Steelers Sign DE Brett Keisel To Two-Year Contract, Waive DT Al Lapuaho

Update:

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they have signed veteran DE Brett Keisel to a two-year contract and waived DT Al Lapuaho.

According to Brian McIntyre, Keisel’s two-year contract is worth $3 million and includes a $500,000 signing bonus.

• He’ll make a base salary of $1 million for the 2014 season, according to McIntyre.

“It means a lot to be back,” said Keisel. “There really is no place like here, no place like home. It was tough, just the unknown. For them to give me the opportunity to come back means a lot to me and I can’t wait to get back to work. I still have a little time to not only get to know these men I am going to go to battle with, but just get back into football stuff. I feel great. I have been training my tail off with the thought that I am going to be back. It looks like all of that training has paid off.”

———

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing a league source, reports that the Steelers and DE Brett Keisel have reached a contract agreement that will bring the veteran back to Pittsburgh.

• Ed Bouchette also reports that Keisel is re-signing with the Steelers.
• Bouchette adds that Keisel turned down an offer from the Cardinals.

Earlier Tuesday, Kent Somers reported that free agent DE Brett Keisel declined a visit with the Cardinals because he didn’t want to leave his family.

The Cardinals were reported to be interested after losing DL Darnell Dockett to injury.

There were rumors that the Steelers had not closed the door on bringing Keisel back, but there did not appear to be much in the way of communication between the two sides.

Keisel, 35, has spent all of his 11 years of his NFL career with the Steelers. In 2013, Keisel accumulated four sacks and 29 tackles over the course of 12 games.

Pro Football Focus has Keisel rated as the No. 31 overall defensive end in a 3-4 system last year, but also an above-average run-defender, which could allow him to see snaps in early downs.