Delaying cutting Troy not doing anyone any favors

Did you get your lists mixed up? This list makes no sense. I'm sure there are examples of them keeping good players too long, but what the hell is this? Half these guys were never good in the first place. You're including guys that stunk before we signed them. Kent Graham was a terrible signing because he was a terrible player, but he signed a 3 year deal and they cut him after 1. Isn't that the exact opposite of what you're trying to prove? I disagree with almost the entire thing. Maybe the entire thing.

 

I'm still trying to figure out what a titty fight is. If it weren't mentioned after Jason Gildon I think that would be something I'd like to see .

 

No. The money stays on our cap until June 1st. The only benefit is to the player.

 

Not exactly. They can use their current surplus and any additional space created through cuts etc towards free agency. leaving the post June money to use towards the draft class.

 

well he is noticeably slower and not near the player he was of course that comes with the territory and age. he's got a lot of brutal miles and injuries stacked up on that aging body. if they do keep him, I hope that he is effective but I find that hard to believe as the years mount. we also have a new DC that wants to change some things up and I hope it doesn't limit what he wants to do, because troy can't do some of the things he used to and you can't limit your defense because he's on the field and you have to plan around him doing something new. that's not his game. that's not what he became troy doing.

my question still remains. if he retires are we on the hook for his full amount towards the cap?

 

I remember when some fans used to speculate that Troy might retire young, now he looks like another player that has to get dragged out behind the barn because he won't go away. I hate the mentality that a team owes a former great. He's been getting paid millions and is owed nothing.

 

They owe him courtesy and respect...but certainly not millions if they don't think he is the guy anymore. Maybe the discussion w/Troy should be something like - "We are interested in bringing you back at the vet minimum or a little more if you are willing to re-structure, you will have to compete for a starting job...but we will let you compete, we see you as a possibility for certain defensive schemes...so we anticipate you will be utilized at times during the season (if Butler actually does have some kind of plan for Troy). If you are interested we can likely draw up some rough numbers for what we see the deal being."

Thing is - I can't see Troy accepting that kind of role considering his marquis status for so long, which means I think this thing gets played out until June 1st.

 

Thank you! Geez what is wrong with you people? A detriment on the field? Is he as dominant as he was five years ago? No. But the man can still play.

 

What if we have no use for him in any role at any price?

 

Yes he can provide value...but how much and is it in line with the value you think he can bring the team. Right now Troy is scheduled to make $6M with $2.25M pro-rated (this according to OvertheCap.com) which means he counts $8.25M towards the cap. That is a lot to be paying a safety who does not appear to be an impact player anymore. So like I said, I think it really is a question of whether Troy can negotiate an acceptable adjustment to his salary. I have heard the guys on SteelerDepot comment that Troy is not that kind of guy...too much pride, I really do not know.

In other words, can Shamarko Thomas play and basically provide a similar type of performance or better or slightly worse than what Troy is providing now. If as an organization you think the answer is yes or possibly yes then holding onto Troy at over $8M a year really doesn't make much sense.

And I say this as someone who loves Troy - probably my favorite Steeler, but I do not think he should be brought back at that kind of salary hit.

 

He guesses and gets himself out of position, and doesn't have the quickness and speed to recover anymore. His guessing also makes life more difficult for our FS who is left guessing where the hell Troy is going to be. Troy is also not as reliable a tackler as he used to be.

 

As bad as Mike Mitchell looked, I do wonder sometimes if it was pretty difficult for him to adjust playing with a guy like Troy.

 

This is going to be a PR nightmare by the time all is said and done. I've counted at least four media outlets carrying the story and quoting the piece in the Post Gazette. I'm sure this isn't what the Rooney's wanted.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476330/article/troy-polamalu-not-in-steelers-plans-for-2015

 

Yeah, the wording "hoping he retires" made me wince a bit...

 

It was a popular phrase to describe Gildon's play on one of the old boards. It consisted of him just standing there, and taking his hands to the OT's chest, but not moving him anywhere or advancing into the backfield at all. All he did his last year was "titty fight" according to a lot of posters.

 

It doesn't have to be. Rooneys would prefer he retire so they don't look like meanies, but in all honesty, a good % of Steeler fans realize the team would be foolish to bring him back. Actually, very few are so deluded that they think TP coming back would make the team better, because he actually makes them far worse at this point. Most know it. But like with LeBeau, they wanted a pleasant retirement, or at least a significant demotion (they admitted he wasn't offered to come back as DC, but a lesser role), but Dick wasn't ready to call it quits, even though everyone knows he should.

 

There is no reason to go through a dog and pony show at this point, which is what the above would be. With his hero status, having him "compete" for a job would be like Rocky on spit bucket status after nearly winning the world title. It would be just like that. Move on. Make a clean break. Having Troy hang around without hero status would be like keeping an x girlfriend around when you know you don't want to date her anymore.

 

That is where we are, unless he wants to start on bottom rung of a coaching gig, and I don't think his personality is a fit for that; too soft spoken. Make a clean break. This is not complicated at all.

 

OK, really? You think not a single player is an example of holding on to a poorly playing player too long?

Kordell - He was god awful his last few seasons, just terrible. But you don't realize this? You have no clue that he sucked? Other than one anomaly year in 2001, he was horrible since 1998, but remained QB until 2002. But you think he was a good player all that time. That's what you believe to be true?

Kirkland - after he got too fat. #99 was very good, until he got too fat, but Cowher made excuses for him, instead of freaking laying down the law. A 300 lb man cannot successfully play ILB. That was a joke.

Brent Alexander - got burnt all the time, but still kept his job.

Gildon - once he started titty fighting - He was worthless his last 2 seasons.

Dwayne Washington - terrible player,got burnt all the time.

Colon - spent more time out for the season than anything else.

Kemo

Troy Edwards - This guy was a terrible first round pick, just awful. He wasn't worth a cup of warm spit.

Jim Miller - Made the roster some how.

Kent Graham - why and how did he ever make the active roster to begin with? And yet, he did. So, yes, and example of not cutting a player when he sucked.

Kendell Simmons - Never was any good but kept his job regardless.

Chad Scott - after he got hurt and stunk ever since

Tommy Maddox - Only an injury and Ben saved as from extended more horrible QB play from this clod.

So in your world, these were all good players by the time they were cut or not extended? What color is the sky in your world? Pink?

 

Funny that no one brings up an eventuall Hall of Famer that was released, Hines Ward. It was time for him to go and it's time for Troy to go...

 

I don't know if I think it is a dog and pony show. I guess there are questions about whether Shamarko can play - I know he has been injured, he has played well at time on special teams, maybe he just needs more reps. Whatever, as noted, I guess there are questions. So that means you do have to fill the position of Strong Safety...so then it becomes who and at what price. Will Allen is an option too and in his limited play last year he did alright. With the Steelers' needs at OLB and Corner adding yet another major defensive position as a position of need is adding more fuel to the fire.

But at what price? If it means paying Troy $8M+ this upcoming season than you cut him and move on, but if he is receptive to something reasonable $1.5 to $2M than it is at least worth exploring because it isn't like the alternatives look much better unless Thomas is truly slated to become the starter. But I don't think Troy would accept that, so my guess is he will be cut.

Also - it is possible the Steelers may not wait until June 1st, because even though they would get more cap space after June, if they cut him now it frees up more money going into free agency.