TJ and other big $ players

[WindyCitySteel]

This is why Edge rushers are the 2nd highest paid position.

They aren't the force multipliers that QBs are. But they elevate the defense.

Also...I think it's nice that we got to see that Highsmith could produce without TJ. That's a big reason I want to extend him.

He only had 3.5 of his sacks without TJ in the lineup. One counting stat, but still...

[hackjam]

most teams do this.

its usually the same amount of money just getting it bundled in different ways.

Some players refuse because they know that last year with the most money ain’t happening.

But if a team came to me and said they wanted to pay me some of my contract up front to help the team then sure.. as long as I didn’t feel like I was losing money.

To expand...

Restructure typically refers to converting salary to prorated signing bonus. This means teams get to spread that money over the remaining life of the contract (max 5 years) and the player gets a check that day. So if you restructure $10MM of salary over 4 years, you get $7.5MM in cap relief in year one at the expense of $2.5MM in additional cap hit in years 2, 3, and 4.

It's really kind of an intelligence test for the player. Maybe a little less so if the salary is guaranteed but it's still money in the bank today versus money in the bank 6-9 mos from now.

[Oviedo]

Another moronic post...why have any good players. Having the best players at at position could be a problem if you are totally invested in the team failing to further your negative narrative.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

To expand...

Restructure typically refers to converting salary to prorated signing bonus. This means teams get to spread that money over the remaining life of the contract (max 5 years) and the player gets a check that day. So if you restructure $10MM of salary over 4 years, you get $7.5MM in cap relief in year one at the expense of $2.5MM in additional cap hit in years 2, 3, and 4.

It's really kind of an intelligence test for the player. Maybe a little less so if the salary is guaranteed but it's still money in the bank today versus money in the bank 6-9 mos from now.

It's a no-brainer for the player. Not only does he get paid today money he was going to receive this year anyway, but it extends a team's commitment to him. Every time money is added to the SB, it makes the cap hit larger if they want to cut him, making it a more difficult decision for the team down the road.

[hackjam]

It's a no-brainer for the player. Not only does he get paid today money he was going to receive this year anyway, but it extends a team's commitment to him. Every time money is added to the SB, it makes the cap hit larger if they want to cut him, making it a more difficult decision for the team down the road.

Good point. The downside is obviously with a Lamarr Woodley type situation, where the player doesn't live up to the contract in the first place and you eventually cut them and eat a big dead money hit anyway. A similar situation arises with old guys and this is reason why I'd rather not see them restructure Cam's contract at this point. He's declining, his retirement is coming at some point relatively soon and they'll have to eat that money when that happens.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Good point. The downside is obviously with a Lamarr Woodley type situation, where the player doesn't live up to the contract in the first place and you eventually cut them and eat a big dead money hit anyway. A similar situation arises with old guys and this is reason why I'd rather not see them restructure Cam's contract at this point. He's declining, his retirement is coming at some point relatively soon and they'll have to eat that money when that happens.

Agreed, I don't see them restructuring Cam as there are other players who are younger with more long-term value - TJ and Minkah. With Cam, I see him playing out this season and next year you see his value. If he still has it then he plays his last season under a cap hit of $22.4M. If he doesn't, then he "retires" rather then the team cutting him and save $16M under the cap (dead money hit = $6.4M).

[Northern_Blitz]

Agreed, I don't see them restructuring Cam as there are other players who are younger with more long-term value - TJ and Minkah. With Cam, I see him playing out this season and next year you see his value. If he still has it then he plays his last season under a cap hit of $22.4M. If he doesn't, then he "retires" rather then the team cutting him and save $16M under the cap (dead money hit = $6.4M).

And it's better to restructure his with more term left.

Big restructures on short contracts is how Ben ended up with the biggest cap hit in the league (before he signed the dummy extension).

[Joel Buchsbaum]

https://www.steelers.com/news/asked-...d-jan-31-x2871


TJ comes in at just under $30 mill in 2023, and it says he will most definitely redo his deal to give cap relief for this year. My question is: why the f--k do they bother? Why constantly kick the can down the road and have to pay dead cap $? What would be wrong with just paying the deal as it was written? What is up with all of these cap games? I don't get why Pgh always does this.

TJ is worth the money. He is in his prime years and will be when the contract is up. Our over all cap management however is an issue.

[Northern_Blitz]

TJ is worth the money. He is in his prime years and will be when the contract is up. Our over all cap management however is an issue.

Why do you think we have a cap management issue?

I think the max restructure on Ben hurt, but it made sense as a gamble imo.

He was coming back from the injury and we had a very good (maybe elite) D the year before.

I think it made sense to go all in and see if we could get another good shot at a championship.

Obviously it didn't work. But it was a reasonable call imo.