Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Plaxico Burress likely will be catching passes for another team next season. Click photo for larger image. More Steelers coverage Time is running short for a decision on Bettis

By not using the franchise tag yesterday to guarantee he stays, the Steelers will allow wide receiver Plaxico Burress to become an unrestricted free agent one week from today.

"It means he's going to hit the market, which you'd expect,'' said Michael Harrison, Burress' agent. "It's something I think is good for us."

Harrison said it does not mean Burress will sign elsewhere. But, with no substantial talks taking place with the Steelers to sign him to a long-term deal, it's more likely that Burress will not return.

The Steelers would have been charged $7,768,000 against their salary cap starting next Wednesday had they named Burress their franchise player. By doing so, they would have guaranteed themselves the right to match any other offer he might receive in free agency or to let him go and receive two first-round draft choices in return.

The hit to their salary cap, though, would have been prohibitive.

"It's not because they don't want Plax. It's more financial,'' Harrison said. "That's a lot of money to tie them under now. It's near impossible."

That may be the case with a long-term deal as well. Receivers in recent years have commanded signing bonuses of well over $10 million, an amount the Steelers have never paid.

They announced last year that Hines Ward, who has one season left under contract, would be a top priority for a new contract this year. Paying both receivers top dollar would be out of the question for a team that must make other difficult moves merely to get under the salary cap by next Wednesday.

"Like any other year, we have to make adjustments to being in compliance with the cap,'' said Kevin Colbert, the director of football operations. "As I said all along, adjustments can be made in the form of terminations, restructurings."

The Steelers did not terminate anybody yesterday, the first day a player's could become official. They are, however, expected to do so by next Wednesday. Cornerback Chad Scott, scheduled to earn a salary of $3,885,000 in 2005, is a prime prospect.

Colbert said the Steelers will make qualifying offers to their six restricted free agents -- Larry Foote, Verron Haynes, Chris Hope, Brett Keisel, Lee Mays and Jeff Reed -- and to Sean Morey and Russell Stuvaints, their two exclusive rights free agents. That allows the Steelers to maintain their right to match any offers restricted free agents might receive.

He also said the team would like to keep its dozen unrestricted free agents.

"In a perfect world, absolutely, but, from a cap standpoint, it's impossible,'' Colbert said. "But we will be open. We're not going to close the door on anybody."

It would appear to be open only a crack for Burress, though. He caught 35 passes for 698 yards last season, when he missed four games with an injury. It was the second year in a row his statistics have declined.

He caught 60 passes for 860 yards in 2003 after topping 1,000 yards the two previous seasons, including his high of 1,325 yards on 78 receptions in 2002.

Still, he's considered one of the best free agents this year.

"Plax is clearly at the top of that class,'' Harrison said of the impending free-agent wide receivers.

It usually does not take long for the best free agents to receive good offers. Harrison expects that to be the case with Burress.

"Right now, our intentions are to hit the market, see what's out there for Plaxico, what's a great situation for him and keep our ears open with Pittsburgh. We're on the same page with the Steelers."

Just not the same financial page.

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