I have a hunch...

I think we might end up keeping Polamalu next year, assuming he decides to continue to play. Looking at our cap, we have plenty of it. We don't seem to be interested in signing any high ticket free agent. We only need a few million for our draft picks. Most importantly, Polamalu's contract is already on the books, meaning if they cut him we would end up with even more unused cap space.

Unless we plan on trading for a pricy player before, during, or after the draft, it doesn't seem to make sense to keep a wad of cap space unused. So why not keep Polamalu? He was about on par in terms of play as Mitchell, though I expect Mitchell to be better this coming year with a year in the system.

We might want to use the extra cap freed up from terminating Polamalu to extend Beachum/Decastro/Heyward, but we could do that next year while keeping the cap space for Polamalu this year.

Would he be overpaid if we kept Polamalu? Absolutely. But who else are we going to get? Even if he is a situational player, I fell that he can still be effective.

Just a hunch.

 

you can rollover your unused money into next year to have even more cap... troy will be a waist of money

 

Probably in a minority, but I do think Troy has a part to play in the Steelers yet. Although I'd still like to see us take a safety early doors in the draft.

The issues with the defensive backfield last year were plentiful and interrelated - Mitchell was awful; but some of his mistakes were down to being new, which meant being out of position; being out of position meant that CBs didn't know where the safeties were, and gave up big plays as a result; when the CBs lost a step, Troy's lack of speed was exposed; lack of speed meant he had to gamble more, which required a solid FS to cover him; that FS was Mitchell, who was not solid... and so on. Plus injuries etc.

I think that were Troy to stay the secondary may still look better next year. The question is, would looking better be good enough?

 

if we wait til next year, i'm afraid we could lose heyward. he will become a free agent unless we franchise him, and that will cost some money.

 

tomlin says he's considering moving mitchell to strong safety. i said that last year. he's more in line of a ss anyway the way he plays. that may just do it for troy. thomas and mitchell as the SS's.

 

If we lose Heyward I'll be "upset", to put it nicely. Everything about the guy is awesome, so we should lock him up for a good second contract. If it means picking Polamalu for one final year over keeping Heyward for a second contract, the decision is easy, say goodbye to Troy. I don't think it comes down to that, but IF it did, man we gotta keep Heyward....

 

They are waiting and hoping he will retire so they don't have to release him. After June 1st 6 mill savings. Troy another year at 8 mill and change cap hit or locking up Heyward? I know which way I would go...

 

i agree. the OP spoke of waiting until next year to re-sign heyward and i'm not even thinking of giving him the option of going elsewhere if we wait. not to mention signing him this year should actually free up some money. i'd use that on DD.

 

If we keep him the only time he would see the field should be when we go to the psycho package as a lber. He would still cause a little confusion lined up there.

 

Yeah, I mean I cant even imagine that is an option.

 

Does a June 1 cut have to be done on, after, or before June 1? Is it just a designation that can be done any time? What does it gain?

 

we can do it when we want just declare is post june cut ..we did with woodley too in march

 

All last year I watched Troy try to catch up to the guy who then caught the ball. Love Troy but he's done

 

Great person and player but unfortunately I think it's time. Even with the money side factored out of the equation, I think his play last season should be a strong indication for retirement.

 

Yeah, idt Heyward is going anywhere. We have never said "we want Troy back in 2015"... Not once. Which means that he is gone either way. It's just his choice whether he wants to be a June 1 cut or retire.

 

I don't know how everyone hasn't made the same conclusion. The eye test doesn't lie.

 

They wouldn't lose Heyward, they could tag him in 2016.

 

troy will be cut or retyre there is no other possibility .. i would have liked try a trade but it's not happenning ..maybe the titans could give us a 6th with lebeau there .. but they know he will be free agent soon

 

yea tagging him will cost alot. troy retiring also will cost us more.