Everything we know about Steelers’ BJ Finney

What was once old is new again. This saying could relate to the signing of Steelers Street’s free agent, BJ Finney.

A week to the day after the Cincinnati Bengals released Finney, the Steelers snatched their former guard / center. Everyone and their mom said they would, because Pittsburgh is a team that likes to bring boys back (most recently safety Sean Davis, quarterback Josh Dobbs).

And why not? Maurkice Pouncey is retired and JC Hassenaur isn’t really starting gear unless they’re in a pinch like last season when Pouncey was put on the reserve / COVID-19 list.

Pittsburgh is Finney’s third team in less than a year, which doesn’t scream Pro Bowler. He’s an improvement on Hassenaur, but far from Pouncey.

Finney’s one-year deal only lends itself as a downtown transfer as the Steelers explore long-term options. They will likely take a kite on an offensive lineman mid-match and develop it throughout the season.

Finney, an undeveloped free agent, joined the Pittsburgh exhibition team in 2015. He played five seasons, 59 appearances, and 13 starts with the Steelers.

Much like the story of security guard Kevin Dotson signing with his favorite team, Finney and his family are big Steelers fans. His relatives erupted when he announced that the Steelers had signed him a contract. You may remember Finney’s story from Steelers Wire in May 2015. Okay, probably not. So here it is.

After his contract with Pittsburgh expired last March, the Seattle Seahawks entered Finney for a two-year deal worth $ 8 million, but traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals mid-season, where he played in only one game.

What Finney can offer the Steelers is familiarity and versatility – he played 409 snaps in the center, 456 on the left guard, and 155 on the right. According to Pro Football Focus, Finney scores higher on pass blocking (83.2 average) than run blocking (59.8 average). In 591 passing plays, Finney gave up only two sacks, two hits and nine rushes.

Finney will – which isn’t really what you want to say when you’re trying to protect your quarterback in what are likely to be the last games of his Hall of Fame career.