Counter measures: the Super Bowl teams aren't going away after sound--but much different--reactions to being poached. Check out our offseason grades for the Steelers and the Seahawks--and the 30 other teams.(NFL)

Publication: The Sporting News

Publication Date: 16-JUN-06

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The wolves began to circle and howl even before the Vince Lombardi Trophy had been wiped clean of prints--and they struck as soon as the free-agent period began, pouncing on anyone separated from the herd.

Seahawks wide receiver Joe Jurevicius was the first prominent player to go--snapped up by Cleveland on March 11. That began a rapid-fire series of raids on the two Super Bowl 40 teams. Over the next 11 days, the Seahawks also lost guard Steve Hutchinson (who received a sneaky offer--the wording made it impossible for the Seahawks to match--from the Vikings) and safety Marquand Manual (Packers) while the champion Steelers bade farewell to wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (Redskins), safety Chris Hope (Titans) and defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen (Jets). The Jets also struck the Seahawks, signing cornerback Andre Dyson.

"After winning the Super Bowl, you feel you want to keep everybody," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert says. "In reality, that wasn't going to happen."

It's common, even expected, for other teams in the league to poach Super Bowl teams during the free-agent period. More interesting were the responses of this year's conference champions.

The Seahawks struck back. In addition to retaining running back Shaun Alexander with an eight-year contract worth a potential $62 million, they shelled out $18.5 million in guaranteed money to land 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson, one of the most coveted defenders on the market.

"We decided that during the first frenzied week of free agency, we were not going to jump in and spend a lot of money," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says. "Yet we went out and got Julian Peterson, which was a huge signing for us. After that, you try to fill specific spots."

Seattle did that by re-signing defensive tackle Rocky Bernard and fullback Mack Strong and bringing in free agents such as offensive lineman Tom Ashworth and wide receiver Nate Burleson.

In comparison, the Steelers were immobile. They signed 11 of their potential free agents and a few guys from other teams, but there weren't a lot of recognizable names on the list. From a distance, the approach looked passive. But anyone familiar with the system built by the Rooney family and refined by coach Bill Cowher knows it's just part of the plan.

Whereas some teams--the Redskins and Raiders are recent examples--attempt to reload every year with veteran newcomers, the Steelers rely on a more organic model. One AFC personnel director describes the formula this way: "Don't overpay; don't mortgage your future; draft correctly; maintain a core of players; and let a few guys go."

The Steelers adopted the model out of necessity when they had an older stadium and couldn't compete in the open market. They continue to apply it to near perfection.

"You have to be a little forward-thinking," Cowher says. "What will your roster be like in three years, four years? Even some guys we bring in through free agency, we like guys who are on their second contract. (Wide receiver) Cedrick Wilson, (linebacker) James Farrior--guys who...

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