The Steelers are planning to use the franchise tag on nose tackle Casey Hampton this week barring a long-term contract extension, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Hampton, 32, said previously he doesn’t want to be tagged. But the Steelers have worked towards a new contract for him and will continue to do so if they have to use the franchise tag.
The situation is very similar to Vince Wilfork’s in New England. The Steelers aren’t just going to let a valuable part of the team walk away and they will try to assuage any frustration about the tag by working towards a long-term agreement.
It just goes to show how valuable a true nose tackle is in a 3-4 defense, no matter what condition he’s in when he shows up to training camp.