Cut Troy and Harrison?
The D isnt thr problem and we werent 2-14.
Cut Troy and Harrison?
The D isnt thr problem and we werent 2-14.
That's no lie. The fact is that Polamalu has been constantly hurt (the world's worst calf injury apparently) the past few seasons. And then when he does come back, it's always a week or two to get back into the flow. Are we supposed to think that he is going to get more durable as he ages? I mean, I'm too sentimental a guy to dump him right now, but the honest truth is that this would be a great time to do so.
Cmon people, get with the program
Agreed. The Steelers don't just clean house like that... rarely have in my experience. Generally a guy dosn't hit the field in Pittsburgh until he's ready to play at a solid NFL level because there's always a solid NFL player in front of him. You don't get there by taking all the talent and leadership away at once. The culture goes away... Timmons beat out Foote. Pouncey beat out Hartwig. Adams couldn't beat out Max, but we're left with a quality starter. Worilds can't beat out James... point is, you don't just give a guy a job. If McLendon outperformed Casey last year, great. If not, get him back and cut somebody else. Same with Keisel/ Sonof Ironhead.
Even last years' cuts - No Farrior? Foote's back, and not 37. No Smitty? Hood's done his job most of the last 2 years anyway. No Hines? Hines had slowed down so much by the end I cringed every time they threw him the ball. I thought it a racr to see whether he got his 1200th catch or decapitated first. They thought Cotchery would step in and do the things he did. Guys don't go away unless pushed out by better guys.
A couple of things to keep in mind...
If the Salary Cap does not jump significantly in 2014 (as is now the current belief), then the Steelers will likely find themselves in the same Cap situation next year as they are this year. Without taking into account who will or won't be cut this offseason, the only significant players (Capwise) that are UFA's (and therefore reduce the salary outlay of the Steelers) are:
Ryan Clark (2013 Cap hit of $4.75m)
Brett Keisel (2013 Cap hit of $4.5m)
Ziggy Hood (2013 Cap hit of $1.9m)
Jerricho Cotchery (2013 Cap hit of $1.5m)
That's roughly $13-$14m shaved off the Steelers Salary Cap in 2014 (so long as the Steelers do not attempt to resign any of these players).
While that might sound like some Cap relief, keep in mind that the Cap numbers of Ben Roethlisberger, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons & Antonio Brown will jump SIGNIFICANTLY in 2014 as a result of the Contract Restructures. As an example- after the contract restructure of Antonio Brown, he will now count for $3.12m in 2013. In 2014, however, his 'base salary' alone in $6m, not including the jump in his pro-rated signing bonus (which just jumped due to the restructure), meaning Brown will go from costing just over $3m in 2013, to roughly $9m in 2014. Timmons is similar, costing just over $5m after his restructure in 2013 to upwards of $10m in 2014. The money 'saved' by losing the FA's above, will get soaked up by the contracts of these restructures.
What Chadman is saying is, the Steelers need to consider deeply if they choose to restructure any other players. One guy that might be a 'smart' restructure is Willie Colon. Cutting him saves roughly $1m against the Cap (and that is obliterated by the need to then sign a replacement), but if the Steelers were to restructure his $5.5m base salary, and spread it over the remaining 3 years of his contract, the impact is not overly significant (his current Signing Bonus pro-rated yearly payment is $1.2m, by converting say $4 million of this year's contract into signing bonus, the bonus cost will only increase by around $1.3m per year to a total of $2.5m + base salary).
Any cuts the Steelers make this offseason need to be thought out well. The Steelers might need to cut players in 2013 not to sign FA's this season, but in order to free up money in 2014 to afford the contracts they are restructuring now. Harrison, Polamalu, Taylor all cost upwards of $10m next season, and Heath Miller is on about $9m next year. A couple of these guys might HAVE to go in 2013, so that the money saved from cutting their contracts allows the Steelers to avoid similar cost-cutting strategies in the years ahead. Cutting Keisel, Clark or Cotchery only helps in 2013, not beyond. At some point, the Steelers need to get this contract thing sorted out, so that in 2015/16, they don't find themselves in a financial Salary Cap black hole.
While it sucks to have to consider it, it might be better for the long-term good of the team to cut Harrison & Taylor (particularly if Lewis is re-signed) this year, in order to save the full $10m value of each players contract value next season, instead of portions of that $10m each in 2014. Then the Steelers could look at cutting Polamalu & Miller next offseason & saving a portion of their contract values against the 2014 salary cap (while still giving the Steelers a chance to get young players ready to step in and start in 2014).
By doing that, the bloodletting/restructuring of the last couple of years might not be so significant in 2014, allowing the Steelers to get some normallacy in their offseason's, going forward.
The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?
Light up the darkness.
2024 Draft
1. Kool-Aid McKinstry CB
2. Sedrick Van Pran-Grainger OC
3. Malachi Corley WR
3. Maason Smith DT
4. Matt Goncalves OT
6. Trevin Wallace ILB
7. AJ Barner TE
My guess is the Steelers are trying not to purge all at once, but maybe 2 or 3 more vets this year and then a few more next year, work young players and rookies into the mix and stay competitive while doing so. I just don't get the "cut the vets and suck for two years" thinking. If its possible to keep them, they're better than anything on the bench or in the draft.
Pappy[/QUOTE]
A good guess there Pappy, that's what I'm thinking as well. The only reason Harrison would be released is the money NOT what he does on the field. Worlids can't hold his jock strap, thats why OLB in the draft is a favorite among fans.
Same with Foote, we have no one to take his place either.
Everyone wants to be cut happy all of a sudden, we cut too much and 8-8 will be a ceiling for this team.
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