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Sounds like it could restrict the Steelers from doing much in Free Agency. Per Bouchette's column today:
But Vierra notes one big problem for the Steelers, the NFL's salary cap. Various trackers of the cap peg the Steelers with roughly $20 million under the cap of $123 million. However, that was before Starks' deal, and before the accounting from last season that could affect their cap for this season. Taking just Starks' salary, it would reduce their room to around $11.5 million. All salary cap accounting must be done by Thursday, the day before free agency begins.
"We had some good initial discussions but they have a bit of an issue now with the cap because Max is counting $8.5 million," Vierra said. "They have some work to do on their end."
Further complicating deals done now is that, because 2010 is an uncapped year unless a new collective bargaining agreement is worked out, no salary can increase by more than 30 percent from 2009 to 2010. It should put a premium on either keeping a salary high for '09 -- and thus eating up more cap room -- or putting more money into a signing bonus. The latter might be even more difficult for the Steelers, who are undergoing an ownership restructuring.
Vierra cited the 30 percent rule as a potential problem as the Steelers negotiate for Kemoeatu.
"Yeah, they want him back," Vierra said. "But just because he wants to be there and they want him back doesn't mean it will get done. They have to do some stuff on their end."
Among that stuff is to extend the contract of linebacker James Harrison, the NFL defensive player of the year. That should cut deeply into their available salary cap room as well.
Those also are reasons they likely will get no deals done with cornerback Bryant McFadden or wide receiver Nate Washington before they become free agents Friday, too.
Link: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09055/951172-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09055/95 ... eelers.xml[/url]
But Vierra notes one big problem for the Steelers, the NFL's salary cap. Various trackers of the cap peg the Steelers with roughly $20 million under the cap of $123 million. However, that was before Starks' deal, and before the accounting from last season that could affect their cap for this season. Taking just Starks' salary, it would reduce their room to around $11.5 million. All salary cap accounting must be done by Thursday, the day before free agency begins.
"We had some good initial discussions but they have a bit of an issue now with the cap because Max is counting $8.5 million," Vierra said. "They have some work to do on their end."
Further complicating deals done now is that, because 2010 is an uncapped year unless a new collective bargaining agreement is worked out, no salary can increase by more than 30 percent from 2009 to 2010. It should put a premium on either keeping a salary high for '09 -- and thus eating up more cap room -- or putting more money into a signing bonus. The latter might be even more difficult for the Steelers, who are undergoing an ownership restructuring.
Vierra cited the 30 percent rule as a potential problem as the Steelers negotiate for Kemoeatu.
"Yeah, they want him back," Vierra said. "But just because he wants to be there and they want him back doesn't mean it will get done. They have to do some stuff on their end."
Among that stuff is to extend the contract of linebacker James Harrison, the NFL defensive player of the year. That should cut deeply into their available salary cap room as well.
Those also are reasons they likely will get no deals done with cornerback Bryant McFadden or wide receiver Nate Washington before they become free agents Friday, too.
Link: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09055/951172-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09055/95 ... eelers.xml[/url]
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