Last round for Red? Faneca knows this could be his last Steelers game

His Steelers career isn't officially over, but he fully expects to be on the free agent market in March.

"I think if it (a new contract) was going to happen it would have happened," Faneca said. "The door is never closed, but there is a point where reality sets in."

Faneca won't speculate what he might be worth, even though offensive guards were given some of the biggest deals during last year's market. Cleveland's Eric Steinbach, San Diego's Kris Dielman and Buffalo's Derrick Dockery landed deals worth a combined $52.5 million in guaranteed money and $137 million overall.

The Steelers' offer to Faneca wasn't believed to be anywhere close to comparable money, even though his $25.6 million contract in 2002 helped set the standard for guards.

Based on last year's figures, Faneca could be offered $7 million a year or more in his next contract, or far more than the $4,375,000 he's making in salary and bonuses this season.

How good has Faneca been in Pittsburgh? He was the first guard in team history to make All-Pro in successive seasons, and the first to make the Pro Bowl twice since John Nisby in 1960 and 1962. Faneca has been chosen each of the last seven seasons.

"Ten years here kind of forces you to reflect," Faneca said. "It's a big chunk of my life."

A big hole for the Steelers to fill, too.

The Steelers are known for allowing players to leave late in the careers when they feel they have a comparable replacement on hand.

Last year, they released linebacker Joey Porter, who immediately signed with Miami for $20 million guaranteed. The Steelers' lower-paid replacement, James Harrison, wound up being the team MVP and a Pro Bowl pick.

But the Steelers don't appear to have a replacement lined up for Faneca.

Their options are to plug in backup Chris Kemoeatu, draft a guard in April and start him immediately or sign a guard on the open market. Given how salaries keep increasing, it might cost them more to sign a guard than it would have to re-sign Faneca a year or two ago.

Despite the unsatisfactory contract talks, Faneca will always consider Pittsburgh to be a second home.

"There's been a lot of good times, a lot of good teams here," he said. "It's been fun here."