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Fiala released; team wants Bruener to take reduction in pay

Friday, June 13, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Steelers released veteran linebacker John Fiala yesterday and have asked tight Mark Bruener to take a deep pay cut to stay with the team.

	Running back Antwon McCray, who was cut yesterday, spent most of last season on the Steelers' practice squad. (John Heller, Post-Gazette)

Bruener is scheduled earn a $2,050,000 salary this year. The Steelers want him to accept a $750,000 salary, the NFL minimum for him.

Bruener, a nine-year veteran, signed a contract last year through 2006.

It's unknown what the Steelers would do if Bruener declines to accept the reduction in pay. Their choice would be to release him or keep him at his current salary.

Coach Bill Cowher said yesterday that he wanted Bruener on the team. The Steelers rarely ask players to take a pay cut when they have a contract. The only known instance occurred with linebacker Jerry Olsavsky in the mid-1990s.

Speaking about Bruener, Cowher said "Mark looked good" and anticipated he would be in camp when it opens July 25 in Latrobe.

Last year, Fiala went to training camp to compete for a starting job at inside linebacker. The Steelers had just signed him to a contract that paid the fifth-year veteran a $575,000 signing bonus. But James Farrior beat him out, and then rookie Larry Foote surpassed Fiala as the top backup linebacker inside.

Cowher explained that the additions of inside linebacker Clint Kreiwaldt, signed as an unrestricted free agent, and rookie outside linebacker Alonzo Jackson made Fiala, the special teams captain, expendable. They likely waited until now to release him in order to see Kreiwaldt and Jackson during minicamp. Cowher said they released Fiala yesterday so he can find another job.

"He took it very hard," Cowher said. "It is one of the hard things you have to do in this business. He has been a consummate pro and he is a great individual."

The Steelers also released halfback Antwon McCray, a Carnegie native who spent time on their practice squad last season as an undrafted rookie from Toledo.

Fiala said he was surprised by his release but otherwise would not comment.

He made the team as a free agent in 1998 after spending the '97 season on their practice squad. He started two games, one in the playoffs after the 2001 season and one last year, before he went on injured reserve after the 11th game with a knee injury. He also had minor shoulder surgery.

The Steelers called teams about trading for him before the draft, but there were no takers. He was scheduled to earn $800,000 in salary this year and will count $191,666 against the team's cap this year and next.

Bruener's 2002 season also ended early with a knee injury that required microfracture surgery. In the meantime, the Steelers re-signed backup tight end Jerame Tuman and added free-agent tight end Jay Riemersma. There had been speculation that Bruener would be released or have his $2,050,000 salary negotiated downward.

"Mark has been good," Cowher said. "It is going to be a good, healthy competition between Mark Bruener, Jay Riemersma and Jerame Tuman."

Keisel's stock rises

Cowher continues to be impressed by Brett Keisel, their seventh-round draft choice from Brigham Young last season. Keisel played well late in the season on special teams, now he's making his bid for playing time at defensive end.

"Brett Keisel is a guy who came out of nowhere last year, and now has put on about 18 pounds," Cowher said. "He is going to give us more depth there."

Strangely, though, Keisel is listed as 10 pounds lighter on the Steelers' current roster than the 279 pounds they listed him as last year.

Bettis update

Cowher said during the draft that Jerome Bettis would be out to prove people wrong. So far, he has been proving Cowher right.

"His weight is as low as it has ever been," Cowher said. "Jerome's best year was in 1997, when he was here at the same weight. He had over 1,600 yards and he is in better shape now than he was this time that year. I like where he is."

While neither Bettis nor Cowher would reveal the halfback's weight, he easily passed a June 1 weigh-in where he was required to be under 260 to earn a bonus.

"This minicamp was different because of my mind-set," Bettis said. "My mind-set was a little more aggressive in this camp than others, obviously because of the situation."

Cowher challenged Bettis at the end of last season, and the coach has said the starting halfback job is open.

"Not having a clear-cut starter changes the mind-set," Bettis said. "So my mind-set was a lot more aggressive. It was a good camp. I felt really good and I'm looking forward to going to training camp."

Short snaps

The Steelers' roster stands at 82. They must release someone before they begin training camp if all of their rookies sign by then. ... The Steelers have made little progress in contract talks with agent Marvin Demoff for first-round draft choice Troy Polamalu. ... Cowher said the surgery Wednesday on guard Kendall Simmons' left elbow went "probably better than we had hoped or expected" and there should be no setbacks. ... Cowher canceled the scheduled practice yesterday, leaving the Steelers one short of the permitted 14 spring workouts.