Steelers Re-sign Defensive End, Quarterback

The Steelers retained the services of restricted free agent defensive end Brett Keisel and third-year quarterback Brian St. Pierre today by signing each player to a one-year contract.  Financial terms of the deals were not released.

Keisel will enter his fourth NFL season after originally being drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round (242^nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.  He played as a reserve defensive end behind Pro Bowl end Aaron Smith in 2004, and also excelled as one of the Steelers’ top players on their kickoff coverage units.

St. Pierre was an exclusive rights player who will enter his third season with the Steelers.  Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth round (163^rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft, St. Pierre split time between the team’s practice squad and active roster in 2004.  He saw his first NFL action in the team’s 2004 regular-season finale versus the Buffalo Bills (Jan. 2, 2005).  Exclusive rights players are unable to negotiate with other teams once they receive a qualifying offer from their original team.

The Steelers have re-signed 10 free agents or exclusive rights players from their 2004 roster to contracts this offseason.