Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Brent Alexander started 64 games for the Steelers. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers' offseason retooling plan yesterday came into a sharper focus: Consider it a youth movement.

Team officials yesterday released starting free safety and 10-year veteran Brent Alexander at the same time they announced the signing of Mike Logan, four days after he agreed to a three-year, $3.1 million contract to return to his hometown club. Alexander, who would have been 34 by the start of training camp, started all 64 games in his four seasons with the Steelers.

Logan, 29, of McKeesport, will compete with two-year veteran Chris Hope at free safety, leaving rookie Troy Polamalu the apparent starter at strong safety.

This follows a remodeling job at cornerback, where Dewayne Washington, 31, and his $3.75 million contract were released March 3 in favor of six-year veteran Deshea Townsend and rookie Ike Taylor, among others.

"Bill Cowher talked to him and explained what happened," Alexander's agent Jim Solano said of a telephone call from the Steelers' coach yesterday afternoon shortly before the announcement. "Can't keep both, with Mike being younger, and their ability to sign him to a contract they were happy with.

"I'm sure it was a difficult decision for them, because they liked Brent, they appreciated what he could do. It came down to a decision, do you take the guy who was younger? And you have two other guys [Hope and Polamalu] who are young, too.

"I'm sure there are other guys going to be cut as well. That's the problem with the cap."

Skewing younger is something that also seems to be happening at outside linebacker, where three-time Pro Bowler Jason Gildon, 31, was recently given permission to seek a trade and backup Clark Haggans, 26, was re-signed as a potential replacement. Much the same approach could be said for the halfback position, where Jerome Bettis, 32, re-signed for roughly a $3.5 million salary-cap savings for the Steelers, who then signed free-agent Duce Staley, 29.

Alexander, who carried a $1,162,500 cap value next season, led the Steelers with four interceptions last season and added 83 tackles. He is used to this business, though: He was previously released from Arizona and Carolina, having a been a starter at both stops as well.

"He had a very good run there," said Solano, a Philadelphia-based agent who once represented Cowher as a player. "They can't keep four safeties. I'm sure there will be some interest in Brent."

Exhibition schedule

The Steelers' preseason schedule is set ... relatively speaking.

They will face the Philadelphia Eagles at 8 p.m. Aug. 26, at Lincoln Financial Field on a ESPN Thursday night game.

Other than that, it's still a bit hazy: They will play at Detroit sometime between Aug. 12-16, Houston at Heinz Field sometime between Aug. 19-23, and 2003 NFC champion Carolina sometime between Sept. 2-5 at Heinz Field. Dates and times are to be announced later.