The Steelers made a flurry of moves on Wednesday trimming $15 million off their 2014 cap to bring them within striking distance of the $133 million NFL salary cap.
All teams must be under the cap by Tuesday.
The Steelers gave safety Troy Polamalu and tight end Heath Miller two-year contract extensions that trimmed $8 million off of their salary cap while giving neither player any "new" money.
Both players had their 2014 salaries trimmed - $1.5 million for Polamalu and $1 million for Miller - with the remainder of what they were scheduled to earn turned into signing bonus, which can prorated over the three years of their contracts.
Polamalu will now have cap friendly salaries of $6 million in 2015 and 2016, while Miller's will come in at $4 million in each of those seasons.
The Steelers also signed impending free agent safety Will Allen to a deal that seals Ryan Clark's fate. With Allen now under contract, at 1 year and $985,000, the Steelers will allow Clark to leave, not a surprising fact, but now a fact nonetheless.
In addition, the team released Levi Brown, Curtis Brown and Larry Foote at a savings of $7.95 million.
What does all of this mean?
It means there isn't a true urgency to release cornerback Ike Taylor, though the team will continue to work with Taylor at lowering his 2014 salary, which is currently $7 million with a cap hit of $11.9 million.
The Steelers could see some additional cap savings with further extensions - Ben Roethlisberger - or by signing linebacker Jason Worilds, who had the transition tag placed on him Monday, to a more cap-friendly long-term deal.
The Steelers are also now in a position where they don't HAVE to cut linebacker LaMarr Woodley, though that could still happen with a June 1 designation.
30 comments:
Didn't see the Foote release coming. That leaves Timmons, Williams, Spence, and Garvin. Sylvester is a UFA. Spence has never played a down in the NFL. Garvin is undersized and inexperienced. ILB depth is suddenly an issue isn't it?
It would have been even if Foote returned.
Too bad about Curtis Brown. I'll always wonder if he wouldn't have been better off if he'd been moved to S/FS.
I wouldn't be surprised if Foote isn't brought back at some point.
Draft Chris Borland in the 2nd round and its taken care of for the next 10-12 years .
I'd even be pumped with Skov or Zumwalt later
Pistol,
They might be earlier, not everyone is that high on Borland.
Zac in Tempe
With Allen back and Clark's fate sealed, I'll ask once again- What are the chances Troy moves to FS? Thus allowing Shamarko to play SS, his more natural position, and allow Allen to backup both (along with hopefully another rookie, of course).
Surely we don't want Allen starting, nor Shamarko on the bench since he's basically part of this year's and last year's draft. Ed Reed did it, can Troy?
I don't think they're going to reinvent the wheel and move Polamalu
"I don't think they're going to reinvent the wheel and move Polamalu"
Thank god! The last thing you want to do is get your best players on the field.
dale, with foote out, what do you see happening at ILB?
""I don't think they're going to reinvent the wheel and move Polamalu"
Thank god! The last thing you want to do is get your best players on the field."
yeah, because that is absolutely the most important thing. Heck, Marcus Wheaton is a better player than whatever ILB lines up next to Timmons, let's start him there.....
"Thank god! The last thing you want to do is get your best players on the field."
Who is to say there isn't a different plan already in place? What if they are still trying to get into a position to sign Delmas? He replaces Clark, has plenty of starting experience, and then Shamarko can go back to playing nickel back and understudy to the best SS to have played the game in the last two decades.
Vince Williams is the initial plan at ilb.
There's a thing called the draft coming up in a couple of months that could change everything.
If, for example, they wind up taking Clinton-Dix or Pryor, or even a second-round guy such as Jimmy Ward, he could be the starting FS.
If they take Mosley, he could be the starter at ILB.
Or they could still sign a free agent. They are leaving the door open to anything this year, so any talk of moving current players around is premature.
chris borland in the 2nd? no, thanks. his preposterously short arms seriously hinder his ability to make tackles.
Some guys dont have the preferred measurables at a position, doesnt mean he cant play there. In the 3-4 it does make a difference on outside guys but not the inside guys so much. Watch his tape he'll be good in any system at ILB.
BTW Sean Spence is the same height and he would be starting now if not for his horrible injury.
I don't think he was referring to Borland's height. He mentioned his arms which are 2 1/4 inches shorter than Spence's. I don't think that means it's impossible for Borland to have a good career in the NFL but Sean Spence was a highly productive four year starter and he got drafted in the third. I'm not sure I'd take a guy who doesn't have better production or measurables a round sooner.
They Have serious depth Issues at both ILB and OLB.I really wonder if they will try to address ILB or FS via FA. I don't think Borland is a second rounder but I think he is a tackling machine and would be a nice fit
Borland might be short but he a playmaker. I would not mind Zumwalt either.
what are the odds Keisel makes it back?
what are the odds Keisel makes it back?
What about Skov, have heard some about him but he seems to be falling in the position charts, anyone has any insight regarding him?
I don't know much about Brandon spikes, would he be an option as a veteran LB for the steelers?
The Steelers reworked Brown's contract, as I said they would, at a savings of $4 million.
Puts them about $3.5 million under the cap, enough room to sign a couple of players with more wiggle room on the way if/when they sign Worilds to an extension
I feel like Borland's tackling could take a major hit as the league pushes towards tackling over hitting.
any chance the steelers look at pat angerer? Could be our next james farrior. High draft pick that didn't exactly pan out for his team. He's been injury prone the last couple of seasons so perhaps a prove it deal from the steelers?
Really wondering about the lack of movement with Ike and Woodley.
Keeping either of them at their current rate would be a terrible decision. Is Woodley going to be a 14 million backup?
Just saw on Twitter Woodley is being released with a Post June 1 designation.
Sources are saying the Steelers have cut Woodley!!!
by releasing Woodley and eventually ike, are the steelers trying to make a real push for verner from the titans?
Marc,
Verner would be sweet! I read something about the Pats looking into him too.
Jim
I'm sure his price will be high considering demand from other teams. but, the steelers could probably free up enough cash if they wanted to land him. I guess we'll find out in a day or so.
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