There's Still Hope (Maybe)

Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com's best football writer, is reporting that the Steelers have begun the process of negotiating to keep Chris Hope off of the free agent market. Nothing has passed the initial, verbal stage, but the Steelers are showing their interest.

Interestingly, today's Post-Gazette reports that NBC's newest football analyst, Jerome Bettis, said that the Steelers think they can "stand to lose" Hope because of the bargaining power he has.

Which wouldn't rule out the sort of feel-out that Pasquarelli is reporting. The problem, as both analysists point out, is that the Steelers have no viable replacement for Hope. Free agency offers few options, perhaps the best being Lance Shulters. But come on: Lance Shulters?

Venues like this are good for antsy speculation, but only time will tell.