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Hope looking for payday
"I hope to come back," Hope said Monday. "We have a chance to build a dynasty. I think me and (strong safety) Troy (Polamalu), our relationship and they way we play together is very interesting to me. And we're still young in the secondary.
"I love the city, love the way (it) treats the team and I like the organization. But I can't continue to play for less than my worth."
Hope, a fourth-year pro and a two-year starter, earned a base salary of $656,000 in 2005.
"I was a little frustrated coming out of the draft as a third-round pick," in 2002, Hope said. "I feel like I'm behind the eight-ball already.
"I consider myself one of the best safeties in the league. I have to get paid what the best safeties in the league get paid; that's only fair to myself."
Hope declined to reveal specifics about what he's seeking, but added, "I consider myself in the top five at both (the strong and free safety) positions."
The five highest base salaries among NFL safeties in 2005 belonged to Troy Vincent of Buffalo ($2.75 million), Mike Brown of Chicago ($2.39 million), Tony Parrish of San Francisco ($2 million), Adrian Wilson of Arizona ($2 million) and Corey Chavous of Minnesota ($1.9 million).
ESPN.com reported Monday the Steelers have made "verbal overtures" to Hope's agent, Braylon Bennett.
"They've told us that Chris is one of their top targets (to re-sign)," Bennett told ESPN.com. "We're taking them at their word.
"The thing is, without an extension (to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement) doing business will be hard. So we'll see what happens. No matter what, our feeling is that Chris will be the top free-agent safety."
Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert didn't return phone calls Monday.
Hope said Bennett and the Steelers have spoken briefly but not substantially.
"My agent has reached out and tried to talk to them a couple times and they said they'd get back to him, that they'd call back either Friday or Monday," Hope said. "I don't think they've called back.
"It's out of my control, but I'm patient."
Hope is also uncertain how his impending unrestricted free agency will play out.
"I would love to be a Steeler," he said. "The Rooneys, Coach (Bill) Cowher, the whole Steelers organization gave me an opportunity to fulfill a dream of being drafted and playing in the NFL."
However, he knows the reality of today's NFL.
"I know growing up I used to watch players get traded and look at that as a negative thing," Hope added. "In today's game, it's not.
"It's a business."
