Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Randle El rushes to the right before throwing to Hines Ward for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XL. Click photo for larger image.

Antwaan Randle El's versatility paid off in a big way yesterday when he signed a reported six-year, $27 million contract with the Washington Redskins and became the first of the Super Bowl Steelers to leave as a free agent.

In the meantime, the Steelers were busy over the weekend keeping some of their players and restructuring contracts.

Quarterback Charlie Batch, who became an unrestricted free agent Saturday, is expected to sign a contract today for three or four years to return as Ben Roethlisberger's backup. Backup linebacker Clint Kriewaldt, one of the Steelers' best special teams players, agreed to terms on a three-year contract. Starting center Jeff Hartings also is expected to come to terms today on a restructured contract that will reduce his salary and roster bonus. Backup center Chukky Okobi extended his contract by two years through 2009, giving him four years at $10.5 million. He took a pay cut of $700,000 in salary this year to $1.3 million but received a $715,000 signing bonus. He will receive salaries of $3.25 million in 2008 and $3.75 million in 2009.

Finally, halfback Duce Staley is expected to complete his contract restructuring today that will reduce his $2.5 million salary by around $1 million.

While there has been some dispute about the size and length of Randle El's contract (The Washington Post reported it as seven years and $31 million), there's no doubt that the Redskins will pay him like a No. 1 receiver even though it appears he will be No. 3 in Washington. He will receive a reported $8 million signing bonus, $1 million less than the Steelers gave Hines Ward last summer.

The Redskins and Daniel Snyder, considered the most free-spending owner in the NFL, acquired Brandon Lloyd from San Francisco in a trade Saturday to apparently be their No. 2 receiver behind Pro Bowl receiver Santana Moss, who caught 84 passes for 1,483 yards last season.

Randle El managed only a fraction of that last season. He caught 35 passes, third on the team, for 558 yards and one touchdown.

However, his versatility made him more valuable and his play in the postseason might have made him more money. He threw one touchdown pass and scored two more on punt returns in the regular season. He also caught a touchdown pass in the playoffs against the Colts and threw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, the first time that has been done by a wide receiver.

The Steelers had expected him to leave and will give Cedrick Wilson the first chance to replace him. By midseason, Wilson and Randle El split time as the No. 2 receiver. Steelers coaches also like the prospects for Nate Washington, an undrafted rookie last season.

"We have a good group of guys," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. "We'll figure something out.

"Obviously, it's always disappointing when you lose a players as good as El is and what he meant to us. It was very rewarding to see him get an opportunity this year. It's hard to replace the guy because of his versatility. I wish Randle El the best."

It's the second consecutive year the Steelers lost their starting split end to free agency. Plaxico Burress left last year to joint the New York Giants.

Randle El, 26, was the team's second-round draft choice in 2002 from Indiana, where he played quarterback. He made the transition to receiver and played as the Steelers' No. 3 man in the slot until last season.

He also was in the middle of most of their gadget plays. He would on occasion line up at quarterback with Tommy Maddox on the sideline in 2002, when he completed 7 of 8 passes.

In his career, he completed 14 of 16 passes for 128 yards, two touchdowns and a 139.6 passer rating.

Randle El rejected an offer early Saturday morning from his hometown Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said two weeks ago that if the Steelers lost Randle El as a free agent, "I have lot of confidence in Cedrick that he can step in. He did a great job of filling in this year and he will continue to grow in this offense."