Steelers Trying To Keep G Chris Kemoeatu

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am by Dave Bryan

The Steelers are in talks to keep guard Chris Kemoeatu. They are negotiating with Kemoeatu, who finished his first season as the Steelers starting left guard in his fourth year in the league. Kemoeatu's agent, Ken Vierra, said he talked Friday with Steelers contract negotiator Omar Khan in Indianapolis during the combine and "I would expect our talks will heat up in the next day or two." Vierra said one big problem for the Steelers is the NFL's salary cap. Various reports of the Steelers salary cap have the Steelers with roughly $20 million under the cap of $123 million. However, that was before Max Starks franchise tag contract, and before the accounting from last season that could affect their cap for this season. Taking just Starks' salary, it would reduce the Steelers cap room to around $11.5 million. All NFL salary cap accounting must be done by Thursday, the day before NFL free agency begins. "We had some good initial discussions but they have a bit of an issue now with the cap because Max is counting $8.5 million," Vierra said. "They have some work to do on their end." Vierra said the 30 percent rule as a potential problem as the Steelers negotiate a deal for Kemoeatu. "Yeah, they want him back," Vierra said. "But just because he wants to be there and they want him back doesn't mean it will get done. They have to do some stuff on their end."