Steelers Extend Troy Polamalu’s Contract
1:20pm: Polamalu’s three-year extension is worth $20MM overall, and will save the Steelers $4.5MM in 2014 cap space, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
12:26pm: The Steelers have extended Troy Polamalu‘s contract for an additional two years beyond next season, keeping him under team control through 2016, the club announced today. Like Heath Miller‘s new deal, which was also confirmed by the Steelers, Polamalu’s extension is expected to reduce his 2014 cap number.
Polamalu, who has been with the Steelers since the team drafted him in the first round in 2003, had been on the books for a cap number of about $10.888MM for 2014. His new deal should reduce that number, along with his ’14 base salary ($8.25MM), pushing some prorated bonus money into the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Although he’ll turn 33 next month, Polamalu continues to give the Steelers excellent production at the strong safety position, starting all 16 games for the club in 2013. The USC alum earned his eighth Pro Bowl berth and ranked fifth overall among 86 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
For the Steelers, the Polamalu and Miller extensions will create some much-needed cap flexibility, as the team looks to get under the cap in time for the start of the new league year next Tuesday. Still, depending on how much money is sliced off Polamalu’s cap number for 2014, more moves will likely be required. Pittsburgh may also have to deal with the contracts of LaMarr Woodley and Ike Taylor in the coming days.
Steelers Restructure Heath Miller’s Deal
WEDNESDAY, 11:23am: The restructure has added two new years to Miller’s contract, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). The new deal includes base salaries of $4MM in 2015 and 2016, while 2014’s cap number has been reduced to about $6.133MM, a reduction of $3.33MM.
MONDAY, 10:47am: The Steelers have restructured Heath Miller‘s contract in order to create 2014 cap space, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Miller had been a strong candidate to be restructured or released due to his $9.47MM cap number. That cap hit will be reduced, though the specific details aren’t yet available.
Miller’s contract called for a $6.02MM base salary in 2014, to go along with a prorated bonus amount of about $3.45MM. That bonus amount can’t be adjusted down any further, but the base salary could be reduced all the way to the minimum. 2014 was slated to be the last season of Miller’s deal, so it’s not clear yet whether the new agreement will add any extra years to the contract, or if Miller agreed to take a pay cut. If there are new years on the deal, it’s also possible they’re voidable, which would still allow the tight end to become a free agent next year.
The Steelers are among the teams with the most money committed to the 2014 cap, meaning Miller’s deal likely won’t be the last one the club restructures. Even with a higher than expected $133MM cap for ’14, the Steelers may have limited flexibility to bring back their own free agents and add new players.
Steelers Re-Sign Will Allen
The Steelers have re-signed defensive back Will Allen, according to agent Blake Baratz (Twitter link). Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, but I imagine it will be a one-year, minimum-salary contract, perhaps including a little bonus money.
After being released by the Cowboys last season, Allen caught back on in Pittsburgh, where he had spent the previous three seasons. Allen appeared in 10 games for the team and saw plenty of action in the secondary and on special teams down the stretch. The 31-year-old recorded 35 tackles and an interception for the Steelers, and received slightly above-average grades for his play from Pro Football Focus.
Having also locked up linebacker Jason Worilds as their transition player, the Steelers will need to clear salary in other spots in order to get under the cap before next Tuesday. One potential move for the team would involve restructuring Troy Polamalu‘s contract. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that Pittsburgh won’t release the veteran safety, but the club figures to try to rework Polamalu’s deal, perhaps asking him to take a pay cut.
Jason Worilds Accepts Transition Tender
Less than 24 hours after receiving the transition tag from the Steelers, linebacker Jason Worilds has accepted the one-year transition tender, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). La Canfora reports that Worilds and the Steelers have made progress on a long-term deal, and figure to continue working toward that goal.
If the two sides don’t reach a multiyear agreement, Worilds will be on a one-year contract worth $9.754MM for 2014. Signing the tender offer means Worilds can’t field offers from rival suitors in free agency, though the Steelers could still choose to explore the trade market for the young linebacker, if they so choose. That’s unlikely though, and if I had to guess, I’d predict that Worilds will eventually ink a long-term deal with the Steelers that reduces his 2014 cap hit.
With Worilds currently locked in at a cap number near $10MM, the Steelers will have to cut costs elsewhere to create some breathing room. That may involve doing something with LaMarr Woodley‘s contract, since Woodley is on the books for a $13.59MM cap number in 2014. It also could mean the end of Ike Taylor‘s tenure in Pittsburgh, as the veteran cornerback’s cap number jumps to an untenable $11.94MM in 2014. Taylor acknowledged earlier today that he knows his future with the Steelers is uncertain, as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review details.
AFC North Links: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers
Andy Dalton is entering the final year of his contract and Coley Harvey of ESPN.com discusses whether the Bengals should re-sign their quarterback prior to him reaching free agency. At this moment, Harvey thinks the team should pay its third-year player this offseason. It would certainly be a gamble by the Bengals either way, as an unsigned Dalton could lead his team deep in the playoffs and demand a huge payday next offseason. Reversely, Dalton could sign and continue to fail in leading the club through the postseason.
Other rumblings from the AFC North…
- The Ravens have not started contract talks with Michael Oher and are not expected to, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson says the team is instead focusing on re-signing Eugene Monroe.
- The Ravens made the right choice in not using the franchise tag on Monroe, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. While the team needs a left tackle (and while Monroe certainly played well in that role last season), Hensley believes that it wouldn’t have been worth it for the team to dedicate such a large portion of their cap to the position. The writer says it makes more sense to sign Monroe to a long-term deal.
- The Steelers used their transition tag on Jason Worilds earlier today, but there’s no guarantee that he returns, Scott Brown of ESPN.com says. All it would take for Worilds to leave is one team slightly overpaying, and Brown doesn’t sound too optimistic that the Steelers would match a huge offer.
Steelers Use Transition Tag On Jason Worilds
The Steelers became the second NFL team to use the transition tag today, designating linebacker Jason Worilds as their transition player, the team announced in a press release.
Unless Pittsburgh can work out a long-term deal with Worilds, the transition tag will lock the prospective free agent in for a $9.754MM cap hit for 2014, meaning the team will have to continue clearing cap room. The Steelers started that process today by restructuring Heath Miller‘s contract to reduce his $9.47MM cap hit for 2014.
Had the Steelers franchised Worilds, the one-year price tag would’ve been $11.455MM, so the club saves a little money by using the transition tag instead. However, if Worilds explores the open market and signs an offer sheet with a rival club, the Steelers will have to match the offer or let the standout linebacker walk without receiving any compensatory first-round picks.
Worilds, 25, set career-highs with 63 tackles and eight sacks in 2013. He also ranked as the 12th-best 3-4 outside linebacker, out of 42 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus.
Extra Points: Manning, Draft, Steelers
An assortment of news items from around the NFL:
- Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will have his long-awaited physical on Monday, and it could determine his future, writes Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. He has undergone four surgeries on his neck, and if the examination shows any risk of further damage, the future Hall-of-Famer could be forced to retire. A physical at the same time last year guaranteed his $20MM salary for both 2013 and 2014, but negative results now would void his 2014 salary. All parties involve believe the tests will be reveal that Manning is good-to-go for next season.
- Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com looks at whether it makes sense to trade a first-round-pick for a head coach. This article comes in the wake of the Jim Harbaugh-to-Cleveland rumors, and is buttressed by comments from Patriots president Jonathan Kraft. The Patriots, notably, traded their 2000 first-round-pick for Bill Belichick.
- Football Outsiders pioneered the “speed score,” which uses a running back’s forty-yard-dash time and his physical size to assess his explosiveness, and they take a look at the top four backs in this year’s class by said metric.
- The Steelers will have to make some tough decisions to emerge from their current cycle of mediocrity, writes Greg Bedeard of TheMMQB.com.
- Grantland.com’s Bill Barnwell examines the rise of analytics in sports, and how they could be useful in both play-calling and roster construction.
AFC North Notes: Smith, Haden, Dalton
Now that the Ravens have signed Dennis Pitta to a long-term deal, Baltimore’s next biggest priorities are left tackle Eugene Monroe and middle linebacker Daryl Smith. Monroe could still receive the franchise tag before tomorrow’s 4 p.m. deadline, but even if the Ravens do not tag him, they are expected to continue to work towards a multiyear contract extension with him. Meanwhile, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com is “quietly confident” that the team will re-sign Smith, especially since they just released Jameel McClain.
Hensley adds that the bump in the 2014 salary cap makes it a little more likely that the Ravens can re-sign Jacoby Jones, but they will still not want to pay him more than $1-2MM. The team sees Jones as a returner, but if other teams see him as both a returner and receiver, those teams could offer him something closer to the $4MM he made last season. For a team that has a number of holes to fill–and Hensley added that GM Ozzie Newsome would not be afraid to sign some unrestricted free agents this season–Jones might be too much of a luxury item.
More notes from the AFC North:
- Several weeks ago, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that, despite the posturing of GM Kevin Colbert, the Steelers would not be able to bring back both LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds and that Woodley would be released. Although he does not deviate from that stance in his latest piece, he does add an interesting twist. He notes that, according to Pro Football Focus, Woodley graded out as a slightly better player overall in 2013 (when he played, of course) and as a significantly better pass rusher. Although Woodley’s significant cap hit and recent injury history probably means he is still the odd-man out in Pittsburgh, the PFF grades and the increased salary cap at least give reason for pause.
- Some of the Browns‘ top performers are eligible for free agency in 2015, and Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com believes that several of them will receive new contracts this season. He also hears that the team and Joe Haden are close to a new deal.
- Paul Dehner of Cincinnati.com looks at the Bengals‘ quarterback outlook for 2014. Although Andy Dalton is of course the unquestioned starter and the team is not likely to peruse the free agent market for QBs, Dalton’s rocky postseason performances and his entering the final year of his rookie contract make this a pivotal year for him and for his club. Dehner believes mid- to late-round QB prospects like Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger would be logical selections for the Bengals.
AFC North Notes: Free Agency, Oher, Rubin
The unexpected salary cap has left many teams feeling better about their situations, and the Bengals are also reaping the benefits of the extra cap space, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. The team only has two starters set to hit free agency, in Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins. They also have a number of lesser players such as Dane Sanzenbacher, Andrew Hawkins, Brandon Tate, and Mike Pollak. Hobson writes that the team has already contacted most if not all the players’ agents, but will keep in mind that extensions for Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Vontaze Burfict, and Domata Peko will be coming in the near future.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC North:
- The Steelers could have trouble re-signing some of their notable free agents once they hit the market, writes Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Brown writes that the team is unlikely to match or exceed offers that Jason Worilds, Emmanuel Sanders, and Ziggy Hood could command on the free market.
- The Ravens have not made a decision regarding their two free agent tackles, Michael Oher and Eugene Monroe, writes Jamison Henley of ESPN.com. While most pundits and fans do not believe the team will be able to re-sign both players, head coach John Harbaugh has not ruled out bringing back both players. Henley writes that if the team fails to retain Monroe, than it would be more likely that they bring back Oher to play left tackle.
- While Ahtyba Rubin is considered a likely cap casualty for the Browns, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com writes that the team would be making a mistake in doing so. Reed believes that the cap space the team would save is minimal compared to the talent and leadership they would be losing along their defensive line.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bengals, Pitta
The Steelers are very excited about having extra salary cap room this season, writes Steven Ruiz of USA Today. The team looked to be strapped for cash in 2014, but with the extra relief, team president Art Rooney has more room to work with in free agency. The team has 22 players hitting free agency, but could find some cap relief by releasing veterans Ike Taylor, LaMarr Woodley, and Heath Miller. They could also consider restructuring Ben Roethlisberger‘s deal, as he holds a cap number of almost $19MM for 2014. Here are some other notes from the AFC North:
- While the Bengals‘ secondary is thought to be a strength, Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com believes the team could still target corner at some point in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft. With Leon Hall coming off his second torn achilles in 23 months, Terence Newman entering the final year of his contract, and Adam Jones approaching his 31st birthday, the team does have question marks at the position. Former first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick has improved, and while the need for a starter is not imminent, in a passing league teams can never have enough guys who can cover.
- The Ravens are still trying to work out a contract with Dennis Pitta, although the two are still not close on an agreement, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. While it was thought he would either be signed long-term or designated with the franchise tag, head coach John Harbaugh leaves open the option that Pitta could hit free agency without receiving the tag. “I think every scenario is possible here,” Harbaugh said. “The franchise tag is very vague right now, so anything could happen.”
- The Ravens have also begun talks with linebacker Daryl Smith, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. While Pitta and Eugene Monroe have gotten all the attention, general manager Ozzie Newsome has not forgotton about Smith. “Daryl did a great job for us,” Newsome said. “We have engaged in some conversations with his representative.” Smith was asked after the season if he would like to return to the team, replying emphatically that he would. “Most definitely [I want to return],” said Smith. “I love it here and would love to be back. We’ll see how it goes, though.”