Opinion: Le'Veon Bell Could Score $10MM Annually
The Bengals lost their Wild Card contest against the Steelers in a devastating fashion, with late-game penalties by cornerback Adam Jones and linebacker Vontaze Burfict allowing Pittsburgh to kick a game-winning field goal. Instead of dwelling on the loss, head coach Marvin Lewis says Cincinnati has quickly moved on, as he tells Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. “Last year ended, we covered that the first week of the offseason program,” said Lewis. “And there’s been no mention of how the season ended since then.” Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, meanwhile, has been pressing his players during practice sessions, telling them: “If you lose it here, you’re gonna lose it in a game.”
- Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is still facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, but he looks healthy coming off a major knee injury, according to Breer, who adds that Bell still has a shot at to join Adrian Peterson as backs who earn more than $10MM annually. Peterson dominates the running back market at $14MM, while LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Stewart, and Doug Martin all make between $7-8MM.
Ladarius Green Mulling Retirement?
SUNDAY, August 14: Head coach Mike Tomlin insists that it is Green’s ankle problems, and not his headaches, that have kept him on the PUP list, as Chris Adamski of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. Tomlin would not confirm reports that Green is experiencing lingering headaches and is considering retirement. Said Tomlin, “He’s on PUP because of his ankle. We stated that. He’s rehabbing nice. He’s gotten better in that area, but he’s not ready to go. I’m not going to respond to reports from unnamed sources.” It may be that Tomlin is engaging in a little misdirection here, as the reports concerning Green’s headaches appear to be well-substantiated.
THURSDAY, August 11: Thanks to the headaches that have kept him sidelined this summer, Steelers tight end Ladarius Green is considering retirement, a source suggested to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Retiring would be a costly decision for Green, notes Florio, who writes that the 26-year-old would have to return the $4.75MM signing bonus the Steelers gave the ex-Charger upon inking him to a four-year, $20MM deal in free agency.
Even if Green doesn’t walk away from football, he isn’t a lock to make the Steelers. In fact, the source informed Florio that they might cut him. If that happens, there’s a chance the Steelers could still pursue his signing bonus. Pittsburgh would likely cite the case of free agent defensive end Jonathan Fanene, whom the Patriots handed a $3.85MM signing bonus in 2013 before eventually cutting him on account of a knee injury that they argued came from a condition he failed to disclose. New England didn’t recoup the entire bonus from Fanene, but it did recover $1.35MM.
Green suffered two apparent concussions in as many weeks last September and then complained of headaches, but he told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review in March that those were merely misdiagnosed sinus issues. Green, who also missed a game in 2014 because of a concussion, went on to indicate to Kaboly that those troubles were behind him. However, Green clearly has an unfortunate history of head injuries, and if the Steelers don’t feel he was honest about his headaches when they signed him (if he was dealing with them at the time), they’ll have a case to take back at least some of the $4.75MM bonus.
Putting finances aside, not having a healthy Green would be a blow to a Pittsburgh team that is still counting on him to serve as its No. 1 tight end. As Roster Resource shows, Pittsburgh’s primary non-Green options are 2015 fifth-round pick Jesse James and 2014 undrafted free agent Xavier Grimble. James has eight career receptions, while Grimble hasn’t yet appeared in an NFL game.
The Steelers brought in Green to replace the retired Heath Miller, who amassed 592 catches – including 60 last season- in his 11-year career. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Green wasn’t quite that prolific in San Diego, where he lost targets to fellow tight end Antonio Gates, but he set multiple career highs last season and, if he regains health, has a chance to break out in the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger-led passing attack.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Steelers’ Green Sidelined By Headaches
It might be time for the Steelers to worry about their prized free agent pickup. Tight end Ladarius Green has been sidelined so far this summer and the culprit is not his surgically-repaired ankle, as once thought. Instead, painful chronic headaches are keeping the former Charger out of action, says Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com. 
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Green’s agent, Adisi Bakara, declined to comment on his client, saying only that his ankle is “fine.” The tight end complained of headaches after suffering two concussions in two weeks last September, and one has to wonder if his current issue is related. Green sat out one game last season due to a concussion and one game during the 2014 season. He also missed two games in 2015 due to his ankle ailment.
This spring, the Steelers inked Green to a four-year, $20MM deal, expecting him to provide the team with a talented playmaker at the tight end position. Instead, the fleet-footed athlete hasn’t been able to get on the field this offseason.
Green has long been viewed as a potential star in the game thanks to the athleticism he provides coupled with his 6-foot-6, 237-pound frame. Many expected 2015 to be the year that Antonio Gates would cede the torch to Green, particularly given Gates’ suspension to start the season, but that was simply not the case. Now, the Steelers may be doubting whether Green will ever fulfill his potential. Concussion headaches are not easily treated and it may prove difficult for Green to perform if they linger.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ladarius Green Still Sidelined
- Ladarius Green signed a four-year, $20MM contract with the Steelers but has not practiced a down with them yet after January ankle surgery. With that in mind, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wonders if the Steelers made a mistake with their major free agent signing. As shown on Roster Resource, the Steelers’ TE depth chart beyond Green leaves a lot to be desired. Jesse James has minimal game experience, Xavier Grimble never has played an NFL game, and Michael Cooper and Paul Lang are undrafted rookies. H-back David Johnson has experience, but mostly as a blocker. If Green is going to miss significant time, one has to wonder if the Steelers will be in the market for a tight end addition.
Opinion: Steelers Should Have Signed Veteran CB
Though they were up against the salary cap, the Steelers should have explored signing a free agent corner this offseason, opines Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Any semblance of secondary depth Pittsburgh may have had is quickly being depleted, as second-year pro Senquez Golson — who missed his entire rookie season with injuries — is likely to be out for most (or all) of the 2016 campaign after undergoing Lisfranc surgery. This year’s first-round pick, cornerback Artie Burns, wasn’t expected to contribute much during the upcoming season, but he’s also been dinged up. A few veteran corners, such as Chris Culliver and Leon Hall, have come off the open market in recent days, so if the Steelers were interested in adding another option, they’d be looking at options such as Antonio Cromartie, Cortland Finnegan, Cary Williams, and Tarell Brown.
- Earlier today, we learned that the Steelers are unlikely to work out a new deal with receiver Antonio Brown in 2016, given that the club has a policy not to renegotiate with non-quarterbacks that aren’t entering their contract year. Brown currently earns $8.4MM annually, 18th among wide receivers.
New Deal For Steelers’ Antonio Brown Unlikely
Antonio Brown is one of the most lethal offensive players in the NFL and is paid far below his talent level. Still, Brown has two years to go on his contract and the Steelers have been insistent that they will not discuss a new deal with him at this time. Recently, the team engaged in talks with Brown’s agent, but it doesn’t appear that the organization is going to give in to the wide receiver’s requests. The two sides are not talking at this time and it is very unlikely that the Steelers would entertain a new deal for Brown in 2016, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). 
The Steelers have a policy not to renegotiate with non-quarterbacks until the final year of a player’s deal and they do not want to make an exception for anyone – even a megastar like Brown. Universally considered an elite wide receiver, Brown is ranked 18th among wide receivers in terms of average annual compensation ($8.4MM/year). A quick look at the 17 receivers ahead of Brown shows that he has a legitimate case to be paid better (data via of Over The Cap):
- A.J. Green, Bengals – $15MM/year
- Alshon Jeffery, Bears – $14.599MM/year
- Julio Jones, Falcons – $14.25MM/year
- Demaryius Thomas, Broncos – $14MM/year
- Dez Bryant, Cowboys – $14MM/year
- T.Y. Hilton, Colts – $13MM/year
- Doug Baldwin, Seahawks – $11.5MM/year
- Keenan Allen, Chargers – $11.25MM/year
- Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers – $11.111MM
- Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – $11MM/year
- Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs – $11MM/year
- Allen Hurns, Jaguars – $10MM/year
- Randall Cobb, Packers – $10MM/year
- Jordy Nelson, Packers – $9.76MM/year
- Brandon Marshall, Jets – $8.67MM/year
- Michael Crabtree, Raiders – $8.5MM/year
- Pierre Garcon, Redskins – $8.5MM/year
Of course, Brown doesn’t have a ton of leverage with two years before he can potentially hit the open market. In all likelihood, Brown won’t get the big deal he is seeking until next year.
Steelers’ Senquez Golson Undergoes Surgery
AUGUST 8: Golson underwent surgery today and is expected to miss four months, tweets Dulac.
AUGUST 2, 7:47pm: The timeline on Golson is closer to four months, according to Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and if Goldon requires surgery, he’ll likely miss the entire season.
11:21am: Bad news for the Steelers as cornerback Senquez Golson has a lisfranc injury which could sideline him for 12 weeks, according to Ian Rapoport and Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (on Twitter). Golson is now a candidate to be placed on IR-DTR, according to Rapoport.
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Golson, a 2015 second-round pick, missed all of last season after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery last August. This time around, the injury doesn’t appear to be as severe, but it is still troubling for the Ole Miss product who has yet to see time in an NFL game. The injury could also prompt Pittsburgh to take a look at available cornerbacks on the open market. Behind projected starters William Gay and first-round pick Artie Burns, the Steelers also have Ross Cockrell, 2015 fourth-round pick Doran Grant, Montell Garner, and Al-Hajj Shabazz on the cornerback depth chart. Antonio Cromartie and Leon Hall are among the cornerbacks still available at this stage of the offseason.
Golson was selected with the No. 56 overall pick in last year’s draft. The 5’9″ athlete started 33 of his 49 games in college and recorded 136 tackles and 16 interceptions. His 16 picks led all NCAA active defensive players and tied for third most in school history. Golson led the SEC with ten interceptions in 2014, second-most in the NCAA, and tied an Ole Miss single-season record.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Steelers Remove Schooley From IR
- The Steelers removed Quinton Schooley from their injured reserve with an injury settlement, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
Lance Moore Retires From Football
Just days after signing with the Falcons, wide receiver Lance Moore has announced his retirement from the NFL, according to a press release from the team. 
Moore, who entered the league as a UDFA in 2005, played for three different teams during his ten year career, spending eight seasons with the Saints. During his time with the Saints, he recorded 346 receptions for 4,281 yards and 38 touchdowns. Moore tallied 389 career receptions for 4,816 yards and 44 touchdowns in his career.
Moore, who turns 33 later this month, auditioned for the Chargers recently before the team ultimately chose to sign James Jones instead. On Friday, the veteran reached agreement on a deal with the Falcons. Apparently, Moore had a change of heart over the weekend and opted to hang ’em up instead.
Moore was a favored target of Drew Brees‘ for years before he was released by the team in March 2014. In 2013, Moore’s receptions (37), receiving yards (457), and receiving touchdowns (two) were his worst totals since an injury-plagued 2009. Unfortunately, things didn’t pick up when he joined the Steelers. In 2014, he caught just 14 balls with Pittsburgh, matching his lowest total since his rookie year. Following that disappointing season, he asked for his release and then hooked on with the Lions. His performance was roughly the same there as he caught 29 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns.
We here at PFR wish Moore all the best in retirement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Plans On Interviewing James Harrison Regarding PED Use
- Following a 2015 Al Jazeera America documentary that linked multiple players to PED use, the NFL is still planning on interviewing those players about the accusations, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Schefter lists Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, although the documentary also linked free agent linebacker Mike Neal and former tight end Dustin Keller.
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