Big Ben Vows To Help Steelers With $41M Cap Hit

[NorthCoast]

Everything is correct until you get to the math. $22.25M pro rated SB + $1.075M = a cap hit of $23.325M, a cap savings of $17.925. Cap savings from cutting him is $19M.

The problem is what is meant by the word "restructure". While fans usually praise players who restructure their contract, the usual way that it is done is that the player gets the same money that they were going to receive for the year, most of it day one. Salary turned into bonus that is kicked down the road and puts you in the position we see today where even cutting a player in his final year costs $22M against the cap. That number has nothing to do with Ben's original contract, it is because they kept restructuring and today is the day we need to pay the piper.

When Ben uses a phrase like "willing to help", that is not a restructure. Anybody should be willing to do that, there is no loss in money. If he actually wants to help he takes an actual reduction. The difference is that I would do it with minimal signing bonus, instead guaranteed roster bonuses. That way, even if he is not on the team, that money is due to him.

The plan that I'd laid out would reduce the total guaranteed outlay from $19M to $10M. There would be a cap hit of $26.25M in 2021 (savings $15M) and only $6M kicked down the road. If he retires after next season then the dead money hit is a much more palatable $6M. That can all be taken in '22 or spread out as $2M in '22 and $4M in '23. Ben's help is forgoing $9M.

If restructured the traditional way, you keep his salary at say $2M, and spread the remaining $17M spread out over maybe 4 years on a 3 year extension. So pro-rated is $4.25 per year and cap hit in '21 is $22.25M + $6.25M = $28.5M, a reduction in cap hit of $12.75M with that $12.75M still to be accounted for in future years. In this scenario, while it does help the team's cap next year, Ben actually gives up nothing. He still would receive $19M in 2021.

I'm interested to hear what Ben's side proposed, since they presumably made the call. The FO did not need Ben to remind them how to kick the can down the road. Is he actually willing to make a sacrifice? Or just helping them with accounting? Is he willing to sacrifice only if they retain Pouncey? I'd like to have been on that phone call.

Nice work and good summary t.o.... the highlighted is what I don't care for because it's putting the QB's wishes over what is best for the team. Keep fielding the same team with the same weaknesses and hoping for a different result is hardly a way to win a championship.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think the real question is can we field a better TEAM without Ben next year. Can we keep more impact players at other positions if we move on from Ben?

Will a younger QB who practices everyday and stays late to work with WR’s because he is hungry af to be a franchise QB make us better overall?

Will Mason not focus on DJ so much that he gives players like Washington and Claypool more shots downfield with more catchable balls?

Ben had his time, he is a first ballot HOFer but I also think its time to start the next chapter and see if Tomlin and company can do it without Ben.

The back to back games against the Browns have to make you wonder if the team would be better without him even with a no new money extension that only adds $6M to the cap next year (and $14 the year after).

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Nice work and good summary t.o.... the highlighted is what I don't care for because it's putting the QB's wishes over what is best for the team. Keep fielding the same team with the same weaknesses and hoping for a different result is hardly a way to win a championship.

Thanks NC. I agree. I've been talking about getting rid of Pouncey for a couple of years - once I thought it was reasonable enough to take the dead cap hit. I've said it so much I am starting to sound like Ovi talking about Jarvis Jones. I think I'm able to accept Ben returning for one more shot, but NO WAY can we bring Pouncey back. It isn't that he is not worth the $14.475M cap hit or the $8M salary, it is because he is a liability on the field and the position must be upgraded. I don't get how Ben doesn't realize that he is a much worse player with Pouncey as his center.

[feltdizz]

The back to back games against the Browns have to make you wonder if the team would be better without him even with a no new money extension that only adds $6M to the cap next year (and $14 the year after).

and Mason’s game was on the road and a must win game for Cleveland.

[Northern_Blitz]

Everything is correct until you get to the math. $22.25M pro rated SB + $1.075M = a cap hit of $23.325M, a cap savings of $17.925. Cap savings from cutting him is $19M.

The problem is what is meant by the word "restructure". While fans usually praise players who restructure their contract, the usual way that it is done is that the player gets the same money that they were going to receive for the year, most of it day one. Salary turned into bonus that is kicked down the road and puts you in the position we see today where even cutting a player in his final year costs $22M against the cap. That number has nothing to do with Ben's original contract, it is because they kept restructuring and today is the day we need to pay the piper.

When Ben uses a phrase like "willing to help", that is not a restructure. Anybody should be willing to do that, there is no loss in money. If he actually wants to help he takes an actual reduction. The difference is that I would do it with minimal signing bonus, instead guaranteed roster bonuses. That way, even if he is not on the team, that money is due to him.

The plan that I'd laid out would reduce the total guaranteed outlay from $19M to $10M. There would be a cap hit of $26.25M in 2021 (savings $15M) and only $6M kicked down the road. If he retires after next season then the dead money hit is a much more palatable $6M. That can all be taken in '22 or spread out as $2M in '22 and $4M in '23. Ben's help is forgoing $9M.

If restructured the traditional way, you keep his salary at say $2M, and spread the remaining $17M spread out over maybe 4 years on a 3 year extension. So pro-rated is $4.25 per year and cap hit in '21 is $22.25M + $6.25M = $28.5M, a reduction in cap hit of $12.75M with that $12.75M still to be accounted for in future years. In this scenario, while it does help the team's cap next year, Ben actually gives up nothing. He still would receive $19M in 2021.

I'm interested to hear what Ben's side proposed, since they presumably made the call. The FO did not need Ben to remind them how to kick the can down the road. Is he actually willing to make a sacrifice? Or just helping them with accounting? Is he willing to sacrifice only if they retain Pouncey? I'd like to have been on that phone call.

I like the idea.

But I think there's ~0% chance that Ben takes less than what's in his current contract.

I think "willing to help" means "I'll let them move the money around how they want to reduce my cap hit because this will be my last year". But we won't know until mid March or so.

[Northern_Blitz]

Thanks NC. I agree. I've been talking about getting rid of Pouncey for a couple of years - once I thought it was reasonable enough to take the dead cap hit. I've said it so much I am starting to sound like Ovi talking about Jarvis Jones. I think I'm able to accept Ben returning for one more shot, but NO WAY can we bring Pouncey back. It isn't that he is not worth the $14.475M cap hit or the $8M salary, it is because he is a liability on the field and the position must be upgraded. I don't get how Ben doesn't realize that he is a much worse player with Pouncey as his center.

I think their decision on Pouncey will basically tell us if they're serious about doing more than pretending to be competitive next season.

And in retrospect, maybe it should have told us that this season.

I was 100% in on the idea that Ben could get us to the SB if he was even average with this D.

But we had so many injuries.

And he was so much worse than average in the first half of that playoff game.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Please don't kick the can down the road. Play as is or retire, maybe you're a cap casualty. But enough is enough, we need to move on and also be able to sign our own up and coming superstars.

[NorthCoast]

Bayless... "Big Ben is reduced to groveling for his position on the team"....ouch. He's also not convinced Rooney is thrilled with him returning.

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers-team

[whatever]

Rooney is an idiot.

[hawaiiansteel]

Rooney is an idiot.

you know when you went away for a couple of days?

that was really nice...

[steeler_george]

you know when you went away for a couple of days?

that was really nice...

Really Hawaii?
Why ?
How many people do you have beef with on here? Can't go in a F**** thread and not see this constant bitching. ( you and the other dudes!) It just turns everyone off...

[whatever]

you know when you went away for a couple of days?

that was really nice...

It was nice.
Went down to Florida with my wife and another couple for a long 4 day weekend. Ate, drank, laid on the beach, took in an airboat ride.
Just for something to do.

[whatever]

Really Hawaii?
Why ?
How many people do you have beef with on here? Can't go in a F**** thread and not see this constant bitching. ( you and the other dudes!) It just turns everyone off...

Exactly. One guy has him on ignore but continues to stalk and violate forum rules.
I decided not to respond to him for a week or so and he does the same to me.
He’ll reply by making up an excuse where he is right and the others are wrong.....3,2,1

[steeler_george]

Please don't kick the can down the road. Play as is or retire, maybe you're a cap casualty. But enough is enough, we need to move on and also be able to sign our own up and coming superstars.

Chuck why not, we have money to spend in 2022...

something like 177 or 155 Million( I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACT $) under the cap, when you compare it to this coming year where the whole cap should be min of 170M... that is a whole lot of money to spend...

[hawaiiansteel]

How many people do you have beef with on here?

just two trolls...