The Pittsburgh Steelers have an aging defensive line, with each starter on the wrong side of 30.
But, unlike other teams that shy away from players who have commenced their fourth decades of life, the Steelers are close to locking up one of trio who makes up the “3" in their 3-4 defense.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers are close to working out a five-year contract with right defensive end Brett Keisel.
The seventh-round pick in the 2002 draft became a starter in 2006. Injuries limited him to ten starts during the 2008 regular season, but Keisel started every postseason game, including Super Bowl XLIII.
The Steelers typically do not negotiate contracts once the regular-season starts. Keisel currently is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2010.