Hampton Restructured His Deal

[Slapstick]

What option did Hampton have?

The Steelers could have cut him outright...I strongly doubt that Casey could have gotten a 1 year, $2.8 million deal as a 34-35 year old NT with a torn ACL...

[Dee Dub]

Yeah I'd say Wallace and the Steelers are close to a long term deal.

They are roughly $6.8 million under the cap with this re-work.

I wouldn't re-sign Mike Wallace until next season. Why would you? There is no need to do so. Let's see him one more year, as well as whether or not Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders continue to develop. The Steelers may have strength in numbers going into next off season. It is to their advantage to wait. And if history is an indicator players not under long term contracts going into a free agent year tend to player better and more motivated.

[Crash]

I wouldn't re-sign Mike Wallace until next season. Why would you? There is no need to do so. Let's see him one more year, as well as whether or not Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders continue to develop. The Steelers may have strength in numbers going into next off season. It is to their advantage to wait. And if history is an indicator players not under long term contracts going into a free agent year tend to player better and more motivated.

And if you feel he's going to have another big year? He'll get MORE MONEY next year, then what Jackson just got from Tampa.

[Crash]

Cha-ching!! Money post. Ruthless gets it.

I dont get how some Steelers fans all of a sudden at this time of year, every year, seem to lose all sense of reality when it comes to the Steelers and free agency.

Carl Nicks? really? Like that was ever going to happen. This is not the Steelers way of doing things. And that is not going to change.

Jeff Hartings ring a bell? He was the best OG on the market and we gave him huge money.

[steelz09]

What option did Hampton have?

The Steelers could have cut him outright...I strongly doubt that Casey could have gotten a 1 year, $2.8 million deal as a 34-35 year old NT with a torn ACL...

Actually, I'm going to reverse this and say 2 things:

1) I applaud Hampton for accepting a pay cut. Sometimes Hampton is overlooked as being a leader / "team player" but he has come through twice in a row regarding his contract ..

2) Let's reverse the quote above and ask the question: "What other options do the Steelers have?"

Hood at NT? That's unproven at best. McClendon? He was impressive last year but can he sustain that throughout an entire year? Where is the depth? I like having Hampton for one more year but significantly split his time between 1 or 2 players whether that be McClendon & a rookie, McClendon & Hood, or whatever combination.

Good move by the Steelers. Good move by Hampton.

[Dee Dub]

And if you feel he's going to have another big year? He'll get MORE MONEY next year, then what Jackson just got from Tampa.

When have the Steelers ever had a problem signing players they want to keep to big contracts? Why do you have such a problem with paying a player who has earned more money? If Mike Wallace earns more money than Vincent Jackson then pay him for it.

[Crash]

When have the Steelers ever had a problem signing players they want to keep to big contracts? Why do you have such a problem with paying a player who has earned more money? If Mike Wallace earns more money than Vincent Jackson then pay him for it.

I have no problem with it at all. But waiting until next year, if you already think he'll have a big 2012 is foolish. Why give up the only leverage you have with him being a RFA?

You really want to let all 31 other teams get a free crack at Wallace in the UFA market? I sure as hell wouldn't.

[steelblood]

you can't restructure a guy in the final year of his contract with extending said contract.

Really? I think that is what we did with Aaron Smith last season. It was a restructure and extension to free up space by splitting out his bonus owed for an extra season.
[url]http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/steelers_extend_restructure_aaron_smith_contract_t o_free_up_cap_room/7290814[/url]

[Dee Dub]

Jeff Hartings ring a bell? He was the best OG on the market and we gave him huge money.

No actually Hartings was a guard who they converted to center, and as a result they got him for less than top guard money. But if one or two (Farrior), middle to big money free agents in the history of free agency is what you want to hang your hat on and think is the Steeler way or think they are going to change then you dont get it.

And by the way, Hartings was never a top O-lineman until he came to the Steelers. All his pro bowl years came as a Steeler.

[steelz09]

I have no problem with it at all. But waiting until next year, if you already think he'll have a big 2012 is foolish. Why give up the only leverage you have with him being a RFA?

You really want to let all 31 other teams get a free crack at Wallace in the UFA market? I sure as hell wouldn't.

I agree ... The Steeler have publicily announced that they want Wallace to sign a long term deal. If they can sign him this year, they'll do it. Each year, players sign for more and more. Next year will be no different. Crash is right, the Steelers have at least a little advantage right now. Next year, they'll have none unless he gets injured or significantly underperforms. The Steelers FO aren't the type to "bet" on those 2 things.

[BigRob]

Wexell says this guy has had good info all year. Wexell also said we are about 6 million under the cap if this is true, not the 1.5 million being reported. However, we still need about 5 million for draft picks.

[URL]http://www.macsfootballblog.com/2012/03/steelers-nt-casey-hampton-restructures.html[/URL]

****, didn't see the other thread. Feel free to delete this one.

[BigRob]

Well, there's your indication as to what will happen with Wallace...

How so? They were roughly 3 million under the cap before they asked Hamp to take a pay cut. I've heard it reported they needed 5 million dollars to sign draft picks. This would leave them about 1 million left with that factored.

I don't think this reflects on Wallace at all. His cap number will be reduced from 2.7 million this year with an extension without this being done. So, this really doesn't reflect on them doing anything with Wallace yet. His extension if he gets one will come in July-August as most Steeler extensions do.

I see this as more of an opportunity to try and squeeze in a bargain FA or 2.

[Dee Dub]

I agree ... The Steeler have publicily announced that they want Wallace to sign a long term deal. If they can sign him this year, they'll do it. Each year, players sign for more and more. Next year will be no different. Crash is right, the Steelers have at least a little advantage right now. Next year, they'll have none unless he gets injured or significantly underperforms. The Steelers FO aren't the type to "bet" on those 2 things.

Funny, I have never known the Steelers to work off of the idea of having leverage on their players. Every great player who has excelled on the field who they wanted to keep they have never had a problem with signing them to market value. What player in the past 10 years have they held leverage over when it came to signing them long term? Harrison? Woodley? Troy? Ben? Hines in his prime? Hampton in his prime? Aaron Smith? Ike? None. They have all been paid at or above market value with no leverage being held above their heads.

And they can franchise Wallace after next year. Essentially getting him for this year and next for an average of about 6 to 7 million dollars. That is in the best interest of the Steelers.

[Oviedo]

Funny, I have never known the Steelers to work off of the idea of having leverage on their players. Every great player who has excelled on the field who they wanted to keep they have never had a problem with signing them to market value. What player in the past 10 years have they held leverage over when it came to signing them long term? Harrison? Woodley? Troy? Ben? Hines in his prime? Hampton in his prime? Aaron Smith? Ike? None. They have all been paid at or above market value with no leverage being held above their heads.

And they can franchise Wallace after next year. Essentially getting him for this year and next for an average of about 6 to 7 million dollars. That is in the best interest of the Steelers.

The franchise tag for WR next year could be around $10M after all the recent signings. That means that the team will have to come up with an extra $7.3M to take Wallace from this year's $2.7M to $10M next year. Keep in mind the cap doesn't jump until 2014. That is still alot of cap space that we don't have unless we start cutting some guys like Harrison.

That is why it is best to sign Wallace now versus franchising him next year so we can spread out the cap damage. also, if he continues to perform well, I would then expect Brown to get the 1st Round RFA tender next year.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Really? I think that is what we did with Aaron Smith last season. It was a restructure and extension to free up space by splitting out his bonus owed for an extra season.
[URL]http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/steelers_extend_restructure_aaron_smith_contract_t o_free_up_cap_room/7290814[/URL]

You are correct. I meant to say "you can't restructure a guy in the final year of his contract withOUT extending said contract." Sometimes my mind works faster than my fingers.