Category Archives: Steelers News

Al Woods Scheduled To Visit Titans On Wednesday

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Steelers free agent defensive lineman Al Woods is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Since the Titans recently hired Ray Horton as their defensive coordinator, it should be expected that they will be making plays at 3-4 defensive linemen during free agency.

Woods was drafted in the 4th round by the Saints in 2010. He bounced around from practice squad to practice squad earlier in his career, but has shown that he’s a solid contributor, who is extremely versatile on the defensive line.

I expected the Steelers would try to retain Woods, but he’ll have to come cheap. We’ll have to wait and see what comes of the meeting with the Titans.

Steelers To Sign FA Safety Mike Mitchell

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According to league sources, the Steelers are signing former Panthers safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell confirms this on Twitter.

Mitchell is listed as a strong safety, but played most of 2013 at free safety after Charles Godfrey suffered an achilles injury. Mitchell was drafted by the Raiders in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft. He signed a one year deal with the Panthers last year for $1 Mil, with $250 K guaranteed.

Last year, Mitchell totaled 4 interceptions, 3 sacks, and 45 solo tackles. According to ProFootballFocus, Mitchell was tied at the top of the list of safeties with the most missed tackles at 18, though he also is considered one of the best blitzing safeties, and his coverage skills are pretty good. Last year, 1 touchdown was allowed in his coverage area.

According to Adam Schefter, Mitchell’s contract is for 5 years, and totals $25 Mil.

 

Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin On Hand At Michigan St. Pro Day

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Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert are in attendance for Michigan State’s Pro Day, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.

Another reporter described Pittsburgh’s attendance as “all hands on deck”. The most notable prospect on the Steelers radar is CB Darqueze Dennard. Dennard measured a 36-inch vertical jump today. He also was marked at 11-2 on his broad jump. That number ties the longest broad jump at the combine, which was 11-2 by Lache Seastrunk.

Aside from Dennard, there are definitely other prospects that will draw the Steelers interest today. Safety Isaiah Lewis and LB Max Bullough to name a couple. Here is the list of other prospects who preformed for scouts today.

OLB Denicos Allen, OT Henry Conway, DE Denzel Drone, LB Kyler Elsworth, OT Fou Fonoti, OG Dan France, DL Tyler Hoover, QB Andrew Maxwell, PK Kevin Muma, DL Micajah Reynolds and OG Blake Treadwell.

Here’s a look at Darqueze Dennard doing drills for NFL scouts.

Ike Taylor Implies That He’s Signed A New Deal

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Ike Taylor has just posted on his Twitter account that the ink is drying, presumably on a new deal that will keep him a Steeler for the remainder of his career. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Report: Steelers To Release LaMarr Woodley On Tuesday

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According to Adam Schefter, the Stelers plan to release LaMarr Woodley at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, the official beginning of the new league year. Woodley’s representation has confirmed that he has been told he will be released.

The team will designate Woodley a “June 1st” cut. This will allow the team to accelerate the remaining guaranteed balance to next year, as opposed to all of it accelerating immediately. Woodley carries a $13.59 salary cap number this year, and the team will be responsible for that number until June 2nd. This will not help clear any space to sign free agents immediately. After June 1st, his base salary will come off the books, freeing up $8 Mil in cap space for 2014.

The $8 Mil in cap space will help sign the rookie pool, summer insurance signings, and more.  After June 1st, the team will carry a dead money charge of $5.59 Mil this year from the release, and $8.58 Mil in 2015. The team also saves $25 and a half Mil they would have had to pay during the remainder of his contract.

Larry Foote Wants To Play For A Contender Next Year

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ESPN reporter Josina Anderson reports that LB Larry Foote, who was released by the Steelers last Wednesday, has no immediate plans to retire. Foote told the reporter in a phone interview that he intends to keep playing, and wants to play for a contender next year.

The veteran linebacker went on to say that he also hopes that he doesn’t have to wait to be signed until summer, because it’s hard to work out and prepare for that long without knowing if you’ll play. While it’s possible that a team will pick him up before then, it’s unlikely. Due to his age, and the fact that he’s coming off a year on IR, he will likely be an insurance policy for a team down the road, if he gets signed at all.

Steelers Reportedly Inquired About CB Nolan Carroll

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Jason La Canfora reports that the Steelers are one of the teams that have inquired about free agent cornerback Nolan Carroll. Carroll was drafted by the Dolphins in the 5th round of the 2010 draft.

The Steelers may have sincere interest in Carroll, as he wouldn’t command a top CB contract.  However, reported interest this weekend might just be agent speak for ‘they called’.

Carroll is 6’1″, 205 lbs. He struggled in coverage periodically last year, but was a difference maker at times. He had 3 interceptions and 2 sacks during the 2013 season. For what it’s worth, ProFootballFocus had him ranked 58th in their cornerback grades last year.

Report: Steelers Interested In Free Agent CB Alterraun Verner

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The Steelers have reportedly expressed interest in free agent cornerback Alterraun Verner, according to Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt. Wyatt notes that several other teams have also expressed interest in the free agent defensive back. This report makes sense, much more sense then the rumor that surfaced earlier about the Steelers alleged interest in TE Jermichael Finley.

Verner was drafted by the Titans in the 4th round in the 2010 draft. He had 49 total tackles and 5 interceptions last year. It was also his first pro bowl appearance.

Bill Polian, in tandem with ESPN, recently rated free agent cornerbacks. Here’s what he had to say about Verner.

“Verner may not have top-end size or speed, but he is an excellent starting-level cornerback who plays with terrific toughness and a willingness to be physical. He has the strength and balance to be physical at or near the line of scrimmage without losing his feet with very good ball skills and on-ball production and an understanding of opposing route concepts. He lacks the elite short-area quickness and burst to match up against slot receivers but can ably handle perimeter cornerback duties. He is good at the point of catch, playing his technique through the catch and disrupting receivers. At age 25 and playing a premium position, he could cash in on the open market above this grade level.”

Verner will command a decent contract, but could possibly be had for an amount the Steelers could afford. Certainly a considerably lower 1st year cap hit than Ike Taylor’s current one. Here’s what Verner said last week about taking a hometown discount with the Titans.

“It is not like I want the Titans to spend all of their salary cap just to keep me,” said Verner. “It is not like I need $10 or I need $11 million, or I need to be one of the top five highest-paid corners in the league. I want them to be able to sign other guys to help the team.

“But I also want to feel respected, and the way Tennessee has operated and the way they have paid veteran players, they have set the tempo on how they value players. So if they don’t offer me something that shows they value me, I feel like it is a slap in my face.”

Whether or not the Steelers are sincerely interested is hard to determine. While it’s a possibility, it’s also very likely that expressed interest is a just negotiating tool.

Steelers Restructure Antonio Brown’s Contract

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As expected, the Steelers have restructured Antonio Brown’s contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. According to Schefter, the restructuring clears $4 Mil in 2014 cap space. While it’s close to that, the maximum cap savings available by restructuring AB is $3,952,500.

While there are no official numbers yet, I can break down what the move likely looks like. Here’s a before and after:

[table]

Player, Year, Base Salary, Signing Bonus, Salary Cap Number

“Brown, Antonio”, 2014, “$6,000,000”, “$2,470,000”, “$8,470,000”

[/table]

————————————————————————————————————————————–

[table]

Player, Year, Base Salary, Signing Bonus, Salary Cap Number

“Brown, Antonio”, 2014, “$730,000”, “$3,787,500”, “$4,517,500”

[/table]

 

This move should put the Steelers in the neighborhood of $3.5 Mil under the $133 Mil salary cap. Expect more moves in the future. Lawrence Timmons is a prime restructure candidate, though, I don’t expect he’ll be max restructured like Antonio Brown was. Releasing or renegotiating with Ike Taylor will clear significant cap room. Signing Jason Worilds to a long term deal will clear additional room, as well.  Extending Ben Roethlisberger could easily clear 4-5 Mil in cap space, though that is not an immediate need for the team.

Steelers Reportedly Re-Sign Safety Will Allen

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According to his agent, the Steelers have agreed to terms with veteran Safety Will Allen. There has not been an official announcement from the team, but one should come later today. The terms have not been disclosed yet of course, but I expect this to be a minimum deal, with perhaps a small guaranteed signing bonus. That would be the case even if the Steelers hadn’t used the transition tag on Jason Worilds.

The Steelers re-signed Allen in October after he was cut by the Cowboys. The timing of his release really worked to the Steelers favor, as Damon Cromartie-Smith had injured his hip flexor and was unable to play. Allen turns 32 this spring.