Cochery to visit

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Whimper only cost a few hundred thousand against the cap.

I don't understand this. We were $3.4 million under before we signed Whimper; now we're $2.4 million under. By my calculation, he must have cost us $1 million against the cap. Where am I wrong?

[Ernie]

Whimper only cost a few hundred thousand against the cap. $2.4 million is more than enough to sign Cotchery. If, for some reason, it isn't, they can restructure Timmons. I hope they avoid the restructures and kicking the can down the road, but they can do it if needed.

ok.. I didn't really get the specs on the contract..

I am hoping though that they try to do more than sign Cotchery though...with what $$$ is left.

[Slapstick]

The veteran minimum for a player of his experience (9 years) is somewhere close to $1 million...$810K, IIRC....

[hawaiiansteel]

Cotchery meeting wraps up in Carolina, will choose between Panthers and Steelers

Posted by Josh Alper on March 18, 2014



The Panthers’ search for a wideout who caught a pass in 2013 continued with a visit from Jerricho Cotchery on Monday and Tuesday.

That visit has come to an end without a signed contract and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that Cotchery is expected to make a choice between playing for the Panthers and returning to the Steelers. Per Person, the decision could come on Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Cotchery caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes for the Steelers in 2013 and had 46 catches for 602 yards overall. Those numbers were a big uptick from Cotchery’s previous two seasons with the Steelers, who have already lost Emmanuel Sanders to free agency this offseason. Pittsburgh was expected to meet with free agent wide receiver Lance Moore this week.

While it’s not known what will factor into Cotchery’s ultimate choice, it is a good bet that money will play a leading role and it could come down to whether the Panthers or Steelers offer more of it in their search for someone to catch passes in 2014.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/18/cotchery-meeting-wraps-up-in-carolina-will-choose-between-panthers-and-steelers/[/URL]

[phillyesq]

I don't understand this. We were $3.4 million under before we signed Whimper; now we're $2.4 million under. By my calculation, he must have cost us $1 million against the cap. Where am I wrong?

On a qualified veteran minimum contract, a player's cap hit is less than his salary. Also, only the 51 highest salaries count. So Whimper's cap hit is $635k, but he replaced somebody at $420k, meaning he only uses $215k in cap space. There are reports that the Steelers borrowed against the cap in earlier years and are paying it back, in part, this year. That would account for $750k, so that could be the difference.

[url]http://overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Steelers&Year=2014[/url]

[NorthCoast]

On a qualified veteran minimum contract, a player's cap hit is less than his salary. Also, only the 51 highest salaries count. So Whimper's cap hit is $635k, but he replaced somebody at $420k, meaning he only uses $215k in cap space. There are reports that the Steelers borrowed against the cap in earlier years and are paying it back, in part, this year. That would account for $750k, so that could be the difference.

[URL]http://overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Steelers&Year=2014[/URL]

"borrowed against the cap"..... wow. Knew they were in cap hell, but that is approaching Hades at the hottest spot......

[Oviedo]

"borrowed against the cap"..... wow. Knew they were in cap hell, but that is approaching Hades at the hottest spot......

That's what happens when you don't develop young players and hang onto veterans too long because they know the system and you are trying to get just one more.

[NorthCoast]

That's what happens when you don't develop young players and hang onto veterans too long because they know the system and you are trying to get just one more.

I am sure that is the Steelers strategy.

Two failed drafts in a row will cause you to "hang onto veterans too long"........

Yes. You can claim they failed, but it is not like they didn't try to restock. You have heard it a hundred times, the players from 2008 and 2009 should be the ones on the field replacing the old guys today. Most are not even in football.

[phillyesq]

"borrowed against the cap"..... wow. Knew they were in cap hell, but that is approaching Hades at the hottest spot......

I recently read somewhere (can't find it now) that a number of teams, the Steelers included, borrowed $1.5 million a few years ago against future caps. I believe that was something that came about because of the lockout and the new CBA after the uncapped year.

[Slapstick]

I thought that the Steelers had $1.5 million of unused cap space last year that they were permitted to move to this year...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I thought that the Steelers had $1.5 million of unused cap space last year that they were permitted to move to this year...

I thought I remembered that they were right up against the cap last season...when they had to sign a player in the middle of the season, they had to re-structure someone's salary just to squeeze out enough cap space to do that.

[Slapstick]

I've read several reports that state that the Steelers had about $1.3 million in unused cap space last year that may rollover to this year...

[K Train]

That's what happens when you don't develop young players and hang onto veterans too long because they know the system and you are trying to get just one more.

They were keeping a superbowl roster together, damn near all championship teams try to do that...they are in an awkward position of old guys leaving and new guys coming in.

08 and 09 were no help, not for a lot of teams

[phillyesq]

I am sure that is the Steelers strategy.

Two failed drafts in a row will cause you to "hang onto veterans too long"........

Yes. You can claim they failed, but it is not like they didn't try to restock. You have heard it a hundred times, the players from 2008 and 2009 should be the ones on the field replacing the old guys today. Most are not even in football.

Those drafts were killers. Look at the failed picks:

- RB
- Tall WR
- OLB
- DE

And looks at the picks that weren't retained:

- WR
- CB

These were all areas of need that have been addressed with subsequent high picks or are areas of need today.

When you rely on the draft, you cannot come up empty with two classes. And especially with the Wallace situation, if you aren't going to be able to retain the player, you need to find a way to exchange that asset to return value. The third round comp pick, whoever it is, likely won't be a contributor until late 2014 or 2015, regardless of the side of the ball.

[hawaiiansteel]