The Pittsburgh Steelers were faced with a difficult decision in free agency heading into the 2002 season as they were forced to choose between a proven commodity in linebacker Earl Holmes and the potential of linebacker James Farrior. Holmes led the Steelers in tackles for three consecutives seasons and had started 78 of 80 games since taking over at RILB in 1997. He was part of a loaded linebacker position that was the 2001 Steelers.
The #1 rated defense in the league in 2001 saw Joey Porter emerge as the defensive leader, Jason Gildon earn All-Pro honors, and Kendrell Bell explode onto the scene as Defensive Rookie of the Year. It was a unit they wanted to keep together, but the Steelers were not optimistic. The man who earned the nickname "The Hitman" by his teammates, had 547 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 56 tackles for loss and forced 8 turnovers was expected to receive several high offers in free agency and the Steelers were doubtful they could afford his asking price.
There was also a strong debate within the Steelers organization between retaining Holmes and signing Farrior.
Earl Holmes felt "unappreciated"
Bill Cowher talked a lot with Earl Holmes, as Cowher was one of the advocates to retain Holmes. The anticipated hot market for Holmes did not materialize as he expected, with concerns about two knee injuries in 2001 (including a strained posterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for the 2001 AFC Championship Game) led to some concern. It led to negotiations being reopened with Pittsburgh, but Holmes suspected that not all of the staff felt the same as the Steelers head coach.
Still all signs were looking to the Steelers retaining Holmes when they suddenly announced the signing of Farrior to a three-year deal for $5.4M in April of 2002, ostensibly replacing Farrior in the starting lineup over Holmes. It was the same deal they started to negotiate with Holmes, but Holmes wanted to keep negotiating and Farrior agreed to the terms.
Holmes was quoted by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"I don't feel bad about anything, but I was never really appreciated. I never really felt appreciated."
It was clear that Holmes did not want to accept the offer and the Cleveland Browns quickly moved in to sign Holmes with a five-year, $17.5M deal.
Holmes was reported by Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com to feel confident about his future with the Browns:
"It's still a young and developing team and I'm excited about the future in Cleveland. Everyone knows how I felt about the Steelers, but it wasn't meant to be, and that's the way it goes. We're in the same division so I'll get to see those guys twice a year. This is just the way the business is nowadays, that's all."
Earl Holmes had a solid career with the Steelers. Photo Credit: UPI
The irony would come in that final part of his statement, about how this is just the way business is nowadays, because despite a phenomenal season with the Browns, he was released following the 2002 season for cap reasons.
The Steelers go with James Farrior
James Farrior was selected as a top prospect in the 1997 NFL Draft, going #8 overall to the New York Jets by Bill Parcells. However, Farrior struggled to find where he belonged as he went through three coaches in five years and consistent changing of schemes, with Farrior finding himself playing mostly OLB. General Manger Kevin Colbert saw Farrior as a better fit both on the field and with the cap, but Cowher was a bit more complimentary about the player when the final decision was made.
James Farrior would emerge as the Steelers most consistent LB and team leader - Getty Images
Bill Cowher on signing James Farrior, per Heart and Steel:
"Five years earlier, James Farrior had been the Jets’ first round draft pick, but he never established himself in New York. They had moved him around, didn’t play him regularly, and in his five seasons, he’d played for three different head coaches. As a first rounder, he had a lot of pressure on him in New York. As a free agent signing in Pittsburgh, it would feel like the opposite.For us, signing a player such as Farrior was worth the chance. He obviously hadn’t tapped into his talent level. He desperately needed an opportunity, and we needed a linebacker. He got his chance, and we got a hungry ballplayer. We signed him to a reasonable and incentive-laden three-year contract. We moved him to inside linebacker and assured him that was where he was going to be. That certainty, even before the season began, seemed to put him at ease. We knew then that Farrior could be a force on the field and in our locker room."
Farrior would start the next 10 years at LILB for the Steelers, leading the team with in tackles six times and chipping in another 30 sacks. But it would rise to another level when a former coach returned to the Steel City.
Farrior Starts to Shine
When the events transpired with defensive coordinator, Tim Lewis, who was one of the strongest voices to bring Farrior in, saw him get replaced with Dick LeBeau in 2004, it changed the trajectory of Farrior's career. There was a culture shift with LeBeau's arrival, with new faces in the starting line up and the parting of the ways from some veterans like Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington, who, per Chris Hoke, weren't the best examples of leadership.
Chris Hoke, per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"Sure, 2004 was a huge year for me, but what I remember about that year was that some of those older guys, the guys who just didn’t treat the younger guys with respect, they were leaving and the culture was changing. You had Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, Alan Faneca. Troy was just coming on. You had James Farrior. Good. Dude. These were good guys who just wanted to play football. The culture shifted. You got rid of the Dewayne Washington's and the Chad Scott's, those guys, it was ridiculous the change in our team."
Aaron Smith cited how much of an impact the changes made by LeBeau, in attitude and energy, reverberated through the locker room. And on the field, two players made huge strides: Farrior and Troy Polamalu. Perhaps the first game of how much Farrior had leveled up came when the Steelers faced off against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. Terrell Owens was coming into Pittsburgh with five consecutive 100-yard receiving games. The Steelers dominated the game from start to finish and Polamalu covered Owens in the slot on 3rd downs. Polamalu held Owens to only 1 reception for 3 yards as the Eagles went 0-for-8 on 3rd down.
And despite that incredible performance, even Polamalu deferred to Farrior as the game's defensive star. Farrior, who had earned the nickname "Potsie" from his teammates, finished the game with 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack and 1 interception (returned for 41 yards).
James Farrior and Troy Polamalu leveled the Steelers up together for a decade - Getty Images
“He was all over the field making plays,” Polamalu said of the Steelers’ emerging leader at the critical buck inside linebacker position. Polamalu was not the only one to notice the improving play week in and week out as LeBeau and teammate Ike Taylor were quick to point out.
Dick LeBeau, per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"In ‘04, James did something every week. Every week he’d either intercept a ball, recover a fumble, cause a fumble. Philadelphia had a great halfback [Brian Westbrook] who was almost impossible to get with one guy in the open field. They threw a swing pass to him and James went over there and made a great play. I’ll never forget that play. It was as good a play as I’ve ever seen in the open field."
Ike Taylor, per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"Man, you talk about rejuvenating his career when he switched teams. There was no linebacker more physical than Pot-Dawg – and that includes Ray Lewis in his prime. And no knock on the Hall of Famer. I swear to God, no knock to Ray. But give me James Farrior all day."
Farrior's Legacy
Farrior went on to finish the 2004 season second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Ed Reed. It was only the beginning for Farrior, who was instrumental on the 2005 Steelers as they went on to win Super Bowl XL. He then took over the leadership of the locker room when Joey Porter left in 2007 and the team followed his calm and steady approach to two more Super Bowl appearances, including winning Super Bowl XLIII in 2008.
James Farrior and Joey Porter combine to sack Peyton Manning in 2005 Playoffs - CBS Sports
Farrior went largely unappreciated for his incredible play over the decade as Ray Lewis took many Pro Bowl and All-Pro votes away from Farrior, who could have easily been looked at as a Hall of Famer otherwise. He was even overshadowed by his more celebrated teammates Joey Porter and Defensive Player of the Year winners Polamalu and James Harrison. Nonetheless, Cowher's prophecy about knowing he would be a leader on and off the field more than came true.
Farrior will always be an appreciated legend in Steeler Nation, as #51 has earned a special place in Steeler history.
#SteelerNation
