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Ike Takes Huge Pay Cut, Woodley Just Plain Cut

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And here we thought the heavy lifting was over…

When the 2014 NFL season officially begins this afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be well under the league mandated $133 million salary cap. In fact, they may even have enough money to go out and sign a couple free agents when free agency kicks off later today. The moves they made to get to this point, however, are quite noteworthy. One in a good way and one in the bad.

First, to the surprise of virtually nobody, All-Pro linebacker LaMarr Woodley was given his walking papers. When Jason Worilds signed his transition tag before the ink was dry, I theorized that he and the Steelers may have the basic framework of a long-term deal in place and were just waiting until the team got it’s salary cap ducks in a row. Regardless, despite Kevin Colbert‘s nonsensical smoke-blowing about keeping both linebackers, there was no way the Black and Gold were going to pay two OLB big money with first round pick Jarvis Jones also needing playing time. Woodley was odd-man out from the word go.Read More »Ike Takes Huge Pay Cut, Woodley Just Plain Cut

What Does Jason Worilds’ Transition Tag Mean for the Steelers?

Jason Worilds

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Monday that they have placed the transition tag on linebacker Jason Worilds. That gave them the right to match any offer Worilds would have received on the free agent market. It also means Worilds is getting $9.754 million from the Steelers in 2014 if he signs the offer.

On Tuesday, he did sign the offer. That’s a good sign Worilds believes a long-term deal is coming his way, since he can no longer accept offers from other teams.

Read More »What Does Jason Worilds’ Transition Tag Mean for the Steelers?

Steelers Extend Polamalu and Miller, Give Foote The Boot

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NFL: NOV 28 Steelers at Bills

So much for best laid plans…

Going into this off-season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were projected to be catastrophic twenty some odd million over the cap. First, they got some great news when the new cap number came in $10 million higher than last season. They still had some work to do after linebacker Jason Worilds signed his one year transition offer but they were within striking distance. It looked like only one major cut would be needed to get within salary cap compliance by next Tuesday’s deadline.

Well, the Steelers are under the cap with five days to spare. More importantly, they didn’t have to cut a single significant player in order to achieve it.Read More »Steelers Extend Polamalu and Miller, Give Foote The Boot

Keys to Ben Roethlisberger’s Success in 2014

Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell

Ben Roethlisberger is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career. Antonio Brown has proven himself one of the league’s elite receivers as well as a great playmaker on special teams.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Emmanuel Sanders looking at parting ways this off season, Big Ben is going to need a quality receiver to take his place. Jerricho Cotchery led the Steelers in touchdown receptions this past season with 10. In the process, he had one of the best seasons of his career and proved himself a viable option. He should remain one if the Steelers don’t let him leave via free agency.

Read More »Keys to Ben Roethlisberger’s Success in 2014

Worilds To Remain A Steeler

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Well, that didn’t take long. One might even say it was a quick trip around the worilds.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers placed their transition tag on free agent linebacker Jason Worilds. Yesterday, Worilds signed the one year $9.75 million contract that comes with being tagged. What this means is Worilds is no longer a free agent and guaranteed to suit up for the Black and Gold in 2014. It also means the Steelers have some work to do to get under the $133 million salary cap by next Tuesday’s deadline.Read More »Worilds To Remain A Steeler

2014 Could be a Big Year for Jarvis Jones

Jarvis Jones

Jarvis Jones did not have a very impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers first-round pick had just one sack and 41 tackles all year.

However, Dick LeBeau’s defense takes time to get used to. Jones did not see a lot of downs early on in the season. In fact, Jones was benched in the game vs. Oakland and Jason Worilds saw 52 snaps compared to Jones’ 11.

Read More »2014 Could be a Big Year for Jarvis Jones

Steelers Play Tag With Worilds

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Jason-Worlids

Finally, some action…

The Pittsburgh Steelers made their first big move of the off-season, placing the transition tag on free agent linebacker Jason Worilds. I’m sure many of you are asking, “What the hell is a transition tag?” Well, it’s basically the Franchise tag’s wacky distant cousin. Where the Franchise tag comes in two flavors – exclusive and non-exclusive – and all but guarantees the player stays with his original team, the transition tag is more of a high stakes game of chicken.

Franchise tags either prevent the player from negotiating with other teams (exclusive) or come with two first round picks compensation if he signs elsewhere (non-exclusive). The transition tag comes with no such protection. Worilds is free to negotiate with other teams with the only catch being the Steelers have the right to match any offer. The transition tag will save them a couple million against the cap – transition players are paid the average of the top ten players at their position vs top five for Franchise players. In Worild’s case, he’ll get $9 million as a transitioned linebacker vs $11 million he’d get as a Franchise.Read More »Steelers Play Tag With Worilds

What the Pittsburgh Steelers Need the Most in the Draft

Emmanuel Sanders

It’s no question that the Pittsburgh Steelers have their work cut out for them this offseason. The team finished 8-8 for the second straight year in 2013 and have plenty of holes to fill.

The Steelers’ two most obvious positions of weakness are wide receiver and defensive tackle.

The Steelers lost the turnover battle in 2013, finishing with a minus-4 turnover differential. There’s no question that another pass rushing defensive lineman could help put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and bolster the defense.

Offensively, the Steelers finished 2013 ranked 16th in points with an average of 23.7 per game. However, they may soon have a big hole to fill if free agent receiver Emmanuel Sanders departs.Read More »What the Pittsburgh Steelers Need the Most in the Draft

Could Michael Sam Be Drafted by the Steelers?

Michael Sam

Here’s an interesting thought for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 offseason. What happens if they were to draft Missouri defensive end Michael Sam?

Everyone knows Sam by now as the prospect who openly admitted he’s gay. I personally have no problem with his decision and not many other people appear to either.

I could see the Steelers drafting Sam, but only if the timing was absolutely right. Sam is not a can’t-miss prospect, but the kid is on a mission. He’s already said he wants to be known for what he does on the field and not his life off it.

Would the Steelers draft Sam? Yes.

Read More »Could Michael Sam Be Drafted by the Steelers?