Steelers trade Mahan back to Bucs who ship Buenning to Bears
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(
Archive)
Updated: September 2, 2008, 6:36 PM ET
A year after signing
Sean Mahan to help the interior of their offensive line, the Steelers decided to go a different direction by trading him back to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a seventh-round pick.
Mahan, 6-foot-3, 301 pounds, left the Bucs to sign a five-year, $17 million contract last season and started the season for Pittsburgh at center. Because the AFC North is loaded with big nose tackles in 3-4 schemes, Mahan struggled even though he started 16 games.
Mahan will help the Bucs at either guard or center. Guard
Davin Joseph is out most of September because of a broken foot. Mahan will also return to a conference in which 13 of the teams play 4-3 schemes, which is much easier for a lighter interior offensive lineman.
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