Steelers Release Brett Keisel
The Steelers announced that they have released defensive end Brett Keisel. The move was widely expected.
“We have informed Brett Keisel that we plan to release him today,” Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said in the release. “We have had conversations with Brett over the past couple of weeks during which we communicated our intentions to him. Brett has played a major role in our success during his 13 years in Pittsburgh. We appreciate his efforts and we are grateful for what he helped us accomplish, including two Super Bowl Championships. We will always consider him an all-time Pittsburgh Steeler.”
Keisel played 13 seasons for the Pittsburgh after being selected in the seventh round of the 2002 draft. He saw time in 156 games with 114 starts during the regular season, and he played in 16 games with eight starts during the postseason. His career regular-season totals include 30.0 sacks, 36 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions, one of which was returned 79 yards for a touchdown. Keisel is just one of 12 players in team history to record at least 30 sacks during the regular season and became a massive fan favorite during his time on the Steelers’ defensive line.
Keisel suffered a triceps injury in late November against the Saints, ending his season prematurely. The 36-year-old (37 in September) was in limbo for much of last offseason. The Steelers showed little to no interest in him for much of the offseason and only gave him a call when Darnell Dockett went down with a season-ending ACL injury.
Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) ranked him as just the 36th-best 3-4 end out of 45 qualifiers in 2013 and he ranked 30th out of 48 eligible 3-4 bookends in 2014.
FA Rumors: Murray, Raiders, Orakpo, Hill
While DeMarco Murray may not land an eight-digit annual salary, his camp sounds confident that there are teams willing to pay $8MM per year for his services, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. However, as Getlin notes it’s not clear yet whether the Cowboys are one of those teams. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Murray is willing to move on from Dallas if a better opportunity presents itself, but the running back is approaching free agency slowly and methodically rather than rushing into any decision.
While we wait to see if Jerry Jones opens up his check book for the NFL’s leading rusher before Murray hits free agency tomorrow, let’s check in on some few other free agent news….
- The Raiders are “hot after” Mike Iupati, widely considered to be the top free agent guard available this winter, reports Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Oakland figures to be up against the Bills and Jets, among other teams, in the bidding for Iupati. Landing the 49ers veteran after agreeing to terms with center Rodney Hudson would certainly help the Raiders solidify their offensive line.
- The Falcons were mentioned a week ago as a potential favorite for Brian Orakpo, and it doesn’t appear that’s changed. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington tweets that she’s hearing Atlanta is the current frontrunner for the free agent pass rusher.
- The Titans are still in play for Derrick Morgan, but so are about a half-dozen other teams, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), the Cowboys and Raiders are among the teams showing interest in quarterback Shaun Hill, who also has reportedly has an offer on the table from the Vikings.
- The Steelers have no immediate plans to re-sign veteran outside linebacker James Harrison, who could potentially be a late-summer addition for the club, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- We can add the Chiefs to the growing list of teams that has inquired on free agent cornerback Cary Williams, tweets Nick Jacobs of TWC SportsChannel in Kansas City.
- Washington hasn’t been in contract with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, but the free-agent-to-be has heard from a few other teams, says John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Steelers To Re-Sign Arthur Moats
12:49pm: Moats’ deal is worth $7.5MM over three years, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
12:36pm: Not only is Arthur Moats staying with the Steelers – he decided to give himself the scoop on the story.
“Steeler Nation, I’m proud to announce that my family and I will be staying in Pittsburgh! #GoSteelers!,” the linebacker tweeted.
Moats, 26, signed with Pittsburgh last March on a minimum salary benefit deal. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was very high on his performance against the run in 2013 and this year he received high marks for his overall performance. PFF had Moats ranked as the 17th best outside linebacker in a 3-4 set with his 7.3 overall grade. Those advanced numbers put him ahead of guys like Clay Matthews, Trent Cole, Aldon Smith, and Brian Orakpo in 2014.
Moats appeared in all 16 games for Pittsburgh last year and made nine starts. In total, he had 24 tackles and a career high 4.0 sacks.
AFC East Rumors: Hartline, Searcy, Bills, Jets
We can add another team to the list of potential suitors for wide receiver Brian Hartline, and it’s a division rival of Hartline’s old team. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter), the free agent wideout is drawing interest from the Patriots. No visit has been set up yet between the Pats and Hartline, who has already met with the Browns, Bears, and Texans, but I’d imagine the former Dolphin will at least listen to what New England has to say, since the prospect of catching balls from Tom Brady seems appealing.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- Like Jairus Byrd a year ago, Bills safety Da’Norris Searcy will be given the chance to test free agency next week, reports John Wawrow of The Associated Press. Buffalo appears unlikely to invest in Searcy, since the team is already paying big money to its other safety, Aaron Williams. A source tells Wawrow that the Bills and Searcy haven’t spoken since the team made him an offer two weeks ago.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com confirms that the Bills have interest in a pair of free agent targets that have already been linked to the team: offensive lineman Mike Iupati and linebacker David Harris. Iupati appears to be atop Buffalo’s free agent wish list, per La Canfora.
- After visiting the Seahawks, free agent cornerback Cary Williams will meet with the Jets next, weather permitting, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Assuming he doesn’t reach an agreement with either of those clubs, a visit with the Titans would be next up on Williams’ schedule. We heard earlier today that both of those teams were eyeing Williams, who is also receiving interest from the Steelers, tweets Wyatt.
Troy Polamalu Unlikely To Return To Steelers
Troy Polamalu‘s time in Pittsburgh may come to an end this offseason, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who said in an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that he expects the veteran safety to leave the team “by some means” (CBSLocal.com). Bouchette suggested that the Steelers are hoping Polamalu decides to retire, but if the 12-year pro wants to continue his career, the team may be forced to cut him.
Following up on Bouchette’s report, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) agrees that regardless of whether or not Polamalu decides to retire, he’s not expected to return to the Steelers. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), the eight-time Pro Bowler has expressed some desire to continue playing in 2015, but it’s believed he may consider retirement if the Steelers let him go.
Polamalu, who will turn 34 next month, has been a fixture on the Steelers’ defense since entering the league in 2003, appearing in 158 total games for the franchise. However, he wasn’t the same game-changing player in 2014 that he had been earlier in his career. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) still gave the veteran a positive grade, it was only by a hair — his +0.1 mark placed him 48th out of 87 qualified safeties. It was also the only season of Polamalu’s career besides 2007 in which he failed to record at least one interception or sack.
With Polamalu’s cap hit set to increase to $8.25MM for 2015, the Steelers would save $3.75MM by releasing him, taking on a $4.5MM dead money charge in that scenario.
Eagles Expected To Pursue Jason Worilds
The Eagles are on the verge of formally parting ways with longtime edge defender Trent Cole, and don’t appear close to working anything out with free-agent-to-be Brandon Graham, meaning outside linebacker will be a priority for the club this offseason. One potential target for Philadelphia is currently under contract with the league’s other Pennsylvania club — Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington reports (via Twitter) that the Eagles are expected to pursue Jason Worilds as soon as free agency gets underway.
Worilds, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, played the 2014 season on a one-year transition tag from the Steelers, earning $9.754MM. The former second-round pick had a 2014 season that was very similar to his 2013 campaign, putting up essentially the same tackle and sack totals in ’14 (62 and 7.5) that he did a year earlier (63, 8.0).
Still, the Steelers elected not to tag Worilds again, so he’s expected to reach the open market in a matter of days. A multiyear contract for the Virginia Tech product may come in at around $7.5MM annually, according to a recent report by Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Given all the cap room cleared recently by the Eagles, that’s certainly a price the team could afford, though the team has a few holes to fill, so we’ll have to see how aggressive they’re willing to be.
For now, while Connor Barwin is penciled in one starter at outside linebacker for the Eagles, there’s no clear favorite for the second spot. 2014 first-rounder Marcus Smith is one candidate, but he didn’t see much action during his rookie season, and lined up primarily at inside linebacker when he did play.
For their part, the Steelers have expressed interest in bringing back Worilds, though if he finds a big offer on the open market, it’s not clear if Pittsburgh would be eager to match it.
North Notes: Steelers, Worilds, Peterson, Suh
The Steelers have yet to finalize a restructuring of Maurkice Pouncey‘s contract, the NFLPA tells Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter). Pouncey’s current deal takes him through the 2019 season with a $8.1MM cap number in 2015. A full restructure of his deal would save the Steelers $3.8MM in cap space in 2015. More from the North divisions..
- If Jason Worilds signs elsewhere, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter) expects the Steelers to go after a pass-rushing outside linebacker in free agency and still use a high pick on one in the draft.
- Vikings GM Rick Spielman says the team has communicated with Adrian Peterson, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. “We’ve had open dialogue,’’ Spielman said, while declining to say who has spoken with the running back. “I’ll just leave it at that.”
- Spielman wouldn’t comment on contract renegotiations with Chad Greenway other than saying, “He’s under contract. There’s no deadline. We’re under the cap,” according to Tomasson (via Twitter). Greenway, 32, is due to make $7MM in 2015 with the Vikings. Last year, he missed time thanks to a broken hand and busted ribs.
- The Ndamukong Suh situation shows the complication of simple contract restructurings, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. The Lions ultimately didn’t use the franchise tag on Suh because things snowballed to the point where they would have had to invest $26.9MM for one more year with him. Next year, the Steelers could face a similar situation with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Though he’ll make only $11.6MM in 2015, his cap number of $18.395MM will result in a franchise tag of $22.074MM in 2016 thanks to the restructurings.
Steelers Cut Lance Moore
A month after Lance Moore reportedly requested his release from the Steelers, the team has granted his request. The club announced today (via Twitter) that it has parted ways with the veteran wideout, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Moore, 31, caught just 14 balls for the Steelers in 2014, matching his lowest total since his rookie season. While Moore was never the focal point of New Orleans’ pass game, he had three seasons of 65+ receptions with the Saints, but saw his usage decline significantly in Pittsburgh. With Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Markus Wheaton all ahead of him on the team’s depth chart, Moore played just 264 offensive snaps in 2014. The veteran wideout hinted at season’s end that he’d like to join a club that would give him more playing time.
After releasing Moore, the Steelers will carry about $323K in dead money on their 2015 cap from his contract, wiping his $1.5MM base salary off the books. As a vested veteran, Moore will immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers.
FA Rumors: Orakpo, Worilds, Dockett, Murray
After franchising him last year, Washington won’t use a tag on edge defender Brian Orakpo this time around, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington (via Twitter). However, Russini does add that the two sides are trying to work out a new agreement before next week’s free agent period.
Here are a few more updates on free agents and free-agents-to-be around the league:
- Outside linebacker Jason Worilds, who received the transition tag last year from the Steelers, was the team’s only real candidate to be tagged this year, but Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the club will allow Worilds to reach the open market (Twitter link).
- Defensive lineman Darnell Dockett has a visit scheduled with the 49ers tonight, reports Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter). We heard earlier today from agent Drew Rosenhaus that there’s a strong market for Dockett, who will likely have a new deal in place by the end of the week.
- Werder also provides an update on Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, tweeting that the team intends to make a “respectable” offer to the NFL’s leading rusher. The Cowboys are hoping that Murray will give them a chance to match any offer he receives in free agency, but he’ll have no obligation to do so, and Dallas’ flexibility may be limited.
- Former Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans, who is looking for a new NFL home, said today on PFT Live that he’d like to join a contender and win a Super Bowl ring before he retires (Twitter link).
- In addition to his reported visit with the Lions, free agent defensive tackle Kendall Langford has “several” more meetings on his schedule, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Taylor, McCown
The Steelers, much like the division-rival Ravens, rarely make a big splash in free agency, choosing instead to build through the draft and locking up their own premier players before they become free agents. But Pittsburgh has glaring needs in the secondary and at outside linebacker, and as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes, “the Steelers will have more disposable money to use in free agency than any time in recent memory.”
The team recently bought a little breathing room by restructuring the contracts of Marcus Gilbert, Maurkice Pouncey, and Mike Mitchell, and it could create even more cap space by releasing players like Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel. As such, the Steelers could address their most significant holes in the first wave of free agency next week. Kaboly’s colleague at the Tribune-Review, Chris Adamski, takes a look at some of the most notable names that Pittsburgh could target, and while the team will likely not go all-in for the big-ticket items, the second tier of free agents at cornerback and outside linebacker includes intriguing players that would look good in black-and-gold.
Now for a few more notes from the AFC North:
- In his second mailbag of the weekend, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com looks at a few Ravens-related topics, including how the team will address the cornerback position. Although the secondary was the team’s biggest weakness in 2014, Hensley does not foresee a major overhaul. Instead, the team will rely on the healthy returns of players like Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson. Although the Ravens could target an under-the-radar free agent, they will not be major players for the big names that will sign new deals next week, and unless Marcus Peters falls in their lap, there will likely not be an opportunity to make an im,mediate upgrade in the draft.
- Hensley also believes the Ravens will part ways with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and will sign a free agent to compete with last year’s sixth-round choice, Keith Wenning.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com attempts to explain why the Browns signed Josh McCown instead of making an effort to retain Brian Hoyer. Grossi writes, “It’s obvious to me that the Browns considered McCown the better fit in the role they envisioned – a potential short-term starter and real long-term mentor who will create no waves and do whatever is asked of him.” However, Grossi also feels that Cleveland may have felt threatened by Hoyer’s “smartness and his forthrightness” and did not believe his play outweighed the potential internal strife that he could create by his willingness to question the way things were being done.
- For his part, McCown says he will do whatever he can to help embattled Browns second-year quarterback Johnny Manziel, writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com.