A four-year veteran, von Oelhoffen will sign a four-year contract on Tuesday that is worth $10 million and includes a signing bonus of $3 million. The Bengals drafted von Oelhoffen in the sixth round in 1996 and he enjoyed his finest season in '99, with four sacks.

He was especially effective when the Bengals moved him outside to end in their 3-4 front, and Pittsburgh plays the same type of defense, although the Steelers will use him primarily inside. In fact, von Oelhoffen, 29, could replace Steed in the lineup. One of the finest 3-4 nose tackles in the league over the past eight seasons, Steed, 31, likely will be victimized by balky needs and a high salary cap number.

Sources told SportsLine late Monday that, should the Steelers release Steed, the Bengals might have an interest in signing him.

In another late Monday move, the Seattle Seahawks re-signed fullback Mack Strong, a player they released on Thursday night. Strong, 28, in a six-year veteran who was a starter until 1998. He visited with the New Orleans Saints but, when the Seahawks called offering a two-year deal, he opted to stay with an organization he knows well.