Steelers' B.J. Finney ready to make most of 2nd chance

Jun. 4—He had a seven-figure signing bonus in his bank account and a partially guaranteed contract assured, and he didn't want to lose it.

That is the Cliffs Notes version of how B.J. Finney showed up "overweight and out of shape" last year with the Seattle Seahawks, a decision that ultimately led to his reunion with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

Like many people whose lives were impacted by the covid-19 pandemic, Finney would like to wash 2020 from his memory and focus on his return to the Steelers, his employer for five seasons, starting in 2015.

"I don't suggest moving four times, especially across the country with a little one," said Finney, whose wife gave birth to their first child during the 2019 season. "It wasn't fun. Last year was not ideal, but I'm happy to be here with some familiarity, with people we know and love. I'm ready to get back to business."

The Steelers brought back the 29-year-old center/guard in March to address depth along the interior of the offensive line. Maurkice Pouncey retired in February, and left guard Matt Feiler signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency less than a week after Finney's return.

Finney started 13 times at center or guard in the 66 games he played for the Steelers from 2016-19. At center, he will compete with J.C. Hassenauer, a fellow former undrafted free agent, and rookie third-round pick Kendrick Green. David DeCastro and second-year player Kevin Dotson are the starting guards.

Finney's mindset is he can win a starting job somewhere along the line.

"Everything is open," he said. "Everybody is competing for a spot. It doesn't matter where it is on the board. It's always up for grabs. I'm coming in with a veteran presence and the experience I have, and I'm going to do my best to be a starter come Day One."

When he became a free agent in 2020 after spending four seasons as the Steelers' primary interior backup, Finney thought he had landed a starting job when he agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Seahawks.

One thing was certain: The contract included guarantees worth $4.5 million, including a $2 million signing bonus. But the pandemic provided a unique set of circumstances that could have worked against Finney.

Unable to provide in-person physicals because of travel restrictions, some teams put clauses into contracts in which failed physicals would result in forfeited signing bonuses. Finney was stuck at home in Kansas with his wife and young daughter during the pandemic.

"Everything got shut down," he said. "The gyms around me got shut down. I couldn't go anywhere. I was communicating with Seattle, but they couldn't get me out there to get a physical."

Finney wanted to avoid a scenario that eventually cost tackle Ja'Wuan James his job with the Denver Broncos. James tore his Achilles while working out on his own this offseason, which led to the Broncos voiding his $10 million contract.

"It was the one time I had finally seen some money, and I wasn't going to risk losing all of that money and that opportunity by training and getting hurt away from the facility," Finney said. "What goes along with that is you show up to camp overweight and out of shape."

Finney was beaten for a starting job and never played a snap in Seattle. The Seahawks traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals in October, but Finney never played for the Bengals, either. A hernia didn't help Finney's cause, and he was released by the Bengals on March 5.

The Steelers signed him a week later for the $990,000 veteran minimum. On top of that is a $137,500 signing bonus, the only guaranteed money he will collect this season.

When he reported for offseason workouts this spring, Finney said he was minus some of the extra mass he carried last season. His listed weight is 318 pounds.

"I'm getting better now," he said. "Now that I'm here training at the facility, the weight is coming down. I'm feeling good, feeling like my old self. I'm moving better. We'll just keep working."

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe by email at jrutter@triblive.com or via Twitter .