Jason Worilds wants to stay -- as starter

[hawaiiansteel]

Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: Jason Worilds Drawing Interest From A Dozen Teams

BY MATT SHETLER - FEB 24TH, 2014



Many feel that the Pittsburgh Steelers top priority this offseason is re-signing outside linebacker Jason Worilds.

Many also feel that will be as easy as cutting ties with fellow outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. However as I have noted in the past, it won’t be that simple for the Steelers to get a deal done with Worilds.

Now, as expected, they have a ton of competition for the services of the fourth-year pro.

According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, “at least a dozen” NFL teams have already expressed a lot of interest in Worilds.

Pauline also adds that Woodley’s deal will make it “very difficult if not impossible” to keep Worilds.

The Steelers have Woodley under contract for $8 million next season to go along with a cap hit of $13.59 million. Releasing him this offseason would free up $25.5 million in cap space over the next three years. However it’s the dead money this year that will eventually hurt the Steelers whether or not Woodley is on the roster or not.

Worilds is coming off of a solid year in 2013 and has said that he has no intention of taking a back seat in the coming years, so the Steelers would not only need to pay him a market value contract, but also assure him that he will be a starter moving forward.

The Virginia Tech product had 63 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles this season and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 12 3-4 outside linebacker in the league.

With so much competition for Worilds’ services, you know for a certainty that the price will be driven up. If that is the case, it could be impossible for the Steelers to pay Worilds what he is going to get from other teams.

The Steelers are projected to be around $10 million above the salary cap going into the offseason. While there are ways they can free up money, will they be able to free up enough to ink Worilds to a deal and still fill some other needs?

[URL]http://cityofchampionssports.com/2014/02/24/pittsburgh-steelers-rumors-jason-worilds-drawing-interest-dozen-teams/[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Losing Worilds would be yet another condemnation and evidence of a failing system that doesn't allow players to get significant playing time until their third or fourth season.

[pittpete]

How so OV?
Woodley and Harrison were there.

[Shoe]

He got playing time

Losing Worilds would be yet another condemnation and evidence of a failing system that doesn't allow players to get significant playing time until their third or fourth season.

He started half the season his second year in the league. He came to camp his 3rd year, hurt himself, and couldn't distinguish himself from Cris Carter in any case. He failed (to stand out) so much that year, that the team saw fit to draft a 3-4 OLB in that spot. And that rookie beat him out in a competition for the starting job, in a system that "doesn't allow players to get significant playing time until their third or fourth season."

[hawaiiansteel]

LaCanfora: Steelers Will Keep Woodley, Won’t Be Able To Sign Worilds

February 25th, 2014 Matt Loede



While it’s been talked about more than once this offseason already, there’s still some mystery as to what the Steelers are going to do with the outside linebacker spot that seemed to be in flux last season.

CBS Sports’s Jason La Canfora shed some light on the subject during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, and what he said may come as a complete stunner to most Steelers fans.

The NFL Insider said in his opinion, he sees the Steelers keeping high-priced linebacker LaMarr Woodley around, this despite a salary that will see him make $8 million in 2014 after he made $3.6 million in 2013.

The cap hit is even worse for the Steelers, as Woodley’s inflated salary will eat up $13.5 million in the 2014 season, last season his cap number was $9.1 million.

The move to keep Woodley means that, according to LaCanfora, the Steelers will lose out on outside linebacker Jason Worilds, who was maybe the best defensive player on the field for the Steelers in the last half of the season.

LaCanfora feels that Worilds will get a lot of attention on the free agent market, and the up and coming LB will get an offer the Steelers simply can’t match.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, as the combo of last years first-round pick Jarvis Jones and Worilds would make for a solid 1-2 punch at the two OLB spots for the Steelers.

“I don’t think they’re cutting Woodley,” LaCanfora said on the 93.7 The Fan morning show.

“I think there’s going to be a real strong market for Jason Worilds. I don’t think it’s limited to 3-4 teams, either. I think there are some 4-3 teams that are intrigued by him as well. I think he’s gone, I do. I think they’ll have a hard time retaining him.”

There is some good news in all this gloom and doom according to LaCanfora, and that has to do with safety Troy Polamalu, who LaCanfora says will take a cut in pay but will stay with the Steelers.

[URL]http://www.steelersgab.com/2014/02/25/lacanfora-steelers-will-keep-woodley-wont-be-able-to-sign-worilds/[/URL]

[squidkid]

if LaCanfora is correct on his guess about woodley, I predict another bad year.
Troy taking a cut? I thought his agent said that wasn't gonna happen.

[SteelBucks]

if LaCanfora is correct on his guess about woodley, I predict another bad year.
Troy taking a cut? I thought his agent said that wasn't gonna happen.

Troy's agent was open to the idea. IMO, several vets will need to restructure to stick around. It's hard to believe the Steelers are one of only two teams currently over the cap (about $8 million over). Dallas is the other.

We've got a lot of bad contracts and dead money bogging this team down.

[squidkid]

Troy's agent was open to the idea. IMO, several vets will need to restructure to stick around. It's hard to believe the Steelers are one of only two teams currently over the cap (about $8 million over). Dallas is the other.

We've got a lot of bad contracts and dead money bogging this team down.

hmm, i read somewhere that he was totally against it. well, whatever.
i would cut levi and offer troy, ike and woodley to take a 50% paycut. take it or get released. that would be a good start

[steelz09]

I've been a Woodley supporter but I hope he is cut and they are able to retain Worilds. It just makes good business sense. Woodley isn't getting any younger (29 already). I think they could afford Worilds at a 6-7 mil/year price tag.

[focosteeler]

I've been a Woodley supporter but I hope he is cut and they are able to retain Worilds. It just makes good business sense. Woodley isn't getting any younger (29 already). I think they could afford Worilds at a 6-7 mil/year price tag.

I think they need to keep him this year. There is no depth behind Jarvis and hopefully Worilds. They have to try and get Woodley to take a paycut and if he doesn't workout then cut him next year after they can develop some new guys. With the salary cap increase I think they should be able to offer Worilds 7 mil, he earned his starting spot last year. We just have to hope no other team offers him something more.

[squidkid]

I've been a Woodley supporter but I hope he is cut and they are able to retain Worilds. It just makes good business sense. Woodley isn't getting any younger (29 already). I think they could afford Worilds at a 6-7 mil/year price tag.

id draw up 1 contract for 4 million per year for 2 years and offer it to both guys. first 1 to take it, get it. the other walks.
if both walk, there will be FAs available to hold down the spot until we develop someone

[birtikidis]

How so OV?
Woodley and Harrison were there.

BC You're SUPPOSED to bench the guys who have proven themselves and were playing at a high level. I don't care if the guy missed training camp or that he couldn't cement a spot over a rookie. He's YOUNG SO PLAY HIM

[K Train]

Woodley is a bust in my opinion. He isn't a playmaker at all.
As the hardest hitting lb of all time, I should know.

I was really impressed by Worilds last year, especially when he ran down a guy trying to take it to the house. Worilds blew by corners and safetys to catch the guy and tackle him. I'd bet that he is the fastest guy on the team in the 100.

hes not even the fastest LB on the team lol

[NorthCoast]

Losing Worilds would be yet another condemnation and evidence of a failing system that doesn't allow players to get significant playing time until their third or fourth season.

I fail to follow your logic.

With both Harrison and Woodley under contract, hows does playing Worilds early and often get the Steelers out of the current situation??

[feltdizz]

I'm still not sold On Worilds...