Steelers release Moore, clear more cap space

The Steelers on Monday released veteran receiver Lance Moore, clearing just over $1 million in salary cap space,

The move came on the same day the NFL informed teams that the 2015 salary cap will be $143.28 million, an increase of $10 million from 2014.

The Steelers, under the cap rules, carried some $778,000 in cap space over from 2014 and will have an adjusted cap of $144.058 million.

The release of Moore, who had 14 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a disappointing 2014 season, leaves the Steelers at around $8.7 million under the cap.

All teams must be in cap compliance by next Monday.

After a strong start in the offseason, Moore got hurt in the preseason and never really clicked with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Then, by midseason, he was pushed aside with the emergence of rookie Martavis Bryant.

@ Some $4.5 million of the Steelers' cap space will be eaten up when the team tenders offers to restricted free agents Robert Golden, Antwon Blake and Will Johnson.

The Steelers could soften that blow by signing one or all of those players to long-term deals, particularly since all figure to be in the team's plans moving forward to some degree.

Golden, a safety, should enter 2015 as the team's primary backup at free safety and was special teams captain in 2014.

Blake acquitted himself well as the nickel safety at times in 2014 and also is a core special teams player.

And Johnson is the team's starting fullback.

@ The Steelers still likely have some housecleaning to do before free agency starts.

They have not yet restructured the deal of center Maurkice Pouncey, but could do so at a cap savings of as much as $3.8 million.

Some veteran players could be released as well. Safety Troy Polamalu would save $3.75 million immediately and $5.6 million if designated as a post-June 1 release.

Defensive ends Cam Thomas ($2 million) and Brett Keisel ($1.5 million) also could be released, though I think the team is leaning toward bringing Keisel back as a backup.

@ ProFootballTalk threw out a story over the weekend that Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell could get a four-game suspension for his DUI and marijuana arrest last August.

That's not happening. It will be two games, at most.