Alan Faneca, still bitter, promises not to show it during what he called his last training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I'm going to go abut my business and play football,'' the six-time Pro Bowl guard said. "Any distraction would be through the media and how they perceive me going about my business of playing football."
Faneca deeply resents the fact the Steelers made him a perfunctory contract extension offer early this year, one he said was issued only so club officials could say they made him an offer. No talks have taken place on a new one and Faneca said he will play through the final year of his contract and go elsewhere in 2008. He said the Steelers will get his very best on the field this season.
"It's about playing with the guys next to you and playing for a job as well,'' Faneca said. "It's a true sense of playing for a job, it just happens to be somewhere else the following year."
New coach Mike Tomlin said he has no doubts that Faneca will act and play up to his best.
"You don't play football the way he plays football without being a professional. I think ultimately your character shows through; it's obvious when you turn the tape on what his football character is about."
Faneca blew off his team's OTAs except for one required minicamp he attended, although he missed one of those practices and was reportedly fined by Tomlin. Faneca will earn a salary of $3.375 million this season on top of the $1 million roster bonus he received in March.
Faneca, 30, said he might be motivated more this year.
"I think it's definitely motivation when everyone's talking about your age, your play, people are analyzing you and the situation, that motivates you," he said...
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