We signed Bradley to a 5 year 30 million dollar deal, and he never had anything that approached what Mendenhall did. One year 2.5 million with an unknown trigger for an additional 1 million possible.
Bradley came in and was learning a new scheme and defense terminology. Mendenhall will be coming in and know the offense better then anyone on the team except perhaps Stanton.
If we get the same as Beanie Wells except he isn't injury prone and can keep on his feet, then what we got was someone pretty good. If Beanie could stay upright and not get dogged with injuries I think he would be pretty good as well.
I also wouldn't say he was a cancer. Just because he had an issue with the Steelers organization on some level. Perhaps he was rushed back and then they inactivated him for some reason that we really don't know about. Either way I wouldn't of minded Beanie back and he stated he was auditioning for 31 other teams, which is alot worse than at worst acting like a cry baby about not playing. One shows heart...in the form of a baby, the other is contempt for the organization. Still there was little to no shot to re-sign Beanie (unless we overpaid for an injury prone back), yet if Mendenhall does good (or bad) we either re-sign him or have more money to throw somewhere else next offseason. At 25 he has a shot to have a much longer career here then Bush or Jackson would have, though I wouldn't have minded either. They also would have cost a bunch more (or at least Bush would have, who know regarding Jackson).
Beanie WAS the most talented back we've had here for a decade or so. He just couldn't put it together, stay upright, or on the field. Wasted talent.
We signed a young, strong runner with quick feet that is tough to bring down for 2.5 to 3.5 million, and in no way have mortgaged our future. It may not work out, but I don't see the downside or many better options, if any, when you look at the cap situation.
