GREEN BAY, Wis. -- When B.J. Finney went down to all fours in last week's preseason opener at Philadelphia, it wasn't just members of the Finney family who were holding their breath waiting for the 26-year-old guard to get up.
There were more than a few members of the Steelers front office anxiously anticipating that he would get up, as well.
As things turned out, Finney was OK, having suffered a thigh contusion. But with Ramon Foster already out until at least the start of the regular season with a sprained knee, the Steelers could ill afford to lose Finney, as well, for any length of time.
And that likely extends beyond this year.
Foster and Finney are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. And while Finney told me the Steelers have not yet contacted his agent regarding a contract extension, that could certainly happen between now and the start of the regular season.
In fact, there are some who feel the Steelers would be a better team with Finney as their starter at left guard over the 32-year-old Foster.
Finney isn't worried about any of that right now.
"I'm not really focused on that part. Whatever happens, happens," Finney told me. "We'll let the dust settle. Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to start. I'm not detracting from that. But when you're not the guy, you've got to focus on your role and get yourself better to help the team. If you end up being the guy, then you end up being the guy. You can't have that sole focus because it detracts from the team's goals. That's my mentality. I get better every day to help the team get better. Whatever happens down the road, happens down the road."
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