Marvel Smith signs extension

The Steelers reinforced their commitment to offensive left tackle Marvel Smith on Tuesday when they agreed to terms with Smith on a five-year, $25.5 million contract extension that includes a $6 million signing bonus.

The team offered more money per year to Smith, 24, than it did to 32-year-old left tackle Wayne Gandy, who eventually left for the New Orleans Saints in March. Smith's $5.1 million per year average puts him in the same salary scale as Gandy, the New York Giants' Luke Pettigout and the Dallas Cowboys' Flozell Adams, who signed new deals this year.

Plus, the deal makes Smith the fourth-highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL, behind Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens, Chris Samuels of the Washington Redskins and Tra Thomas of the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I'm very excited about the new contract," Smith said, "and I'm looking forward to playing out my career with the Steelers."

Smith's contract calls for him to earn $7 million this season, including a roster bonus and base salary of $500,000 each. It is neither frontloaded nor backloaded, paying Smith $13 million in the first three years.

The deal runs through 2008 and has a total value of $26 million, including this season.

Three months ago, Steelers coach Bill Cowher named Smith as Gandy's replacement, an indication that a new contract was forthcoming. Smith, who has been the starter at right tackle since his rookie season of 2000, was entering the final year of a four-year contract he signed as a second-round draft choice from Arizona State.

Without a new contract, Smith would have been due for unrestricted free agency after this season, but the Steelers have attempted to avoid allowing their players the freedom to seek deals from other teams.

Linebacker Joey Porter, Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca and running back Amos Zereoue were signed to extensions before entering the final seasons of their contracts. Others such as Gandy and linebacker Earl Holmes were not pursued as vigorously, and they ended up leaving.

The Steelers have invested $21.45 million in signing bonuses to their starting offensive linemen since 2001, including Smith, Faneca ($6 million), center Jeff Hartings ($5.75 million), right guard Kendall Simmons ($3.2 million) and right tackle Oliver Ross ($500,000).