While the Pittsburgh Steelers are still in a state of mourning following Troy Polamalu’s retirement, there is a silver-lining to the departure of the 12-year veteran. The Steelers may have lost one of the best safety’s in Steelers history, but the franchise have saved a significant amount of money that will now be used to strengthen their roster before the start of the new season.
Polamalu’s decision to hang up his boots has saved Pittsburgh millions in both cap space and base salary, although it remains to be seen just when the franchise will see the benefits. If the Steelers and Polamalu submit his retirement papers before June 1, the franchise would save a useful $3.75 million in cap space this year. Doing it after June 1 would save more room in their salary cap this season but see Pittsburgh sustain a hefty $2.5 million charge for dead cap space over the next two years.
by AndyMcLemore
If the Steelers go with the first option, they will drop to just under $10.5 million, while the second option would put the franchise just over $12.5 million under the cap. The safety was expected to be the joint third biggest earner at Pittsburgh this season alongside Antonio Brown, with Polamalu also in line to earn the third-highest signing bonus with the eight-time Pro Bowler set to pick up $2.25 million before taking the decision to end his 12-year NFL career.
Polamalu’s announcement has shocked the Steelers, not least due to the fact the two-time Super Bowl winner signed a new three-year contract last year. The strong safety has been a key part of Pittsburgh’s success over the past decade, racking up 770 tackles, 32 interceptions and three touchdowns during his 12-year stay with the Steelers, and Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will have their work cut out to find a replacement. The loss of Polamalu has certainly had an impact on the betting – and it won’t be a huge surprise if the Steelers don’t start the season as one of the bookies’s favourites to clinch the Super Bowl – unless they have a sensational offseason in terms of player recruitment.
