The Steelers signed safety Will Allen and wide receiver Arnaz Battle to three-year contracts Monday.
Allen had been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Battle had been with the San Francisco 49ers prior to joining the Steelers.
The two met with reporters Monday before leaving the Steelers' practice facility. Here is an excerpted Q&A with each player.
Will Allen:
Q: How much did playing for Mike Tomlin again factor into your decision to sign here?
A: “It was a big part for me. You always want to be familiar, but it’s a big change moving from the south to the north, from Tampa to Pittsburgh, so I’m eager for the change, I’m eager for the opportunity to be part of this organization and contribute where needed.”
Q: Have you been told how the Steelers will use you?
A: “I’m not sure. I’ll just do what they ask at this point. I thought it was a great fit. I thought it was a great move. it was time for a change, time for a new fresh look, what better place than to be in Pittsburgh, a championship team, and vying for a world championship every year and playing with a great group of guys and great coaches. I’m just excited about that right now.”
Q: How much did your ability to play special teams interest the Steelers?
A: “I think it’s part of the equation because that’s what I’m good at, that’s what they saw in me – the fact I’m a reliable player, I’m a good safety and a good special teams player. There was a need there, so that’s where they see me fitting.”
Q: How appealing were the Steelers to you given that there might be an opening at free safety (Editor's note: Allen was interviewed before the Steelers and Ryan Clark agreed on a four-year contract)?
A: The appeal is the opportunity because you don’t know what can happen. It’s a new look and I get to play under coach Tomlin again and to play for the Rooney family, the Pittsburgh organization, is huge. I like to make the analogy -- it’s like playing at Ohio State again. You got a great rich tradition of winning and you’re playing for more than football, you’re playing for the people before you in Steelers black and gold.”
Arnaz Battle:
Q: Why were you and the Steelers able to agree on a contract so quickly?
A: “I felt it was a great fit for me, personally, to leave San Fran and to come to a team that’s competing for a Super Bowl every year. It fits my style of play, the physical, hard-nosed type football. This is just a great opportunity. I met with the coaches, met with the staff today. It was just a good fit for me.”
Q: What plans do they have for you?
A: “I’m just coming in and competing. If it’s receivers, special teams, I think that was one of my strong attributes, one the things that attracted me to them was I was able to do so many things.”
Q: Did the 49ers bringing in (Michael) Crabtree limit your playing time at wide receiver last year?
A: “Yeah, there were no injuries. I think they were making a change as far as their direction. Isaac Bruce and myself were one of the two veterans and we were given different roles. They wanted to go with the younger receivers, Josh Morgan, Brandon Jones from Tennessee and they had Crabtree so it was just kind of going in a different direction.”
Q: Are you anxious to show you have something left as a receiver?
A: “Definitely. I know I can go out there and be very productive in a Steelers type of offense. My job is just to come in and work hard and prepare myself for any role that’s given to me. I’ve talked to the coaches, I’ve talked to Al Everest who was with me in San Fran, I talked to the offensive coordinator, everyone. We’re on the same page. My job is to go on the field and give it 110 percent.”
Q: Do you play all over when it comes to special teams?
“Everything. I’ve been a gunner to a punt returner to a kick returner to a lead back to a wedge buster, everything. I’ve pretty much done it. I feel that early in my career I had success at it and it bought me time to get better as a receiver. This past year with the numbers thing going and them making that transition to a younger receiving corps I was was able to buy myself time by being productive on special teams so I think that’s one of the things that gave me another opportunity and I’m glad the Steelers wanted my services and I want to be here and be a part of a great organization.”
March 9th, 2010 - 8:55 am
Allen makes a lot more sense to me as a replacement for Tyrone Carter than for Ryan Clark. It's good that the Steelers also re-signed Clark as the starter.
I like that they have aggressively addressed the problems with the special teams from last year - just about everyone they've signed this off-season could potentially help special teasm - Allen, Battle, David Pittman, Randle-El, etc.
I'm amazed at how active they have been in free agency this year...is this really the Steelers?
March 9th, 2010 - 11:25 am
Agreed....seem to be plugging the holes perfectly. Love Tyrone, but Will Allen should be a big upgrade there, and as we saw..need more speed and cover skills there in case he needs to start. Lost no one of giant impact..now need to sure up depth on line and spur some competition there and find a second punch for Rashard.
Would love Willy back but the situation as it is on both sides does not make that possible. Good luck Willy and thanks for all the good years!!!
Would be cool to get Foote back..come on Larry..you know you will play a bunch even backing up LT. Need quality depth at LB.
March 9th, 2010 - 12:38 pm
I agree with both of these responses. Cleaning out the special teams with new blood is good!!! We needed something done here. Adding new blood and quality depth could be the difference between last year and winning the Super Bowl?!?!!
I also hope Larry Foote signs!?! I found through another site, his friends have said he really wants to come back, but I hope he's willing to sacrifice a little!?! At that point we'll know he really DOES want to come back!! We could use his leadership, experience, and durability!!
With all the free agent activity to this point, along with a good draft, and a little luck without any injuries, I believe we'll be ready for another Championship!!! We just need to get Ben in line and straighten him out!!!! We don't need any distractions when we are gearing up for another SB win!
March 9th, 2010 - 5:36 pm
i feel that the rooney's by now should be calling in a favor that they need from tony dungy to sit down and have a heart-to-heart chat with ben since it seems the talk they had with him last off seaon did no good. i agree that they should look for another veteran qb to bring in just in case something bad happens and ben is charged.
March 9th, 2010 - 5:51 pm
I really like the holes we are plugging so far...and I would also love to see Larry Foote back in the black and gold. Lets face it, James Farrior has lost a step (hard as that is to say cause I LOVE the guy!!) but he missed alot of tackles and had huge problems covering the tight ends last year.
Now we need a corner to replace Gay. Hopefully our scouts found a gem that we can draft!!
Parker doesn't fit our system. Average hands and can't block. Moore should get More chances!!
With a healthy Troy and big Snack back- I like our chances!!
March 9th, 2010 - 9:39 pm
Love all the moves..depth..depth..depth. Now we can draft the best player and not for need. Kevin Colbert is the most underrated GM ever.
March 10th, 2010 - 10:20 am
I agree with all three posts! These signings are huge! We add depth at WR/special teams and secondary. I also like the signing of Jonathan Scott at OT. Hopefully this helps make the draft decisions easier. I agree we need someone to help Mendenhall. I really hope it is Kobe Gearhart out of Stanford. He fits our style. Re-signing Clark was huge. I was very happy he re-signed. If everyone stays healthy we should be ok. Looking forward to see how Ziggy Hood progresses. BEN, please,please get your head on straight!!!! You play for the most professional organiztion in all of sports; act like a professional. STEELER NATION BABY!!!!!
March 10th, 2010 - 1:52 pm
I don't understand the signing of Randal El .I don't see him beating out Sweed fo the number four wideout. He didn't do a good job as a returner for the Redskins and he sure can not take the KO returns from Logan who will only get better with the new special teams coach.
March 10th, 2010 - 2:13 pm
In answer to Rob. if Ben is charged and we will know soon ,then the season for the Steelers is over. They will have to try to bring Dixon up to to par .there is no veteran QB on the horizon that is more qualified than Dixon We may be an 8-8 team with Dixon What the steelers need to do is try to find a QB in the draft or make a pitch for you may not like this but Vick is the only non starting QB that can help the steelers at this time. with Vick the steelers could be a 12- 4 team and possibly win the conference. Sounds crazy but with Vick as QB the steelewrs would be the running team they are striviing for.and he would be the leading runner on the team Oh by the way he can also pass the ball much farther than Ben.Last year a lot of Ben's passes were short and the receivers mostly Wallace had to wait oir slow up for Ben's passes. That won't happen with Vick because he can outthrow the runners.