Roethlisberger re-do saves $3 million in cap space

[Jooser]

Roethlisberger re-do saves $3 million in cap space

Posted by Mike Florio on February 28, 2013, 11:33 AM EST
Getty Images
As expected, the Steelers have restructured quarterback [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1181/ben-roethlisberger"]Ben Roethlisberger[/URL]’s contract. As not expected, they’ve done the deal at a time when doing so will help the Ravens reduce the exclusive franchise tender to their own franchise quarterback, [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4677/joe-flacco"]Joe Flacco[/URL].

According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger has restructured his contract to create $3 million in cap space.

As recently explained, the Steelers [URL="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/roethsliberger-restructure-would-push-future-cap-numbers-even-higher/"]could have cleared up to $7.1 million[/URL]. But that would have pushed his future cap numbers even higher.

The move drops Ben’s 2013 cap number from $19.6 million to $16.6 million. And that takes him out of the top five quarterback cap numbers for 2013.


Ben is replaced by [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1813/philip-rivers"]Philip Rivers[/URL] and his $17.1 million cap number. Which drops the exclusive franchise tender to $19.134 million, saving $500,000 for the Ravens, if they choose to use the exclusive tag on Flacco.


This week, the Ravens have seen the exclusive franchise number fall more than $1.3 million, via the new [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1163/tom-brady"]Tom Brady[/URL] and Ben Roethlisberger contracts. If both teams had waited until March 5 to do the deals, the Ravens would have been forced to tender Flacco at $20.464 million.


It could be that both teams believe that the Ravens will opt to go non-exclusive, which is expected to result in a cap number of $14.6 million. Regardless, the gap between the two numbers is now more than $1.3 million smaller.

[Jooser]

So, what, we've saved a total of $11 million so far?

[Oviedo]

So, what, we've saved a total of $11 million so far?

Not close to enough. The axe will need to fall very soon.

[phillyesq]

I don't understand why the Steelers did this now. With the potential of a Flacco franchise tag, why not wait another week on restructuring Ben?

[SteelBucks]

Not close to enough. The axe will need to fall very soon.

Agreed. March will be an interesting month at Steeler Headquarters.

[Dee Dub]

Not close to enough. The axe will need to fall very soon.

But that number of $11 million doesn't include Woodley restructuring. Relax, not one player the Steelers want to keep will they cut.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Looks like they took 9 mil of his base and spread 3 mil out over 3 years without adding a year. That may tell the tale of James Harrison.

[Jooser]

UPDATE: It's now being reported as $6 million.


Roethlisberger re-do saves $6 million in cap space

Posted by Mike Florio on February 28, 2013, 11:33 AM EST
Getty Images
As expected, the Steelers have restructured quarterback [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1181/ben-roethlisberger"]Ben Roethlisberger[/URL]’s contract. As not expected, they’ve done the deal at a time when doing so will help the Ravens reduce the exclusive franchise tender to their own franchise quarterback, [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4677/joe-flacco"]Joe Flacco[/URL].


According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger has restructured his contract to create $6 million in cap space.


As recently explained, the Steelers [URL="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/roethsliberger-restructure-would-push-future-cap-numbers-even-higher/"]could have cleared up to $7.1 million[/URL]. But that would have pushed his future cap numbers even higher.

The move drops Ben’s 2013 cap number from $19.6 million to $16.6 million. And that takes him out of the top five quarterback cap numbers for 2013.

Ben is replaced by [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1813/philip-rivers"]Philip Rivers[/URL] and his $17.1 million cap number. Which drops the exclusive franchise tender to $19.134 million, saving $500,000 for the Ravens, if they choose to use the exclusive tag on Flacco.


This week, the Ravens have seen the exclusive franchise number fall more than $1.3 million, via the new [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1163/tom-brady"]Tom Brady[/URL] and Ben Roethlisberger contracts. If both teams had waited until March 5 to do the deals, the Ravens would have been forced to tender Flacco at $20.464 million.


It could be that both teams believe that the Ravens will opt to go non-exclusive, which is expected to result in a cap number of $14.6 million. Regardless, the gap between the two numbers is now more than $1.3 million smaller.

[Editor's note: Bouchette initially reported that the cap savings is $3 million. He has since changed that to $6 million.]

[Jooser]

So, I suppose we're up to $14 million saved for next season....

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

SportTrac is showning 9 mil converted (3 mil over 13,14, & 15) like I posted so it should be a 6 mil savings.

[papillon]

So, I suppose we're up to $14 million saved for next season....

That puts them Even-Steven with the cap number they were 14 million over I believe. Woodley's restructure will be done shortly and the axe begins to fall to make room for whatever signings they plan on making.

It's still going to get ugly, IMO.

Pappy

[Snatch98]

That puts them Even-Steven with the cap number they were 14 million over I believe. Woodley's restructure will be done shortly and the axe begins to fall to make room for whatever signings they plan on making.

It's still going to get ugly, IMO.

Pappy

I sincerely doubt it. Who would they cut? Harrison and Troy aren't getting cut. I'd be surprised to see Clark cut. Possibly Keisel but he's still effective. It's not like when Farrior, Ward and Smith went. The guys still on the roster are getting it done or WERE getting it done to close out the season (see Troy and James)

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I sincerely doubt it. Who would they cut? Harrison and Troy aren't getting cut. I'd be surprised to see Clark cut. Possibly Keisel but he's still effective. It's not like when Farrior, Ward and Smith went. The guys still on the roster are getting it done or WERE getting it done to close out the season (see Troy and James)

Harrison wasn't "Getting it done" at the end of the season. Troy was showing some flashes of his old self but he missed 9 games. Of the four you mentioned, Clark & Keisel were closer to "Getting it done". Won't be the first time they cut a 30+ year old with something left in the tank & it won't be the last. Will any of them be cut? I think only Troy is safe. We will see but none of them should come as a surprise.

[supersteeler]

Jamison Hensley | ESPN, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's restructured contract is finally complete, which gives the Steelers $6 million in salary-cap relief in 2013.

RoethlisbergerHow does this help the Steelers? Pittsburgh now should be close to being under the salary cap. The Steelers were reportedly $14 million over the cap, and if my math is correct, they have created $14 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of Roethlisberger, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and wide receiver Antonio Brown. There is still more work to be done. The team needs to gain more cap room because it needs to tender contracts to restricted free agents (like wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders) and sign other free agents (potentially wide receiver Steve Breaston).

How does this help the Ravens? By having Roethlisberger convert his 2013 salary into a signing bonus, the exclusive franchise tag for quarterbacks (which is the average of the top five salaries for the position) went down to $19.08 million. The tag had been $20.4 million before Roethlisberger and Tom Brady reworked their deals. The Ravens will put the tag on Joe Flacco if they can't reach a long-term deal with the Super Bowl MVP in five days. It didn't matter if the Steelers had waited until after March 4 to restructure Roethlisberger's contract. The franchise tag counts as $14.7 million (exclusive and non-exclusive) until all of the salaries are finalized in April. That's when the exclusive franchise tag number has to be accounted for under the cap.

How does this help Roethlisberger? Restructuring Roethlisberger's contract decreases his salary-cap number in 2013 but it inflates it for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. His cap number next season is projected to be around $18 million. At that point, with two years remaining on that deal, the Steelers would likely approach Roethlisberger about a new contract in 2014. Just don't expect it to be such a team-friendly deal like the one signed by Brady earlier this week.
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Btw, I still hold out hope Siverback will remain a Steeler. He could give us two more good years being healthy, enough time to groom a Jarvis Jones or whoever we pick at OLB. The question is how they do it.
Some say it can't be done, maybe I'm a loner on that matter as I think they still want JH and find a way to keep him.

We'll leave the light on for you James.

[pittpete]

Maybe we watch different games?
Harrison wasnt getting it done?
I thought he was the only pass rusher getting it done when he was rushing the QB and not forced into coverage.
His last 6 games he had
37 tackles-4 sacks-2 FF
I'm not stating that he should be paid the full salary this season or not asked to take a cut, but to say he didn't get it done is wrong in my opinion.