Some of the games on this year’s schedule are being leaked ahead of tonight’s announcement. Here are the dates for the games we’ve heard and have confirmed.
Steelers @ Patriots, Thurdsday, 9/10/15
Ravens vs. Steelers, Thursday, 10/01/15
Steelers @ Ravens, Sunday Night, 12/27/15
Stay tuned for the full schedule which will be out shortly.
Will Johnson has signed his restricted free agent tender today. His wife shared a photo of the signing on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Mrs_Johnson_46/status/590160238520754176/photo/1
The signing puts Johnson on the books for $1.542 Mil for the 2015 season. While it may not have seemed like it, Will J. saw a sizable increase in snaps last season. While mostly utilized as a run blocker, he was targeted 9 times, catching 6 of those.
Of the 3 restricted free agents, Robert Golden is the last remaining one to sign his tender.
According to multiple media outlets, Antonio Brown wants a new deal, and is considering holding out from mini-camp and training camp if he doesn’t get one.
https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/590164352621092864
Antonio Brown is one of the best, if not the best wide receiver in the NFL. He signed a 6 year, $41.7 Mil contract extension in 2012 when Mike Wallace played the hold out game. Since then, he’s grown into one of the most productive receivers in the league. AB was the league leader last year with 29 receptions and amassed 1,698 yards- both of which were team records.
As productive as Brown is, his APY is pretty low compared to his peers. He averages roughly $8.3 Mil/year- the 14th highest among NFL receivers. The Steelers have restructured Brown’s contract twice already. His remaining cap hits are $9,787,500, $12,037,500, and $10,797,500 respectively.
Production aside, Brown’s camp is probably going to be in for disappointment if he were to hold out this summer. With 3 years left on his contract, the chances of him benefiting from holding out are slim. Personally, I’m skeptical of the validity of these reports.
Brown is not participating in the voluntary workouts that began today.
Another Steelers veteran has hung up his cleats. This time, it’s Ike Taylor.
Taylor was drafted by the Steelers in the 4th round of the 2003 draft. Over his 12 year career, he started in 135 games. During that time, he amassed 632 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, and 14 interceptions.
Ike had a kind of loyalty to Pittsburgh that you just don’t see in modern day athletes. “From the time I walked in the door until the time I left, this is where I wanted to be,” said Taylor via Steelers.com. “How the organization is, the locker room, you see why we win. When I became a free agent twice it made my decision easy.”
After taking a pay cut to stay on the team last season, he suffered a gruesome arm injury that sidelined him for most of the season. Shortly after the season concluded, he said there was no other jersey he wanted to wear.
“I can’t explain it, what the Steelers have meant,” he said. “I understand the business. But they gave me loyalty. They let me play my whole contract out.
“I’m going to miss all of it. I will miss the camaraderie, the personalities. Different people from different walks of life, all in one setting, having the same goal trying to be the best. It’s not like that in the regular world, but it was like that with the Steelers.”
Ike says he plans on returning to the Steelers for a coaching internship. He said it’s not official, but after he talks to Mike Tomlin soon, they’ll make plans and iron out the details. The internship should start during OTA’s next month. Taylor also plans on becoming a broadcaster.
Troy Polamalu is announcing his retirement tonight. According to Jim Wexell, via the Herald Standard, Polamalu phoned Dan Rooney last night to inform him of his decision.
Even though this was expected, I still feel like I’m writing a eulogy. Polamalu was is a legend. In his prime, he could change the dynamic, hell, the outcome of a game at any given time. He forced opposing coaches to make their players wear wigs in practice. He could grow an extra finger momentarily to pick off a quarterback.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhNn38e3EXk
His resume speaks for itself, and even though so many ‘all time greats’ have donned the Steelers jersey, Troy’s name is iconic. During his illustrious 12 year career, he made it to 8 Pro Bowls, was All Pro 5 times, saw 2 Super Bowl Championships, was the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and made the 2000’s All Decade Team.
Polamalu’s retirement will save the Steelers $3.75 Mil in cap space this season. Polamalu said he didn’t seriously consider playing anywhere else. It was just a matter of deciding if he wanted to continue playing. In the end, he said it was about his family. “It’s all about family,” said Polamalu. “I live here in Pittsburgh now, and since the end of the season I’ve had a chance to enjoy my family on a level I never had before. It was awesome.”
Thanks for the memories, #43.
The Steelers have exercised the 5th year option of David DeCastro’s contract according to Albert Breer of NFL Network.
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/586210494316470274
This move is pretty much a no brainer. The option gives the team the ability to retain rights to the player, and gives them time to work on a long term deal. For the player, the option amount is guaranteed upon injury.
The guarantee goes into effect March 8 of next year. If the team does not reach a long term deal with DeCastro before then, his 2016 cap number will be $8,070,000. That salary is determined by the average of the third through twenty-fifth highest salaries of offensive linemen.
The Steelers are hosting 3 draft prospects today. Surely it’s a coincidence, but the first wave of prospect visits is consisting mostly of cornerbacks and linebackers.
Today’s guests are-
Alex Carter, CB, Stanford 6’0″ 196 lbs. Likely 3rd or 4th round projection.
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington 5’11” 197 lbs. 1st round projection.
Max Valles, LB, UVA 6’4″, 251 lbs. Late round projection.
Peters being the headliner, and the most obvious candidate for a visit considering his serious character flags. Carnell Lake was at his Pro Day, and it’s very possible that he may be the most talented player on the board when the Steelers pick at number 22.
You can keep up with the pre-draft visits in the forum thread here: http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/showthread.php?11576-2015-Steelers-Pre-Draft-Visits
The NFL has handed down Le’Veon Bell’s long awaited punishment today. The Steelers running back has been suspended for three games, and will lose an additional game check for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/586160206834446336
As Schefter notes, Bell is going to appeal his sentence. LeGarrette Blount, who was in the vehicle with Bell last August, was recently suspended for one game for his involvement last summer. Most people it seems, myself included, expected Bell to receive a 2 game suspension. Perhaps the league will reduce it upon appeal, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
The Steelers played host to some potential draft picks at the South Side facility today. Three of the four prospects in for workouts represent the team’s biggest positional needs. Here’s a look at the players visiting today:
Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia- 6’3″, 247 lbs. 36.5 TFL, 17.5 career sacks. Late 1st, early 2nd round projection.
Nate Orchard, OLB, Utah- 6’3″, 250 lbs. 39.5 TFL, 25 career sacks. Third round projection.
Senquez Golson, CB, Miss- 5’8″, 176 lbs. 31 passes defended, 16 interceptions. Third round projection.
CJ Uzomah, TE, Auburn- 6’5″, 263 lbs. 13 career starts w/limited playing time. Not a lot of inline blocking but, lots of special teams experience. 7th round/UDFA.
A high percentage of the Steelers’ recent draft picks were invited for pre-draft visits, so the list warrants attention. Each team can host up to 30 out of state prospects for visits to the team facility, so expect the list to grow rapidly over the next couple weeks.
You can keep up with the list of prospects in the forum thread here: http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/showthread.php?11576-2015-Steelers-Pr-Draft-Visits
Steelers restricted free agent corner Antwon Blake has signed his tender. He confirmed the news via Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ZillaMane41/status/584108236027990016
The tender guarantees Blake $1.54 Mil for 2015. Since coming to Pittsburgh in 2013, he has contributed in 14 regular season games, 10 of which were last season. With the loss of Ike Taylor and Brice McCain, Blake’s value has risen this offseason.
The other two restricted free agents who were tendered- Will Johnson and Robert Golden, have yet to sign their tenders.