Monthly Archives: February 2015

steelers contracts

Steelers Make Some Contract Moves To Clear Cap Space

Leave a reply

The Steelers have restructured some contracts today to free up some salary cap room for the 2015 season.

According to Jason LaCanfora, the team restructured the contracts of Marcus Gilbert, Mike Mitchell, and Maurkice Pouncey. The total of the three transactions saves approximately $9.5 Mil in cap space, putting them approximately $10 Mil under the cap.

Gilbert’s restructure cleared apx. $3.76 Mil in 2015 cap space. His upcoming roster bonus and most of his base salary were rolled into a signing bonus.

According to Mark Kaboly of the Trib, Pouncey’s restructure isn’t official yet, and won’t be finalized until next week. Mitchell had a $2 Mil roster bonus coming up. Adding that to the maximum base salary available for restructuring would clear $2,441,250.

Going by LaCanfora’s numbers, we’re left with roughly $3.3 Mil with Pouncey’s contract. Pouncey also has a roster bonus due soon for the amount of $3.75 Mil. The maximum the team could clear by restructuring his contract is $3.804 Mil.

James Harrison Steelers

James Harrison Says He Isn’t Retiring This Year

Leave a reply

James Harrison announced that he’s not planning to retire this year via his social media accounts last night.

https://twitter.com/jharrison9292/status/569646561023688704

The 36 year old came out of brief retirement last year to sign a one year deal with the Steelers. The deal was for the veteran minimum including a $65,000 signing bonus, which qualified for the veteran minimum salary benefit. I would expect the same deal this year if the Steelers decide to re-sign him. According to Harrison’s agent, the veteran linebacker wishes to return to Pittsburgh in 2015.

While he may not have been the James Harrison of 2008, he was a solid run defender, and was the most efficient OLB in terms of getting his hands on quarterbacks last season. Plan on the Steelers to wait for free agency to play out before bringing Harrison back if they decide to do so.

 

 

 

Steelers Preseason

Steelers Will Not Practice With Bills In Pittsford This Summer

Leave a reply

The joint practices with the Bills that were planned for this summer have reportedly been cancelled. According to Jerry Dulac, the Steelers will not be practicing with the Bills in New York.

https://twitter.com/gerrydulac/status/568544235248435201

The odds of going to Pittsford dropped considerably when it was announced that the Steelers will be playing an extra game this summer, when they face the Vikings for the Hall of Fame game. The fate of the joint scrimmages were also up in the air when Rex Ryan was hired last month.

The Hall of Fame game is August 9th at 8:00 pm. It will air on NBC.

 

Ryan Clark

Ryan Clark Announces Retirement

Leave a reply

Former Steelers Safety Ryan Clark announced his retirement yesterday on ESPN. Clark returned to Washington as a free agent last season after the Steelers declined to make him an offer.

During Clark’s 8 years with the Steelers, he started in 109 games, totaling 656 tackles and 12 interceptions. Clark will hold a press conference in Pittsburgh next month to announce his retirement with the Steelers. “That’s where I made my career, that’s where I became who I am,” he said on Wednesday. The veteran safety will continue working at ESPN full time.

https://twitter.com/Realrclark25/status/568429827478441984

Thanks for the hard hits and memories, 25. Your weird socks will be missed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z13P_wzwSE

B-KsPMCCMAACdln

[Audio] Kevin Colbert Combine Press Conference

Leave a reply

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert took the podium yesterday and answered a variety of questions from reporters. You can listen to Colbert talking about the draft strategy and scouting process in the audio below.

Colbert also talked about Cortez Allen’s future yesterday. Allen’s season was very disappointing, but Colbert expressed faith in him. “It’s up to Cortez,” Colbert said. “We’re certainly going to be there to help him find his game because, if he finds his game, he’s going to make our defense that much better. Obviously, we felt that when we invested in him.” He added that Allen had some confidence issues, but he has a fresh start.

When asked about LeGarrette Blount, Colbert said the Steelers had no regrets whatsoever about letting him go.

On free agent linebacker Jason Worilds, Colbert said that the Steelers want him back, but they are going let him test the free agent market, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. He also reaffirmed that the team could potentially tag Worilds again (something that probably has a 0% chance of happening).

“He understands that if he doesn’t get tagged, which we could still do, he will explore the market and see what is out there,” Colbert said. “We will stay in communication. Maybe he comes back. Maybe he moves on. But he’s been a good player for us and we would love to have him back if it all fits.”

Here is an excerpt from the presser.

Brett Keisel

Brett Keisel Has Procedure To Clean Up Shoulder

Leave a reply

Veteran defensive end Brett Keisel was donning a hospital gown again today, after undergoing a procedure to have his shoulder cleaned up. The 36 year old defensive lineman posted a beardless selfie from his hospital bed this morning.

https://twitter.com/bkeisel99/status/565156270341369856

Keisel’s future with the Steelers is uncertain. He has one more year on his contract, and carries a cap number of $1.75 Mil in 2015. If the team released him, they would create $1.5 Mil in cap space. After replacement and displacement, the savings is less though.

“Da Beard” had surgery in December to repair a torn triceps. The team placed him on IR on December 1st. Before the injury, Keisel was playing some good football. While it took some time to get to full speed, he ended up with 1 sack, 12 solo tackles, and 9 stops throughout his 451 snaps in 2014.

le'veon Bell

Le’Veon Bell Begins 15 Month Probation Program

Leave a reply

Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell was admitted to a rehabilitation program today, that when completed, will result in his marijuana charges from last summer being dropped.

The 15 month Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program requires Bell to stay free from drugs and alcohol, undergo any court recommended treatment, and take a safe driving test. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

“He’s relieved to have the matter finally resolved with the opportunity to earn dismissal and expungement,” said Bell’s lawyer via the Post Gazette. “I expect Le’Veon will not be a repeat offender.”

With the legal matter finally coming to a close, the NFL should soon move forward with their discipline against Bell. A one or two game suspension to start the 2015 season seems likely.

 

Greg_Warren_Steelers

Steelers Re-Sign LS Greg Warren

Leave a reply

The Steelers have re-signed long time long snapper Greg Warren. The signing is for one year, and while the financial details are not yet available, I can tell you it will almost certainly be for the veteran minimum including a minimal signing bonus.

Warren is 33 years old and has been the Steelers “old reliable” long snapper for ten seasons now.

Dick LeBeau Pittsburgh Steelers

Report: Dick LeBeau Will Join Titans As Assistant Head Coach

Leave a reply

It appears former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has found a new gig. According to The Tennessean, the Titans are expected to announce his hiring on Thursday.

https://twitter.com/jwyattsports/status/562779325783879681

LeBeau is reportedly going to be joining the Titans staff as the assistant head coach, and he will be in charge of the defense. Ray Horton will remain on staff as the Titans defensive coordinator.

According to reports, Ken Whisenhunt reached out to LeBeau multiple times and convinced him to come to Tennessee. It will be interesting (and sickening) to see which veteran Steelers defensive player (if any) wears a Titans jersey next year.