Kovacevic: Time to end the Woodley mistake

[Shoe]

i cant figure out why you want to pay a guy that you know will get hurt and miss part of the season.
im not sure i said anything close to worilds being a slam dunk star.
woodley playing 1/2 to 2/3 of a season, a bad jarvis jones and a rookie that wont be any good or see the field for a couple years will without a doubt be the cheaper way to go but it sure wont be the best.

You're looking at the bad, not the good:

• Jones could improve, and be a force next year
• Woodley will probably play half the year, but he could play 15 games next year
• And then the rookie wouldn't have to see much of the field, except in specialized situations.

I can also paint an equally poor picture of the other scenario:

• We eat Woodley's contract, and he becomes a star with the Patriots*
• As the 2nd best free-agent this year, we sign Worilds to a Woodley-like deal, and he breaks his wrist. Or he gets a high ankle sprain
• We have a slow, weak Jarvis, and Cris Carter as our OLBs for the year

I like Worilds, but I don't love Worilds. That is the dilemma. The guy isn't a balls-to-the-wall type of guy. He seems nice, and a bit too sensible, as an OLB.

[squidkid]

You're looking at the bad, not the good:

• Jones could improve, and be a force next year
• Woodley will probably play half the year, but he could play 15 games next year
• And then the rookie wouldn't have to see much of the field, except in specialized situations.

I can also paint an equally poor picture of the other scenario:

• We eat Woodley's contract, and he becomes a star with the Patriots*
• As the 2nd best free-agent this year, we sign Worilds to a Woodley-like deal, and he breaks his wrist. Or he gets a high ankle sprain
• We have a slow, weak Jarvis, and Cris Carter as our OLBs for the year

I like Worilds, but I don't love Worilds. That is the dilemma. The guy isn't a balls-to-the-wall type of guy. He seems nice, and a bit too sensible, as an OLB.

agreed, nobody knows for sure how things will turn out but you have to make a decision based on the information you have.
woodley is fat, old and has little desire. he gets 'hurt' often and routinely disappeared the last couple years.
worilds is in shape, young and leaves it all on the field. he also has some injury issues in the past.
common sense would indicate that the possibility of woodley becoming the woodley of old is alot less likely than worilds becoming a good/great OLB. when you factor in the cost of (woodley 10 million and maybe down to 6.5 million) OR worilds being signed for 2.5-5.5 per, the decision is simple for me

[hawaiiansteel]

when you factor in the cost of (woodley 10 million and maybe down to 6.5 million) OR worilds being signed for 2.5-5.5 per, the decision is simple for me

I think Worilds will command more than $5.5 mil/yr to sign, Paul Kruger signed a 5 year $40 million contract last year and it only takes one team to overpay.

Paul Kruger, Cleveland Browns agree to $40M contract

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: March 12, 2013

The Cleveland Browns were expected to spend big money in free agency. They were expected to target pass rushers. They did not disappoint.

NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala and Albert Breer reported that Paul Kruger agreed to terms with the Browns on Tuesday. Breer reported Kruger will sign a five-year, $40 million contract, and the Browns later announced the defensive end had agreed to a five-year deal.

"We are very excited about the addition of Paul Kruger to our team," new Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said in a team-issued statement. He is a talented linebacker who is going to make an immediate impact on our defense. When you put on the film, you see physicality, explosive pass rush and a high motor. He has been very productive for the Ravens and proved it at the highest level last season in the playoffs."

Kruger built up his value in a career year with the Baltimore Ravens by recording nine sacks, although he wasn't as effective without Terrell Suggs in the lineup. Kruger was not even on the field that much during the Super Bowl because the Ravens wanted to focus on their run defense.

The Browns wanted another pass rusher for new defensive coordinator Ray Horton, but this is a deal that could look rough in a few years. Kruger is the typical very good player who is being paid like a superstar because he made it to free agency.

[URL]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000150074/article/paul-kruger-cleveland-browns-agree-to-40m-contract[/URL]

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

It takes one team to overpay but bad teams have to overpay to get good players to come to their organization. That's the way it has been since FA began. Players choice...

That being said...I think Kruger is a very good bench mark & it will cost the Steelers an avg of at least 7 mil a year for Worilds. It will be between 5/35-5/40.

[papillon]

It takes one team to overpay but bad teams have to overpay to get good players to come to their organization. That's the way it has been since FA began. Players choice...

That being said...I think Kruger is a very good bench mark & it will cost the Steelers an avg of at least 7 mil a year for Worilds. It will be between 5/35-5/40.

That is another Woodleyesque contract and I hope they let him walk if he wants that kind of money, let another team take that chance, he isn't a game changer. That's too much to pay for basically 8 games of good football. I'd rather dance with the devil I know and keep Woodley and hope that he stays healthy and comes back invigorated and ready to play football.

Pappy

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

That is another Woodleyesque contract and I hope they let him walk if he wants that kind of money, let another team take that chance, he isn't a game changer. That's too much to pay for basically 8 games of good football. I'd rather dance with the devil I know and keep Woodley and hope that he stays healthy and comes back invigorated and ready to play football.

Pappy

If he wanted a Woodley deal...I will let him walk. That isn't a Woodley deal. Woodley signed a 6/61 mil deal. Even if you take it to 6/42 mil or 6/48 mil. Woodley & Worilds graded out high as 3-4 OLB. Worilds is about 4 1/2 years younger. Bottom Line...Worilds is our best OLB...You sign him at that price. He won't be asking for 5/66 mil like Mathews or 6/61 like Woodley...He wouldn't get it.

[squidkid]

That is another Woodleyesque contract and I hope they let him walk if he wants that kind of money, let another team take that chance, he isn't a game changer. That's too much to pay for basically 8 games of good football. I'd rather dance with the devil I know and keep Woodley and hope that he stays healthy and comes back invigorated and ready to play football.

Pappy

agreed, but woodley would have to take a 50% paycut for me to want him back.

[papillon]

If he wanted a Woodley deal...I will let him walk. That isn't a Woodley deal. Woodley signed a 6/61 mil deal. Even if you take it to 6/42 mil or 6/48 mil. Woodley & Worilds graded out high as 3-4 OLB. Worilds is about 4 1/2 years younger. Bottom Line...Worilds is our best OLB...You sign him at that price. He won't be asking for 5/66 mil like Mathews or 6/61 like Woodley...He wouldn't get it.

Regardless of the grades, there isn't enough of a complete body of work for my liking. It seems way to risky to give him 7mil/year for basically the last 8 games of this past season. Woodley at least at the time of his signing had produced for multiple years at a high level. Maybe 7mil/year is the going rate for an incomplete grade, but it seems risky to me.

Pappy

[feltdizz]

Regardless of the grades, there isn't enough of a complete body of work for my liking. It seems way to risky to give him 7mil/year for basically the last 8 games of this past season. Woodley at least at the time of his signing had produced for multiple years at a high level. Maybe 7mil/year is the going rate for an incomplete grade, but it seems risky to me.

Pappy

I agree.. when we signed Woodley he was a beast. Worilds is good but he isn't great. Hopefully he isn't in the 7 mill range.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Regardless of the grades, there isn't enough of a complete body of work for my liking. It seems way to risky to give him 7mil/year for basically the last 8 games of this past season. Woodley at least at the time of his signing had produced for multiple years at a high level. Maybe 7mil/year is the going rate for an incomplete grade, but it seems risky to me.

Pappy

That really is a fair assessment of the situation Pap when you look at numbers between the two early. Sound argument putting them side by side. I also think you would have to consider the other variables too. Worilds was sitting behind Woodley & Harrison while he was here. So the Steelers only have the body of work from this year as he stacked games as a starter. Although limited...It was impressive. Yes...There is a risk but there is also a risk in letting him walk. When Woodley can't stay on the field & is the 2nd highest paid Steeler...You have to make that right. So if Worilds walks...You are STUCK writing a 8 mil check to Woodley for '14. That could handcuff the Steeler financially & have an impact on what they have to do with Ike & Troy. Worilds is younger with the arrow pointing up. He will come cheaper than Woodley & "you hope" settles that spot for 5-6 years. If you lock him up...Get rid of Woodley's bad investment. You cut him in '14...You really are only losing 5.2 mil of SB left he pocketed & he will be 30. You keep him on the roster week 1...You guarantee him another 8 mil. I'm one of the bigger Woodley fans but this runaway train has built momentum the last three years & its time to jump off.

[NorthCoast]

agreed, but woodley would have to take a 50% paycut for me to want him back.

A haircut for sure. Nobody is factoring in the cost of Woodley's sub when he is out for 6-8 games. Steelers sign a free agent to handle those duties probably at a cost of $2M a year. So the position on the team is costing them $10M/yr. That is a very lofty number that better have performance to back it up.

[costanza2k1]

This guy continually writes drama based articles, remember when he was so irate McClendon was on the bench and not starting over Hampton...yeah how did that work out. All about hits I suppose.

[ikestops85]

Regardless of the grades, there isn't enough of a complete body of work for my liking. It seems way to risky to give him 7mil/year for basically the last 8 games of this past season. Woodley at least at the time of his signing had produced for multiple years at a high level. Maybe 7mil/year is the going rate for an incomplete grade, but it seems risky to me.

Pappy

I would agree with you on the complete body of work but when Worilds replaced Woodley on the left side in 2012 he also played extremely well. That makes me feel better about signing him to a long term deal. What does bother me about Worilds is he completely disappears when he plays on the right side. While I understand that there could be a drop off switching positions he is like night and day. It baffles me.

[hawaiiansteel]

Pittsburgh Steelers Must Decide Whether To Keep or Cut LaMarr Woodley

January 24, 2014
by Jeff Hartman

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not in a healthy place in terms of the NFL salary cap heading into the 2014 campaign. As they stand right now, they are $9.6 million over the salary cap heading into free agency. That says a lot about a team searching for answers to a lot of questions this offseason. With their cap situation as it is, it is now time that the Steelers face some tough decisions regarding their roster for the upcoming season.

You can certainly expect the Steelers to restructure contracts as they usually do to help get in compliance with the NFL’s salary cap standards, but there are more dire decisions to make — decisions in regards to players who have been mainstays on the team for the past several years. Some of the players who will need to be discussed are Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel to name a few, but none loom larger than outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

The question mark that hovers over Woodley isn’t simply his contract, what it would cost the team to cut him and whether or not he has anything left in the tank. No, this is also performance based. Woodley was effective in the first six weeks of the season as he registered five sacks, but again injuries plagued his season and when he did return he was on the opposite side of the field as Jason Worilds had cemented the left side of the defense in his stead.

A lack of performance then leads to questions of whether Woodley should be retained or given his walking papers. What most Steelers fans fail to realize is that it isn’t as simple as just tell Woodley that his services are no longer needed. No, it is much more complex than that. If the Steelers cut Woodley outright before June 1 he would be owed $14.7 million that would all count towards the 2014 salary cap. If the Steelers wait till after June 1 to release Woodley, the $14.7 million would be dispersed over two seasons and therefore make the cap hit less significant. Without getting into technicalities of contract stipulations, guarantees and other jargon it isn’t a good contract for the Steelers to simply dump.

However, what is the alternative? The Steelers could always keep Woodley and hope he performs better next season while staying healthy. They wouldn’t be throwing money away by doing so, but that would also mean Worilds would be playing somewhere else next season. They could put the franchise tag on Worilds and cut Woodley, but that would cost the team nearly $20 million towards next season’s salary cap. All of these factors just compound the simple fact that this decision has a huge impact on the Steelers as a team and franchise for the immediate future.

In my opinion, the Steelers will only release Woodley if they are able to come to a contract extension with Worilds. If they are able to sign him to a new contract and move the numbers around to fit their salary cap needs, they could possibly afford to release Woodley and ultimately eat the millions he is owed this season. If they are unable to sign Worilds to a contract, I don’t think the franchise tag is an option for the Steelers. They would then stick with Woodley and let Worilds test free agent waters.

It’s a tough decision and one that could play a huge role in the Steelers’ success in 2014, but it’s one that needs to be made carefully.

[URL]http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/01/24/pittsburgh-steelers-must-decide-whether-to-keep-or-cut-lamarr-woodley/?l58kaFOp9ElDudDI.99[/URL]

[don2016]

What Pittsburgh is missing is a locker room leader to " slap these guys around" when they get out of line. When Hines Ward left.....the inspiration of greatness went right out the door with him.