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Steelers have tough decisions with free agents Bud Dupree, Javon Hargrave and others

BALTIMORE -- By the time the cameras reached him inside the cramped visitors locker room at M&T Bank Stadium, Bud Dupree’s jersey was already off.

With free agency looming after the Pittsburgh Steelers28-10 season-ending loss to the Ravens, the linebacker might never put on another black-and-gold one again.

With 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, the outside linebacker had a breakout season, in a contract year, playing opposite of T.J. Watt. Now, the Steelers are faced with a difficult decision: apply either a franchise or transition tag, sign Dupree to a new contract, or break up the dynamic duo that made the Steelers’ defense so formidable.