Everything we know about Steelers’ BJ Finney

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What was old is new again. This saying could refer to the signing of the free agent on Steelers Street, BJ Finney.

One week to the next day after the Cincinnati Bengals released Finney, the Steelers abducted their former goalkeeper / center. Everyone and their mom said they would, because Pittsburgh is a team that likes to bring the boys back (most recently safety Sean Davis, defender Josh Dobbs).

Why not? Maurkice Pouncey has retired, and JC Hassenaur isn’t really a starting material, unless I’m in a pinch like last season, when Pouncey was put on the reserve list / COVID-19.

Pittsburgh is Finney’s third team in less than a year, which doesn’t scream Pro Bowler. It’s an improvement over Hassenaur, but it’s far from Pouncey.

Finney’s one-year deal is only meant to be a centerpiece carryover, while the Steelers are exploring long-term options. They will probably take a flyer on an offensive line in the middle of the draft and develop it during the season.

A rough agent, Finney’s career began in the Pittsburgh training team in 2015. He spent five seasons, 59 appearances and 13 appearances with the Steelers.

Like the story of goalkeeper Kevin Dotson signing with his favorite team, Finney and his family are big fans of the Steelers. His relatives broke out when he announced that the Steelers had signed him to a contract. Maybe you remember Finney’s story from Steelers Wire in May 2015. Okay, probably not. Here it is.

After his contract with Pittsburgh expired in March last year, the Seattle Seahawks awarded Finney a two-year, $ 8 million contract, but traded him mid-season in the Cincinnati Bengals, where he appeared in a single game.

What Finney can offer the Steelers is familiarity and versatility – he played 409 snaps in the center, 456 on the left guard and 155 on the right. According to Pro Football Focus, Finney has higher qualifications in the passing block (83.2 on average) than the running block (59.8 on average). In 591 pieces, Finney allowed only two sacks, two shots and nine rushes.

Finney will do – which is not really what you mean when you try to protect your defender in what are likely to be the last games of his Hall of Fame career.

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