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**RoyWilliams** · 09-04-2007, 01:18 PM

Brown: Simmons' deal likely seals Faneca's fate - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Quote:

Alan Faneca sent Kendall Simmons a text message Sunday, razzing him about the scare Auburn received in its first game of the college football season.

Simmons wrote back that he was close to agreeing to a contract extension.

Faneca's reply: "Congratulations. You deserve it."

The signing of Simmons to a long-term contract makes it all the more unlikely that the Steelers will get a deal done with Faneca, their starting left guard.

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The six-time Pro Bowler is in the final year of his contract and said he isn't ruling out a return to the Steelers. But with the Steelers' regular-season opener less than a week away, Faneca continues to sound like someone who is playing his final season in Pittsburgh.

"I'm just saying the realities are what they are and the likelihood is slim," Faneca said Monday on his returning to the Steelers after this season. "It is what it is and it's been the same thing the whole time, so I've been trying to block it out and go about my business."

Faneca publicly ripped the Steelers in May for making what he called a "non-offer" in regards to a contract extension, and he questioned the organization's loyalty.

Faneca only took part in the offseason practices that were mandatory but showed up on time for training camp and has been lauded by his teammates for his professionalism.

He said he has tried not to think about what has happened off the field -- or, more accurately, what hasn't happened -- but Faneca has seen two of his teammates receive contract extensions from the Steelers.

And it doesn't look like he and the Steelers will get something done before the season opener Sunday in Cleveland (the Steelers have a long-standing policy of not negotiating contracts during the season).

"It's gotten me at times," said Faneca, who is entering his 10th NFL season, "but I think for the most part I've done a pretty good job of staying focused on what I need to do."

Simmons apparently did the same, which is why the Steelers rewarded the right guard with a contract extension that could pay him as much as $24 million over the next five years and included a $7.85 million signing bonus.

The new deal gives Simmons, 28, long-term security. It also gives the Auburn product a chance to retire as a Steeler.

"You never know if you can finish somewhere and there's an opportunity for that," Simmons said. "That's what I'm happy about. It just kind of all fell into place, and I know all (will) in the end for (Faneca), too."

It will almost certainly fall into place for Faneca somewhere else, though Simmons would love to see Faneca stay in Pittsburgh (as would more than a few Steelers fans that are concerned about a suspect offensive line).

Their lockers are next to one another at the team's South Side practice facility, and they are close friends.

"He deserves it," Faneca said of Simmons' new deal. "He's been working hard and playing great. I love Kendall to death."