen to a three-year deal. Allen's deal is worth $4.495 million with $975,000 to sign.

Pittsburgh also signed wide receiver Arnaz Battle to a three-year deal. Battle's deal is worth $3.975 million with $975,000 to sign.

Both Allen and Battle have links to the Steelers' coaching staff. Allen spent the past six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he once worked with current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. And former San Francisco 49ers special teams coach Al Everett, now Pittsburgh's special teams coach, recommended Battle to Tomlin.

Battle is expected to help the Steelers as a backup wide receiver and offer help on special teams. He started 38 games for the 49ers from 2005 through 2007 and caught 141 passes during that span.

Allen, who lost his starting job in Tampa Bay, and Battle, whose playing time was reduced in San Francisco, should upgrade the Steelers' deficient special teams. Their four kickoff return touchdowns allowed last season led the NFL.

"That's what I'm good at, that's what they saw in me, I'm a good safety and a good special teams player."

                                        ~Will Allen

The Steelers are also bringing in offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, who played the last two seasons in Buffalo under new Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler. Scott started eight games last season but wasn't given even the lowest tender offer to stay with the Bills.

Now for news on Antwan Randal El.

Bringing back Randle El and signing Battle suggests the Steelers may not be counting on former second-round draft pick Limas Sweed next season. He was taken off the active roster late last season for reasons not fully explained by the Steelers, who still haven't commented on the move.

Randle El figures to be the Steelers' No. 3 receiver, although he could find himself in stiff competition for that job by second-year receiver Mike Wallace, who had six touchdowns among his 39 catches as a rookie.

Let's hope that this will help answer some of the problems we had last season. I am looking forward to the upcoming draft and hopefully our Steelers can take this team back to the top of our division and into the play-offs.

As Always, Here We Go!