Kevin Acee, San Diego Chargers beat writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, reports tonight on Twitter that unrestricted free agent running back Mike Tolbert is expected to land with either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Carolina Panthers. Acee added that he was told that the Tolbert situation isn\’t like the Malcom Floyd one in 2011, who returned last year after his deal was dead. Floyd was close to signing with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, but ended back with the Chargers on a two-year deal.
Mike Tolbert expected to land in Pittsburgh or Carolina … I\’m told this isn\’t like Malcom Floyd, who returned last yr after deal was dead.
— UTKevinAcee (@UTKevinAcee) March 17, 2012
I think Pittsburgh is the leader for Tolbert, but how perfect would Carolina be? He\’d join Turner, Brees, Sproles, Jackson in NFC South.
— UTKevinAcee (@UTKevinAcee) March 17, 2012
Tolbert said on SiriusXM Radio just prior to the start of the 2012 NFL free agency period that the Steelers were certainly a team on his list that he could himself playing for. He is reportedly set to visit an undisclosed team Saturday morning according to his agent Joel Turner. Acee reports that negotiations with the Chargers hit a standstill Friday morning after they reached a critical stage Thursday night.
Tolbert had reportedly met with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday as well, who have already signed running back Peyton Hillis to a one-year deal this past week. Tolbert would be a fit in Pittsburgh and a solid compliment to Isaac Redman with Rashard Mendenhall expected to start the season on the PUP list. Until we know for sure that Tolbert has a meeting scheduled in Pittsburgh, it is hard to speculate further. Tolbert may have dropped his price a bit though after receiving a pretty cold reception at the start of the free agency period.
