A myth about not releasing /trading Woodley

[Steelhere10]

--- I have no idea what the Steelers will do with LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds or any other personnel decisions they might have to make after the season. But here is a myth: They cannot cut/trade Woodley (or anyone else) because they would have too much “dead” money. That’s just not true.Woodley will make $8 million in salary next season and count $13.6 million against their salary cap. He has an $8.5 million salary in 2015 and counts $14 million against their cap. He has a $9 million salary in 2016 and counts $12 million against their cap. That’s about $14 million in “dead” money, which is bonus money that’s been pro-rated or salary redesigned as a bonus and pushed into the future. It does not include his salaries, which are not guaranteed.No matter what the Steelers do with Woodley – keep him, trade him, cut him – that $14 million cap hit isn’t going away. They can redistribute its affect by, for example, designating him as a June 1 release and taking a bigger cap hit in 2015 than 2014. Or they could just swallow hard and take the big hit in 2014.They also could keep him. And if they keep him, they add his $8 million salary to their salary cap count in 2014. If they would, say, release him after June 1, they would save that $8 million under their salary cap; he would still count $5.6 million, the so-called “dead” money for 2014, but that’s a lot less than $13.6 million.If they did that, his salary cap for 2015 would be a wash, about $14 million (as it now stands to be including his salary if he’s on the team) because all of the pro-rated stuff would count then. But then he would count nothing in 2016!This is not to say the Steelers will cut or trade Woodley, it is merely using him as an example to point out that when people say they cannot cut or trade a player because of the “dead” money involved, they are wrong. They actually would save money and plenty of cap room, although in this case they would no longer have the services of LaMarr Woodley.

[phillyesq]

So if you cut Woodley next year pre-June 1, the Steelers lose roughly $500k in cap space. They also lose the services of Woodley and need to pay a replacement (who, in turn, will count against the cap). Cutting him this year is not a prudent use of resources. If he is a post June 1 cut, it still takes a bit out of the cap in 2014 and 2015.

Realistically, if the Steelers are going to cut Woodley, their best option is to do so in 2015. The cut will still take a bite out of the cap but it won't be quite as severe.

[Oviedo]

So if you cut Woodley next year pre-June 1, the Steelers lose roughly $500k in cap space. They also lose the services of Woodley and need to pay a replacement (who, in turn, will count against the cap). Cutting him this year is not a prudent use of resources. If he is a post June 1 cut, it still takes a bit out of the cap in 2014 and 2015.

Realistically, if the Steelers are going to cut Woodley, their best option is to do so in 2015. The cut will still take a bite out of the cap but it won't be quite as severe.

IIRC, in 2015 we will see the first significant jump in the cap as a result of the last CBA and the new TV contracts. Maybe one of our cap experts can confirm.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I don't think anyone said can't....I think more like won't. They could retain Worilds & make his year 1 number work where they could release Woodley in '15 where they would actually get some relief. They will have to draft some depth this year if that is in their plans. Woodley, Worilds, & Jones is deep...Just Worilds & Jones is an injury away from trouble because there is nothing behind them on this roster right now.

[feltdizz]

I don't think anyone said can't....I think more like won't. They could retain Worilds & make his year 1 number work where they could release Woodley in '15 where they would actually get some relief. They will have to draft some depth this year if that is in their plans. Woodley, Worilds, & Jones is deep...Just Worilds & Jones is an injury away from trouble because there is nothing behind them on this roster right now.

Say it again and again....

[Slapstick]

--- I have no idea what the Steelers will do with LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds or any other personnel decisions they might have to make after the season. But here is a myth: They cannot cut/trade Woodley (or anyone else) because they would have too much “dead” money. That’s just not true.Woodley will make $8 million in salary next season and count $13.6 million against their salary cap. He has an $8.5 million salary in 2015 and counts $14 million against their cap. He has a $9 million salary in 2016 and counts $12 million against their cap. That’s about $14 million in “dead” money, which is bonus money that’s been pro-rated or salary redesigned as a bonus and pushed into the future. It does not include his salaries, which are not guaranteed.No matter what the Steelers do with Woodley – keep him, trade him, cut him – that $14 million cap hit isn’t going away. They can redistribute its affect by, for example, designating him as a June 1 release and taking a bigger cap hit in 2015 than 2014. Or they could just swallow hard and take the big hit in 2014.They also could keep him. And if they keep him, they add his $8 million salary to their salary cap count in 2014. If they would, say, release him after June 1, they would save that $8 million under their salary cap; he would still count $5.6 million, the so-called “dead” money for 2014, but that’s a lot less than $13.6 million.If they did that, his salary cap for 2015 would be a wash, about $14 million (as it now stands to be including his salary if he’s on the team) because all of the pro-rated stuff would count then. But then he would count nothing in 2016!This is not to say the Steelers will cut or trade Woodley, it is merely using him as an example to point out that when people say they cannot cut or trade a player because of the “dead” money involved, they are wrong. They actually would save money and plenty of cap room, although in this case they would no longer have the services of LaMarr Woodley.

Please just read what you posted...you are describing a horrible cap situation that the Steelers would put themselves in with regards to dead cap money...the Steelers could cut Woodley...the myth is that it could be a remotely good idea...

[birtikidis]

Cutting woodley would be idiotic.
What I foresee.....
Worilds at ROLB, Woodley at LOLB, Timmons and Jones in the middle.
They've already toyed with Jones in the middle...

[Slapstick]

I don't think Worilds will be with the team next year...I think he may end up being the next Mike Wallace...

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Cutting woodley would be idiotic.
What I foresee.....
Worilds at ROLB, Woodley at LOLB, Timmons and Jones in the middle.
They've already toyed with Jones in the middle...

IMO Worilds is no good on the right side. He played the right side to start the year and has been benched. He replaces Woodley on the left side for two games and suddenly everyone is singing his praises. He has shown this pattern throughout his career. Worilds on the right is not a good idea.

[feltdizz]

I don't think Worilds will be with the team next year...I think he may end up being the next Mike Wallace...

Based on 2 games? His stats over 4 years aren't nearly as impressive as MW's.

[Slapstick]

Based on 2 games? His stats over 4 years aren't nearly as impressive as MW's.

Allow me to clarify:

I believe Worilds will be the next player to take a big paycheck from another team and then suck...

[snarky]

They've already toyed with Jones in the middle...

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[feltdizz]

Allow me to clarify:

I believe Worilds will be the next player to take a big paycheck from another team and then suck...

Let me clarify: I dont see how he gets a big paycheck

[Jooser]

I'm not tooting the Ovi horn on a 4-3, but what if.... you have Woodley, Hood, BPA, and Heyward as your front 4 and Worilds (ROLB), Timmons (MLB), and Jones (ROLB) as your LB's and then go re-stock the secondary well and run a Tampa 2 defense that Tomlin likes? For this defense to resurface, you've got to find that all-too-elusive NT. Stocking a secondary is easier these days. Troy's days in the secondary seem numbered, the dude has lost a step in coverage and seems out of position on long throws. Lebeau may not be back next year either, so I guess it's something to think about.

[hawaiiansteel]

I'm not tooting the Ovi horn on a 4-3, but what if.... you have Woodley, Hood, BPA, and Heyward as your front 4 and Worilds (ROLB), Timmons (MLB), and Jones (ROLB) as your LB's and then go re-stock the secondary well and run a Tampa 2 defense that Tomlin likes?

oh no, now you've done it...