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Teams begin to woo Randle El
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The Steelers' free-agent wide receiver was entertained by the Washington Redskins on Saturday, and the Redskins' sales pitch included Randle El being taken by limo to the Washington Wizards-Detroit Pistons basketball game on Saturday night.
Also attending the basketball game as members of the Redskins' party were head coach Joe Gibbs, owner Daniel Snyder, 49ers free-agent linebacker Andre Carter, Rams free-agent safety Adam Archuleta and former 49ers wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. The Redskins obtained Lloyd, a restricted free agent, from San Francisco in exchange for third- and fourth-round draft picks yesterday.
NFL free agency commenced at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Randle El is schedule to visit the Chicago Bears today.
NFL.com reported that Steelers' free-agent defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen was scheduled to visit the New York Jets yesterday.
The Steelers had no plans to entertain other teams' free agents this weekend.
Randle El finished third among Steelers with 35 catches for 558 yards and one touchdown in the 2005 regular season. He also completed all three of his pass attempts for 67 yards and a touchdown, and averaged 10.2 yards on 44 punt returns, including two TDs.
In the playoffs, Randle El was the Steelers' second-leading receiver, with 12 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 11.6 yards on 10 postseason punt returns and completed one of two passing attempts, a 43-yard strike to wide receiver Hines Ward for a touchdown in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.
Randle El, 26, came to the Steelers as a second-round pick in 2002 and became a starter at wide receiver in 2005 following the free-agent departure of Plaxico Burress.
The Steelers signed von Oelhoffen, 35, as an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati in 2000. He's missed just one start since (Sept. 30, 2001 at Buffalo, ankle). In 2005, von Oelhoffen finished 11th among Steelers with 40 regular-season tackles (27 solo). He also registered three-and-a-half sacks.
In the playoffs, von Oelhoffen had five tackles and a sack.
In addition to Randle El and von Oelhoffen, the Steelers have 10 other unrestricted free agents: wide receiver Quincy Morgan, quarterback Charlie Batch, cornerback Deshea Townsend, free safety Chris Hope, running back Verron Haynes, linebacker Clint Kriewaldt, offensive tackle Barrett Brooks, tight end Jerame Tuman, wide receiver Lee Mays and defensive end Brett Keisel.
Cornerback Ike Taylor and wide receiver Sean Morey are restricted free agents.
Running back Willie Parker, defensive end Shaun Nua and linebacker James Harrison are exclusive rights-free agents.
