Monthly Archives: March 2014

Raiders And Titans Showing Early Interest In LaMarr Woodley

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According to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, LaMarr Woodley is scheduled to visit the Oakland Raiders today. As you most certainly know, Woodley was officially released by the Steelers at 4:00 pm yesterday, with a June 1st designation. The move will free $8 Mil in cap space for the Steelers on June 2nd.

The Raiders run a 4-3 defensive base, but it’s no surprise that they would seek to move Woodley to a 4-3 defensive end. The Tennessee Titans have also expressed interest in him, according to Tennessean reporter Jim Wyatt. Tennessee is where I originally thought Woodley would land after being cut by the Steelers. I imagine there will be a couple other interested parties before Woodley finds a new team.

Many have asked if the Steelers would or could resign Woodley during the summer. I think I have a greater chance of being signed as the backup long snapper tomorrow.

Steelers Re-Sign Greg Warren And Cody Wallace

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The Steelers announce that they have re-signed LS Greg Warren and OL Cody Wallace. The Steelers originally signed Warren as an UDFA in 2005, and he has been with the team ever since. His signing is for 1 year, most likely for the veteran minimum and apx. a $65,000 signing bonus.

Cody Wallace has been signed to a 3 year deal. Don’t expect this contract to break the bank either. Wallace played in 9 games for the Steelers in 2013. He’s shown versatility as a swing man, who can play both guard and center. Wallace was originally drafted by the 49ers in the 4th round of the 2008 draft, and spent 2 years there. After that, he bounced around on practice squads for a couple seasons before ultimately being signed by the Steelers last year.

He’s described as a soft spoken man who plays with a mean streak. No doubt most of Steeler Nation remembers the play that made him famous last year.

Al Woods Scheduled To Visit Titans On Wednesday

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Steelers free agent defensive lineman Al Woods is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Since the Titans recently hired Ray Horton as their defensive coordinator, it should be expected that they will be making plays at 3-4 defensive linemen during free agency.

Woods was drafted in the 4th round by the Saints in 2010. He bounced around from practice squad to practice squad earlier in his career, but has shown that he’s a solid contributor, who is extremely versatile on the defensive line.

I expected the Steelers would try to retain Woods, but he’ll have to come cheap. We’ll have to wait and see what comes of the meeting with the Titans.

Steelers To Sign FA Safety Mike Mitchell

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According to league sources, the Steelers are signing former Panthers safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell confirms this on Twitter.

Mitchell is listed as a strong safety, but played most of 2013 at free safety after Charles Godfrey suffered an achilles injury. Mitchell was drafted by the Raiders in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft. He signed a one year deal with the Panthers last year for $1 Mil, with $250 K guaranteed.

Last year, Mitchell totaled 4 interceptions, 3 sacks, and 45 solo tackles. According to ProFootballFocus, Mitchell was tied at the top of the list of safeties with the most missed tackles at 18, though he also is considered one of the best blitzing safeties, and his coverage skills are pretty good. Last year, 1 touchdown was allowed in his coverage area.

According to Adam Schefter, Mitchell’s contract is for 5 years, and totals $25 Mil.

 

Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin On Hand At Michigan St. Pro Day

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Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert are in attendance for Michigan State’s Pro Day, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.

Another reporter described Pittsburgh’s attendance as “all hands on deck”. The most notable prospect on the Steelers radar is CB Darqueze Dennard. Dennard measured a 36-inch vertical jump today. He also was marked at 11-2 on his broad jump. That number ties the longest broad jump at the combine, which was 11-2 by Lache Seastrunk.

Aside from Dennard, there are definitely other prospects that will draw the Steelers interest today. Safety Isaiah Lewis and LB Max Bullough to name a couple. Here is the list of other prospects who preformed for scouts today.

OLB Denicos Allen, OT Henry Conway, DE Denzel Drone, LB Kyler Elsworth, OT Fou Fonoti, OG Dan France, DL Tyler Hoover, QB Andrew Maxwell, PK Kevin Muma, DL Micajah Reynolds and OG Blake Treadwell.

Here’s a look at Darqueze Dennard doing drills for NFL scouts.

Report: Ike Taylor Took A $4.25 Million Salary Reduction

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Jason La Canfora reports that Ike Taylor has renegotiated his contract with the Steelers. La Canfora states that Ike’s new deal is for one year at $2.75 Mil. His previous base salary was $7Mil. Doing the math here, that’s a $4.25 Mil pay cut for Taylor. The Steelers are still on the hook for his signing bonus money of almost $5 Mil, that doesn’t just go away, but clearing $4.25 Mil in cap space is as good as the team could hope for.

If this is true, it takes Ike’s 2014 cap number from $11,942,404 down to $7,692,404. It’s hard to say if the Steelers reported interest in various CB’s helped negotiations or not. Either way, Ike certainly must have known that he was going to see a reduced value if he hit the crowded free agent market.

The Steelers now have some cap room to work with for signing free agents…namely their own.

Ike Taylor Implies That He’s Signed A New Deal

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Ike Taylor has just posted on his Twitter account that the ink is drying, presumably on a new deal that will keep him a Steeler for the remainder of his career. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Report: Steelers To Release LaMarr Woodley On Tuesday

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According to Adam Schefter, the Stelers plan to release LaMarr Woodley at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, the official beginning of the new league year. Woodley’s representation has confirmed that he has been told he will be released.

The team will designate Woodley a “June 1st” cut. This will allow the team to accelerate the remaining guaranteed balance to next year, as opposed to all of it accelerating immediately. Woodley carries a $13.59 salary cap number this year, and the team will be responsible for that number until June 2nd. This will not help clear any space to sign free agents immediately. After June 1st, his base salary will come off the books, freeing up $8 Mil in cap space for 2014.

The $8 Mil in cap space will help sign the rookie pool, summer insurance signings, and more.  After June 1st, the team will carry a dead money charge of $5.59 Mil this year from the release, and $8.58 Mil in 2015. The team also saves $25 and a half Mil they would have had to pay during the remainder of his contract.

Larry Foote Wants To Play For A Contender Next Year

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ESPN reporter Josina Anderson reports that LB Larry Foote, who was released by the Steelers last Wednesday, has no immediate plans to retire. Foote told the reporter in a phone interview that he intends to keep playing, and wants to play for a contender next year.

The veteran linebacker went on to say that he also hopes that he doesn’t have to wait to be signed until summer, because it’s hard to work out and prepare for that long without knowing if you’ll play. While it’s possible that a team will pick him up before then, it’s unlikely. Due to his age, and the fact that he’s coming off a year on IR, he will likely be an insurance policy for a team down the road, if he gets signed at all.

Steelers Reportedly Inquired About CB Nolan Carroll

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Jason La Canfora reports that the Steelers are one of the teams that have inquired about free agent cornerback Nolan Carroll. Carroll was drafted by the Dolphins in the 5th round of the 2010 draft.

The Steelers may have sincere interest in Carroll, as he wouldn’t command a top CB contract.  However, reported interest this weekend might just be agent speak for ‘they called’.

Carroll is 6’1″, 205 lbs. He struggled in coverage periodically last year, but was a difference maker at times. He had 3 interceptions and 2 sacks during the 2013 season. For what it’s worth, ProFootballFocus had him ranked 58th in their cornerback grades last year.