Worilds Ranked Second Best Free Agent LB

[Oviedo]

Not bad for a "terrible" Tomlin draft pick. Could make him too hard for us to resign.

Worilds ranked second-best free-agent LB

January 24, 201411:18 PM
By EdBouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Linebacker Jason Worilds, blocked by a wrist injury and two Pro Bowlers in front of him his first three seasons with the Steelers, broke through with his best season in 2013, and it’s about to pay off for him.
Worilds is ranked as the second-best linebacker available in free agency,according to RotoWorld, a highly regarded site that covers prosports, including the NFL, and released its ratings Friday.

The only outside linebacker ranked ahead of Worilds is Brian Orakpo ofthe Washington Redskins, a first-round draft choice in 2009 who hasmade three Pro Bowls.

Freeagents can sign with other teams beginning March 11, but they canre-sign with their own team anytime before. Although the Steelershave not identified which players they would like to sign, presidentArt Rooney II, in a recent chat with Steelers ticket-holders,mentioned only one player when asked who he would like to keep.

“JasonWorilds is certainly somebody who came on and showed what he can do,particularly over the second half of the season,” Rooney said.

TheSteelers have 21 unrestricted free agents, and 18 landed onRotoWorld’s rankings. Among their position players, FernandoVelasco ranked the next highest as the eighth-best center.
EmmanuelSanders is ranked No. 9 at wide receiver, Jerricho Cotchery No. 17and Plaxico Burress No. 44 among the 45 they ranked.

RyanClark is listed 10th among the 40 safeties with Will Allen at No. 34.Former Steelers safety Ryan Mundy is No. 23.

RotoWorld ranked LaRod Stephens-Howling as the 14th-best running back, Jonathan Dwyer as No. 15 and Felix Jones No. 20. Former Steeler RashardMendenhall ranked seventh.
Brett Keisel is 15th among the 35 defensive ends. It listed defensive end Ziggy Hood at defensive tackle, where they rank him 16th among the 40on their list with Al Woods at No. 30.
David Johnson is listed at No. 20 among tight ends and Michael Palmer No.25.

Stevenson Sylvester ranks 29th of the 30 inside linebackers on the RotoWorld list, but Jamaal Westerman is ranked five spots above him.

Of the five punters listed, Plum native Pat McAfee is No. 1, and two who played for the Steelers last season, Mat McBriar and Zoltan Mesko,are listed fourth and fifth.

Former Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon is rated No. 3 among guards available in free agency. Also at guard, former Steeler Jamon Meredith is ranked 14th and Chris Scott No. 22.

Only three of the Steelers impending 21 unrestricted free agents are not on the RotoWorld rankings — Cody Wallace and Guy Whimper, and they do not list long snappers, so Greg Warren is not mentioned.
The Steelers have no restricted free agents this year.

[Ernie]

I've been saying that for a few weeks now. He's ranked too high for us to be able to hold onto. Someone will take a chance on him and offer him a high end deal.

[Shawn]

I've been saying that for a few weeks now. He's ranked too high for us to be able to hold onto. Someone will take a chance on him and offer him a high end deal.

I think you are right Ernie. The Steelers made their own bed with this one. They didn't recognize the need to sign him while he was affordable. Now, he will break the bank. 6-8 million per season will be his market. With the Steelers on the line for much of Woodley's contract...just not sure they are willing to eat that...and put more money into the position for a guy who flashed for half a season.

[sick beats]

He's gone. Guess we have to make Woodley work out. But he will be hurt like he is every season.

[B&GinNC]

Guess what position just skyrocketed up the draft board? The PS will likely have 8 picks. Now guessing a 2nd and a 3rd day pick are spent at the position.

[Ernie]

it's a pretty disturbing trend really...

[8467thekraken]

Hard to blame the FO. They had to go with what they had. And that was Woodley. He put up impressive numbers with Harrison. They were an impressive tandom. It sucks that Woodley gets hurt every year. It also sucks that we will lose Worilds. But we have Jones. And getting Barr or Mack or Mosley this year in the first will keep us right in the thick of things. And if those 3 are gone we will get Nix or Gilbert. And if all 5 of those guys are gone, hello Marqise Lee. and hello offense. 'cause with Lee, Brown, Cotchery, Wheaton, Miller and Bell...defenses will have a hand full with Ben behind Center.

I personally think Lee in place of Sanders flips this offense. Brown, Lee, Wheaton, Miller and Bell is gross with Ben at the helm and Pouncey,Foster,Beachum and DDC on the line.

I don't know. I just feel like like we can't lose with our draft position this year.

[Captain Lemming]

He's gone. Guess we have to make Woodley work out. But he will be hurt like he is every season.

Something to consider.
We regret paying Woodley the big bucks because AFTER signing he has been injury prone right?
Worilds got a starting opportunity twice and cannot string together a half season of starts......EVER.
Woodley at least HAS been a healthy starter. Worilds has NEVER done that.

Not to defend Woodley, but if we dont want an oft injured player Worilds aint necessarily gonna be any better at staying healthy.

His new found value to another team might be a blessing in disguise.

It would look really stupid if we get snake bitten again with a guy WE KNEW IN ADVANCE was prone to injury, pay him AND get cap hit by a chunk of what we owe Woodley after cutting him.

Beware what you wish for my Steeler brothers.

[Ernie]

Something to consider.
We regret paying Woodley the big bucks because AFTER signing he has been injury prone right?
Worilds got a starting opportunity twice and cannot string together a half season of starts......EVER.
Woodley at least HAS been a healthy starter. Worilds has NEVER done that.

Not to defend Woodley, but if we dont want an oft injured player Worilds aint necessarily gonna be any better at staying healthy.

His new found value to another team might be a blessing in disguise.

It would look really stupid if we get snake bitten again with a guy WE KNEW IN ADVANCE was prone to injury, pay him AND get cap hit by a chunk of what we owe Woodley after cutting him.

Beware what you wish for my Steeler brothers.

so you're saying there's a good chance we are screwed either way? That is a good possibility

[steeler_george]

instead of signning worilds, why don't go for the #1 LB? How much more would it be to get the all pro?

I agree with CAPTAIN LEMMING.... Worilds has never had a healhy season, and that was the knock on Woodley!

[Ernie]

It's safe to say that the vast majority of these guys are "Injury prone". Not too many guys play a full 16 game season in today's NFL.

[papillon]

Before we start giving the FO a hard time over Worilds, can someone tell me at what time you believed he had performed at an NFL level good enough to offer him a contract extension? Often injured and multiple opportunities to take hold of the starting position without success. What do you offer a player with those stat line and failures to keep him on your team? Why would you?

On the other hand, it seems the coaching staff may have missed on where to play Worilds, it seems he's a very good LOLB, but not so much at ROLB.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

Before we start giving the FO a hard time over Worilds, can someone tell me at what time you believed he had performed at an NFL level good enough to offer him a contract extension? Often injured and multiple opportunities to take hold of the starting position without success. What do you offer a player with those stat line and failures to keep him on your team? Why would you?

On the other hand, it seems the coaching staff may have missed on where to play Worilds, it seems he's a very good LOLB, but not so much at ROLB.

Pappy

Worilds was among team leader in QB presssures in games he played in. FO could have made an offer and got him on the cheap by offering him security after last season which he likely would have jumped all over. Especially knowing Harrison was washed up and Woodley was a huge question mark.

[phillyesq]

Before we start giving the FO a hard time over Worilds, can someone tell me at what time you believed he had performed at an NFL level good enough to offer him a contract extension? Often injured and multiple opportunities to take hold of the starting position without success. What do you offer a player with those stat line and failures to keep him on your team? Why would you?

On the other hand, it seems the coaching staff may have missed on where to play Worilds, it seems he's a very good LOLB, but not so much at ROLB.

Pappy

You nailed it, Pappy. Worilds had a perfect opportunity to demonstrate his value when Harrison was out for a few weeks to start the 2012 season. However, he couldn't seize the opportunity because he wasn't healthy himself, and he ended up splitting reps with Chris Carter. His performance to start this season was so lackluster that he lost his starting job to Jarvis Jones. He finally capitalized on the opportunity when Jones lost his starting job, but even then, Worilds missed the last game of the season because of an injury.

Worilds did show some flashes at times, but he never showed an ability to stay healthy or perform at a consistently high level. You can't blame the FO when the player doesn't capitalize on his opportunities.

[phillyesq]

Worilds was among team leader in QB presssures in games he played in. FO could have made an offer and got him on the cheap by offering him security after last season which he likely would have jumped all over. Especially knowing Harrison was washed up and Woodley was a huge question mark.

If I was Worilds, I wouldn't have signed a low extension with the Steelers going into this offseason. You know that they have a huge contract in Woodley and a first round pick at your position in Jones. He would have to think that his best opportunity was with another organization.