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Steelers sign Morgan, receive extra draft picks for loss of free agents
Monday, March 27, 2006

ORLANDO -- The Steelers signed thee last of their 12 unrestricted free agents and received eight compensatory draft picks from the NFL today.

Free agent wide receiver Quincy Morgan has come to terms with the team on a one-year deal.

Morgan, who joined the Steelers the first week of last season after he was released by Dallas, will compete again to become their No. 4 receiver and to return kicks.

The team also announced they signed defensive end Shaun Nua, a rookie last season whose contract expired but who could not sign elsewhere. The Steelers have signed nine of their unrestricted free agents and lost three.

Morgan had nine catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns last season. He returned 23 kickoffs for a 25.3-yard average, fifth in the AFC. Morgan was placed on Reserved/Injured list on Jan. 10 after suffering an ankle injury on a kick return in the playoff game at Cincinnati.

Nua (6-5, 280) was a seventh-round draft choice, promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Nov. 23. He did not play in a game.

Also today, the NFL rewarded the Steelers with three of the top eight compensatory draft picks handed out to teams for losing players in free agency a year ago.

The Steelers received two fourth-round picks and a fifth among the 32 extra picks the league issued. Their two fourth-round picks are the 131st and 133rd overall in the draft and their fifth-round pick is 167th overall.

That gives them 10 picks in the April 29-30 draft, including seven original choices (one in each round).

The Steelers received no extra picks in 2005.

Compensatory picks are based on a formula that takes into account free agents lost, free agents signed, the contract sizes each receives and their performances in the 2005 season. The Steelers lose Kendrell Bell, Plaxico Burress, Oliver Ross and Keydrick Vincent in free agency. They signed only Cedrick Wilson.

First published on March 27, 2006 at 12:00 am
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