Cap Issues and replacing Wallace

Been a little bit since I've posted but it seems the only two issues we have in our near future is the Cap problems and replacing Wallace. It's no secret this guy is gone, and IMO its gonna hurt more than we realize. Bad attitude and all his complaining ( and all the drops) the guy stretches out the D and opens the field up for us. Losing him is gonna hurt the WR s more than most want to admit. Replacing him is an even tougher question. The teams cap issues will be taken care of and leave us enough room to buy a pizza and a 6 pack! We have NO money to play the FA game even with a few quality WR s out there. I've seen Bowe' s name along with Greg Jennings ( SI mentioned this) among others and being a realist, that ain't gonna happen. We just don't have the room to sign these guys. Looking at the draft I'd say taking a WR early on that could start would be an easy fix , but its not even the biggest need we have as this D needs 3 upgrades quickly! We need a ILB NOW and another Dline guy too. The last 3 draft classes have had too many guys that have become average and shown little. Heyward and Hood, I can't figure them out? Heyward, I thought would excel last year, just hasn't impressed me yet. Hood, same thing. So, what do we do? So, many ways to go, but one thing is certain, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT THIS YEAR. 2013 could be a long year.......

 

I'm sure the FO has a plan or will have one shortly.

 

I don't think Wallace was as key as we think...though I think it is important to hit on a lot of draft picks this year, and preferably guys who can step in day one. I know writers and fans make a big deal about Steelers drafting underclassmen, but I think its time to get someone polished regardless of age.

I like Heyward. I think he is going to be a good one. Yeah Keisel is solid and consistent...but at this point as inconsistent as Heyward may be, he makes up for it with a few "splash plays", which we have been lacking in. He needs to play full time. A tough decision needs to be made about Benching Keisel or Hood.

Despite all this though, it clearly has been a mistake to invest 2 first rounders in 3-4 DE's who we also let sit for multiple years. Our other skill positions have hurting as a result.

 

The cap and Wallace are the 2 big issues that stand out. We need to get this running game figured out as well. Whether we draft someone this year or stick with dwyer or redman for this season as the starters. There was an article on nfl.com that has Colbert talking about the cap issue. The front office will have this under control, its going to be a weird and tough season I think, but we gotta reload this gun and come back stronger than before.

Here is the article if you wanna read what colbert had to say: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...elers-stare-down-a-salarycap-squeeze-in-march

 

QB Ben Roethlisberger -- $19,595,000
OLB LaMarr Woodley -- $13,240,000
ILB Lawrence Timmons - $11,160,000
S Troy Polamalu -- $10,137,500
OLB James Harrison -- $10,035,000
CB Ike Taylor - $9,454,166
TE Heath Miller -- $7,958,500
OL Willie Colon -- $7,650,000
WR Antonio Brown -- $6,200,000
DL Brett Keisel -- $4,900,000
TOTAL: $100,330,166

Looking at these few players: I think Keisel would take less money to stay. Get rid of Colon. Harrison and/or Troy might need to be restructured. Man Timmons is getting better and had a decent year this year, but his salary is way too high. He hasn't given this defense what Troy and Harrison has. Timmons belongs more in the Heath Miller/Ike Taylor range. Woodley better earn his keep next year.

 

These numbers are cap hits not salaries right?

 

Yes, and as someone else posted this team is not as bad as some would have you believe. Yes, soe will be cut, but most of these sites have Baltimore under the cap. Why? BEcause they don't account for the the RFA and FA's they have to pay. They have serious issues as their MVP QB is not signed yet, which is not accounted for.

 

i would ask all these palyer to take a 10% pay cut. before any restructure otherwise let's cut colon harrison and think what to do with woodley and troy , we can't keep restructuring salaries to people that are more on the sideline than on the field

 

Most of the players salaries probably aren't that bad. The cap hit is the problem, but some of the players get labeled as not worth that much when it's really the Steelers to blame for all the restructures. Take Harrison for example, His agent is saying no pay cut, but why should he play for peanuts just because the Steelers have asked him to restructure and defer his salary cap number to later years? He may be worthy of a slight pay cut, but not the low numbers that have been thrown around.

 

how many people we have under contract ? 30 ? we are 14 milion over the cap we can't keep restructuring players we are not sure about their performance (so only ben brown timmons ). we should do radical change ...now

 

Not restructuring. Taking a paycut just because his high cap # is due to previous restructuring.

 

That's my point! The Steelers have thier franchise QB and othe big money players (besides wallace) under contract and showing up in that number. The Ravens don't Dlacco, Bolden, others? The problem is restructuring and cutting to make it work, not signing the 2 guys that just took you to the superbowl!

 

As I`ve said a million times, I HATE thinking about the financial side of the game(business)...but, that is a great article to read, for breaking it down in terms, that people like me can understand.
Thanx for the link, BurgherBoy.
As it is, other than Colon, I will hate to see any of the top 10 leave this year.
I am also EXTREMELY thankful, that we managed to keep Omar Khan(or whatever the financial guru`s name is) this offseason.
Even if his re-structuring has put us in a difficult situation right now, he has been great at managing the cap, and keeping a LOT of talented players on the roster, that in the past would have left for "greener" pastures.
I have faith, that he will continue to do a good job of that, and, at least he is familiar with the situation he created, and hopefully has a plan to keep it going, as opposed to someone new coming in and trying to figure out what to do with the situation he created.
I`m not sure what the deal is with Ben`s contract.
I know he has already re-structured at least once, if not twice, so I`m not sure if there is much more he could do to help us out, without getting into even more ridiculous numbers in the future, to get the money we already promised him, later down the road.
If his current contract expires in 2 years, it is already gonna be hard to afford him, then.
Not sure what the status on that is, but I would assume we wanna get him 1 more extension, to keep him at least 5 years from now. I don`t think that is in place at the moment.
When we first got Timmons and Woodley, I thought we were set at ILB for a good while into the future.
Sometimes I confuse ILB, and OLB, esp, when they have to play unnatural positions because of injuries.
At any rate, I`m not sure that either is worth what their cap hit is right now.
I would love to keep them, but those numbers should both come down.
And as much as I LOVE Silverback, his age is becoming an issue that makes it hard to justify the money they are giving him. On the other hand, when he is healthy, they have no one who can replace what he brings to the field!(http://triblive.com/sports/johnharris/3462343-74/harrison-steelers-dejankovacevic#axzz2KvfeJmZR)
Great link on that issue...
Lots more I have in regards to the article BurgherBoy linked to, but my girl just called me to dinner.
Try to get back to this later.
GO STEELERS!!!

Edit:

OK, gonna see if I can copy and paste from article...
Also, not on that list are unrestricted free agents Mike Wallace, Rashard Mendenhall, Casey Hampton and Keenan Lewis, and restricted free agents Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and Emmanuel Sanders.

How cool... old dog learned a new trick! (Or more accurately, just tried something that worked elsewhere, and tried it here)...
Anyhow, belly`s full, and I can get back to this topic for a minute...

I believe Wallace and Mendenhall, have burned their bridges here, for better or worse..
Personally, I think they could both help us on the field, but, I think their attitudes have made them expendable, to the Rooneys.
And I am sure, neither would play for the fabled "hometown discount"...
Hampton, I think is just done. Period. And I have no fear putting McClendon in his place. I`m not sure why this didn`t happen more last year, although, I admit, I was pleasantly surprised that Hampton could still clog the middle as well as he did coming off of knee surgery.
It`s pretty obvious that the FO has made re-signing Keenan Lewis a priority.
I agree with this. Hopefully they can get it done. I don`t think they will have to give him outrageous money to keep him, but then again, I don`t know how much other teams have watched his film.
Redman, Dwyer, and Sanders...
I would love to keep them all, and they could conceivably agree to play here cheap.
I don`t think any have put up numbers, or tape, that will have teams beating down the door for them...
However, if we can afford to keep them, I think all can be solid role-players.
If not.. Ehhh... Oh well... Don`t let the door hit ya...
I`m still shocked at how poorly our team played, collectively this year. Injuries, and all...
I still believe we have plenty of talent here to get the job done.
I`m hoping it was just a level of complacency, that missing the playoffs, will shake off.
As a team, we seemed to show up, and just expect to win, without putting the work in on the field on Sundays.
It was disgusting.
There is no other word for an EIGHT turnover game against the Clowns, or playing flat at home against a weak Chargers team... etc...
This simply cannot happen again next year.
No one in that locker room is gonna need to be motivated by a coach, to simply avoid taking anything for granted! (At least I freakin hope not!!!)

GO STEELERS!!!

 

The Steelers scouting dept. is very good at evaluating WR talent.
Not so good at judging OL/CB talent.
Hence Manny Sanders AB, both late round draft choices starting
within three years. Look for the Steelers to draft a WR this year in say
Oh the 5th round. Cotchery can play, if they would throw it to him.
So you have manny,AB, Cotch, Burress, New WR.

 

I've been seeing in some articles that Plax is gone.

 

Ike " Please don't isolate me"Taylor should restucture. At a paycut.

Please, Steeler's front office, Keenan Lewis needs to be signed! I know, I know, you have put out there he is a priority. Well, really he is.

And Woodley. Please bro, come back with the fire, the fire you had before you got the big raise. Show your worth the dough. Dominate!

Colon will be gone.

The beardless one is worth that money.

James Harrison. One of my faves, molded like Lloyd. But, thats to much cap hit.The brass has put out there about a restructure, which Harrison indicated, or his agent indicated was fine, but no pay cut. Might not be a Steeler come training camp.

Timmons excelled and is a force. Needs to start strong, and finish stronger. He will. He is a beast! Will restructure next year.

Troy. Hall of Famer. Will restructure and retire with the Steelers.