It appears as if the Pittsburgh Steelers are not planning to do anything with the contract of guard Willie Colon.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Wednesday that Joe Linta, Colon\’s agent, says the Steelers have not asked for a reduction of the $5.5 million base salary that his client is scheduled to earn in 2013.
The only question that remains now, is whether or not Colon is on still on the roster by the time training camp rolls around?
The Steelers only stand to save $1.2 million in cap space, minus displacement in the Rule of 51, should they release Colon now. They could release him at any time with a post June 1st designation and save $5.5 million in cap space come June 2nd. A move like that, however, would create a $4.3 million dead money charge in 2014.
Colon, who is currently still recovering from knee surgery, will turn 30 in April and has only played in 12 games over the course of the last three seasons after not missing any time prior to that. Keeping Colon at his current number in 2013 would mean that the Steelers expect him to be their starting left guard in 2013.
Should we read too much into the news that Colon will not have his contract messed with? I don\’t think so, as I don\’t find it overly surprising. The focal point all off-season has been whether or not he will be on the roster come the time the team reports to Latrobe. If they think that he can stay healthy and play a full season, he likely will be. If they don\’t, he will be released at some point.
