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Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Contract Details: Verner, Griffen, Mitchell

March 12th, 2014 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

As part of the 4-year, $26.5MM contract Alterraun Verner will sign with the Buccaneers, $1MM of the total value comes as a Pro Bowl incentive, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Here are the latest contract details from around the NFL..

  • Everson Griffen‘s $19.8MM of guaranteed money in his new deal with the Vikings comes from a $6MM signing bonus and fully guaranteed $6.9MM base salaries in 2014 and 2015, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Griffen has a $8.2MM cap number in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 and his cap number rises to $9.7MM in 2018, Corry tweets.If the Vikings cut Griffen after the 2015 season, they owe him nothing and take just a $3.6M cap hit, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
  • Michael Mitchell‘s five-year, $25MM deal with the Steelers calls for him to earn $6MM in the first year followed by a $2MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of 2015 league year, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
  • Toby Gerhart gets a $3MM roster bonus and $1MM base in the first year of his three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Jaguars, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He also has a $500K roster bonus guaranteed for skill/injury in ’15.
  • Tyson Jackson gets $9.5MM in first year of his five-year, $25MM pact from the Falcons, Pelissero tweets. He has another $1.5MM in 2015 guaranteed for injury only until next year. Jackson has $11MM guaranteed in total with an $8MM signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Wilson (on Twitter) has the goods on Darrell Stuckey‘s deal with the Chargers. It’s a four year, $7.6MM deal with $1.735MM guaranteed and salaries of $730K, $1MM, $1.235MM, and $2.9MM.
  • Earl Mitchell‘s deal with the Dolphins is as follows, according to Wilson (Twitter link): It’s a four-year, $19MM with $8MM guaranteed and a $2MM bonus. The salaries are $3MM, $4MM, $2.975MM, and $3.975MM .
  • In the Chiefs‘ two-year deal for Husain Abdullah, he’ll get $2.27MM in total with a $750K signing bonus, Wilson tweets. His salaries are $725K in 2014 and $745K in 2015.
  • Andre Roberts‘ four-year contract with the Redskins includes a $4MM signing bonus, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. He’ll count $2.25MM against the cap in 2014.

Steelers Re-Sign Cody Wallace

March 12th, 2014 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers announced that they have re-signed center/guard Cody Wallace to a three-year deal, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Wallace got some unfortunate press for himself in December when he inadvertently grabbed Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks below the belt. However, the 29-year-old is known more for his protection skills. Last season, Wallace saw time in ten games with four starts for Pittsburgh.

Steelers Re-Sign Greg Warren

March 12th, 2014 at 9:24am CST by Luke Adams

The Steelers have re-signed long snapper Greg Warren, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. The team has since confirmed Warren’s new deal, which Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says is a one-year pact (Twitter link).

Warren, the Steelers’ longtime long snapper, has been with the team since the 2005 season. Coming off a minimum salary benefit deal that included a $65K bonus in 2013, Warren will almost certainly be in line for the same type of deal in 2014, though terms haven’t been disclosed.

AFC North Rumors: Gerhart, Nwaneri, Sanders

March 11th, 2014 at 8:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Three teams are showing interest in free agent running back Toby Gerhart, including the Browns, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Niners and Jaguars are also in the mix. The latest from the AFC North..

  • Uche Nwaneri is visiting the Bengals this Thursday, reports Tania Ganguli os ESPN.com (via Twitter). Nwaneri was released by the Jaguars earlier this week.
  • The Ravens really like Emmanuel Sanders, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). They have not reached out to him yet, but would love to steal him away from their division rivals if the price is right.
  • The Steelers want to bring back Jerricho Cotchery, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). The team has reached out to the veteran wide receiver, but no deal has been struck yet.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

Steelers To Sign Mike Mitchell

March 11th, 2014 at 6:04pm CST by Zachary Links

6:04pm: Mitchell’s deal with the Steelers will be a five-year pact worth about $25MM, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

5:30pm: The Steelers are set to sign safety Mike Mitchell, a source tells Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). Mitchell is coming off a productive year with Carolina.

The Redskins were said to have interest in the former Panthers and Raiders safety, but earlier today we learned that they cooled on him. Mitchell, 27 in June, saw time in 15 games for the Panthers last season and started in 13. In total, he racked up 52 tackles, four sacks, and an eye-popping four interceptions.

Safeties have been flying off the board left and right today but the No. 1 prize – Jairus Byrd – remains available.

Steelers Release LaMarr Woodley

March 11th, 2014 at 5:40pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 5:40pm: ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter tweets that the release of Woodley by the Steelers is now official.

MONDAY, 12:34pm: The Steelers will release linebacker LaMarr Woodley when the new league year begins tomorrow, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). According to Schefter, the team will designate Woodley as a post-June 1 cut, allowing his cap number to be spread across 2014 and 2015.

Since signing his massive six-year contract in 2011, Woodley has recorded just 18 sacks in three seasons, after notching 35 from 2008 to 2010. He still graded well above average last season according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, but his cap hit is untenable for the Steelers, particularly with Jason Worilds locked in at nearly $10MM as the team’s transition player.

Woodley had been slated to earn a base salary of $8MM in 2014, with a cap number of $13.59MM. Designating him a June 1 cut will ensure that only $5.59MM of his cap number counts on the Steelers’ books for 2014. The contract will then represent $8.58MM in dead money on the team’s 2015 cap.

Once he’s officially released on Tuesday, Woodley will be free to sign with any team, and despite the decline in his sack totals in recent years, he’ll still make a very intriguing option for clubs eyeing edge defenders.

Ike Taylor Accepts Pay Cut

March 10th, 2014 at 8:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

8:25pm: It’s a straight pay cut for Taylor, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter). Taylor’s salary is reduced from $7MM to $2.75MM, saving the Steelers $4.25MM in cap space. No extra years were tacked on to the deal.

6:18pm: Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor has appeared to restructure his contract, accepting a pay cut in the process, according to a tweet from Taylor himself. The veteran corner sent out a message stating: “The INK is about to dry on this paper…im a lifer…will retire as a ROONEY and a LEBEAU,” referencing Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com indicated that the restructure will involve a pay cut (via Twitter). Taylor was scheduled to earn a base salary of $7MM in 2014.

Taylor, 33, has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh after being drafted in 2004. In 2013, he accrued 63 tackles but no interceptions, and graded as just the 97th-best corner according to Pro Football Focus. For the Steelers, the move comes out of necessity as the team desperately needs salary cap space. They also restructured the deals of Antonio Brown, Troy Polamalu, and Heath Miller, and released Levi Brown and Larry Foote.

AFC Rumors: McCluster, Titans, Steelers, Jets

March 10th, 2014 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

A league source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that wide receiver and return man Dexter McCluster won’t be returning to the Chiefs. McCluster has four or five suitors and will likely sign Tuesday night, says Paylor, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com also hears that the free-agent-to-be will be “snapped up quickly.” Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • In addition to Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, other players on the Titans‘ radar include Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain and Broncos defensive end/outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
  • Red Bryant says he received interest from the Packers, Chiefs, and Redskins signing with the Jaguars, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Bryant signed a four-year deal with Jacksonville that could pay him up to $17MM but guarantees him just $5.25MM.
  • The Steelers are working to see if Ike Taylor will take a pay cut, tweets La Canfora. If Taylor is unwilling to do so, I imagine Pittsburgh will release him soon.
  • Chiefs inside linebacker Akeem Jordan is drawing interest from six teams and has a visit set up with one AFC club for Thursday, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (at the National Football Post).
  • The Jets are high on Matt Schaub, and figure to target him in free agency if he’s released by the Texans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Contract Details: Sherels, Boldin, Brown, Royal

March 10th, 2014 at 2:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Marcus Sherels‘ two-year, $2.2MM extension with the Vikings included a $300K signing bonus, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The defensive back and punt returner also has $200K of his $750K base in 2014 guaranteed. Sherels, 26, saw an increased role in the secondary in 2013, playing 545 defensive snaps. With that extra playing time, Sherels racked up 47 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception. His most positive contributions probably came on special teams, however, where he averaged 15.2 yards per attempt on 22 punt returns, including a touchdown. Some more details on recent contracts..

  • Over The Cap has the full breakdown of wide receiver Anquan Boldin‘s pact with the 49ers, which includes three voidable years.
  • The Steelers did a simple restructure on Antonio Brown‘s deal, Pelissero tweets. Pittsburgh converted $5.27MM of his 2014 base salary to a signing bonus, clearing about $3.95MM off the cap.
  • Eddie Royal gets $3.5MM guaranteed in his reworked deal with the Chargers, tweets Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. The maneuvering saves San Diego about $1MM in cash and salary cap room.
  • Mackenzy Bernadeau‘s “restructure” with the Cowboys included a $1.15MM pay cut in 2014 and a $1.75MM cut in 2015, Pelissero tweets. Bernadeau now has a $500K roster bonus and fully guaranteed $1.1MM base in 2014 (link). His 2015 base is now $1.5MM ($400K guaranteed for injury).
  • Pelissero (Twitter link) has the goods on Mark Herzlich‘s one-year extension with the Giants. He’ll get a $775K base salary, $200K in per-game roster bonuses, and $25K workout bonus, good for $1MM total.
  • Offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre got a $150K signing bonus and $50K roster bonus on his one-year, $950K extension with the Seahawks, Pelissero tweets.

Alterraun Verner Rumors: Monday

March 10th, 2014 at 1:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Both New York teams have been linked to free agent cornerback Alterraun Verner, with the latest reports suggesting that Verner is one of many defensive backs the Jets have inquired on, while the Giants may bow out of the Verner sweepstakes if it takes $10MM per year to land him. Here’s more on the free agent I ranked as the eighth-best in this year’s class:

  • Appearing on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, Verner made a number of interesting comments. Verner suggested he’d like to go to a team that he thinks can win, and that he might be more interested in being among a team’s highest-paid players at $6-7MM than earning $8-9MM and not being among the highest paid (all Twitter links). He added that he expects to make a decision fairly quickly (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • There’s still no movement between Verner and the Titans on a new deal, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who says there are at least six teams in the mix for the cornerback (Twitter link).
  • Like Peter King, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger hears it could take $10MM annually to sign Verner, and says that price is likely out of the Giants‘ range. As Raanan writes, the Giants have multiple holes to fill and will be reluctant to spend heavily on any one player.
  • Verner is one of the prospective free agents that the Steelers have expressed interest in, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Given Pittsburgh’s cap situation and Verner’s rumored asking price, it’s hard to see how the team could afford to bring in the Titans cornerback, but he’s at least on the radar. According to Brown, the Steelers have also inquired on Captain Munnerlyn and Nolan Carroll.
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