Category Archives: Steelers News

troy polamalu

Steelers Offer Update On Troy Polamalu

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The Steelers provided a brief update on Troy Polamalu’s contract status this morning. The update: there is no update. Here is the full release provided on the team’s website.

“At this time, we do not have an update on Troy Polamalu or his contract status. We will continue to communicate with Troy and his representatives regarding his future.”

Why release a statement with no real information? Perhaps it was strategic. If the front office hasn’t heard much from Troy’s camp, maybe they’re looking to light a subtle fire under them.

Troy is slotted to count $8.25 Mil against the cap this year if nothing changes. The odds of that happening are about as close to none as it can get. The likely scenarios are: a) the team releases Troy and designates him a June 1st cut. b) the team asks Troy to take a very significant pay cut. c) Troy retires.

The team could outright release Troy, but the difference between that and a June 1st designation is $2.25 Mil in cap savings this year. If Troy were to retire, the team could possibly recoup some of his signing bonus money, but that gets a little murky, and recent rumors have indicated Troy doesn’t plan on retiring.

Regardless of how it plays out, Troy’s future in Pittsburgh will be known very soon.

Tajh_Boyd_running_against_Florida_State_(cropped)

Steelers Sign QB Tajh Boyd To One Year Deal

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The Steelers have signed former Clemson Tigers Quarterback Tajh Boyd to a one year deal today.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/573921303813603328

Boyd went from having a first round grade, to being picked in the 6th round by the Jets last year.

https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/373960121845432320

The Jets cut him after training camp last summer.

The 6’1″, 225 lb QB threw for over 3,800 yards each year he started at Clemson, and threw at least 33 touchdowns each of those 3 years. Stats aside, Boyd is a project, and he’ll be battling for that 3rd QB spot this summer. You know, the one Landry Jones has held the past two seasons.

After getting cut by the Jets, he spent time playing in the FXFL last fall. One of Boyd’s former FXFL coaches, who works with NFL QB’s in the offseason, recently said he thinks Boyd could develop on an NFL roster. “He could be one of three, he could be one of four going into camp, and I think his skill set might allow him to win one of those jobs, whether it was a No. 3, and then with time he would grow. And I think he will if somebody has a chance to develop him.”

If nothing else, Boyd will get a chance to throw some balls to his old receiver Martavis Bryant in Latrobe this summer.

https://twitter.com/TajhB10/status/573892682663264256

https://twitter.com/ThaBestUNO/status/573901601447940096

lance moore

Steelers Release WR Lance Moore

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The Steelers have released veteran wide receiver Lance Moore today. Moore signed a 2 year, $3 Mil deal with the team last March, but asked for his release last month. When all the signs point to your release, it looks better if it was at your request.

By releasing Moore, the Steelers save $1.5 Mil in cap space for 2015. The release also carries a dead money hit of $322,500.

steelers contracts

Steelers Make Some Contract Moves To Clear Cap Space

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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

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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

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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

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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

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[Audio] Kevin Colbert Combine Press Conference

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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

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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

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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.