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Friday, July 20, 2001

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Rookie nose tackle Casey Hampton is hurt and did not report to training camp on time yesterday with the rest of the Steelers.

He's not injured, though.

"He's a little hurt, and so am I," said Brian Overstreet, the agent for the Steelers' first-round draft pick. "When you have that feeling, it's not good."

Although there have been reports Hampton and the Steelers were close to a deal, none has been forthcoming, and it appears they may have grown apart over the past few days. Hampton remains in Texas.

"We kind of reached an impasse," Overstreet said. "I'm disappointed. I feel like Casey is part of the Steeler family now, and I feel like they're not treating him right. They're not treating family right and down here in Texas, family is big with us."

It's not the money; it's how it is to be delivered.

The Steelers have offered Hampton a five-year, $6.799 million contract that includes a $3.1 million signing bonus. Overstreet has been trying to get them to trade some of the salary in the final two years of the deal and add it to the signing bonus.

"He has a good offer on the table," said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations. "It's up to him to make the next move."

Problems signing first-round picks are league-wide, as evidenced by the fact only one first-rounder has signed, and that was Michael Vick, the first player drafted.

"I think the owners are just apprehensive about stepping out there and doing something that's not been done," said Overstreet.

"We just have to get the money switched around right. Everybody sees things differently. I'm not being critical of them. I guess in some crazy way, they feel they're doing the right thing."

Eased concerns

Safety Lee Flowers said he was somewhat concerned when he heard Coach Bill Cowher had received a three-year contract extension while no veteran starter had yet signed a new deal.

That changed when Dewayne Washington and Chad Scott signed long-term extensions yesterday.

"You look at Coach Cowher signing and you wonder who's more important -- the players or the coaches?" Flowers said yesterday. "Now, our front office is making an effort to show that the players are more important around here than the coaches.

"Not taking anything away from the coaches, but we are the ones out there on the field playing."

Graham wants repeat

Kent Graham, who wrestled the starting quarterback job away from Kordell Stewart last summer, said he will try to do it again, even though he acknowledged that Stewart "earned the right."

"Obviously, I want to be the starter, no doubt about that," Graham said. "I don't think I'd be a healthy individual if I didn't have that attitude."

Casualty of NFL Europe

Besides Hampton, the only player who did not report yesterday was cornerback Timothy Stickland, who was injured playing in NFL Europe and has been excused.