We knew a day like Wednesday was forthcoming for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who made six moves in an effort to get compliant with the $133 million salary cap number by Tuesday. With the result of those six moves resulting in the team being right at the magic $133 million number, there’s still a little meat left on the salary cap bone for them to gnaw off before the start of the new league year.
While there are certainly no guarantees, it appears as though all of the contract terminations are done. Sure, there’s a possibility that cornerback Ike Taylor still could be released between now and Tuesday, but I have a feeling the Steelers were able to work something out with him as far as his contract goes. That something is most likely a reduction of some sorts to the $7 million base salary he is currently scheduled to earn in 2014.
In addition to trying to figure out what to do with Taylor, the Steelers will likely continue to try to hammer out some sort of extension with linebacker Jason Worilds after giving him the $9,754,000 transition tag on Monday, which he’s already agreed to accept. That extension could happen as soon as Thursday or talks very well could drag on throughout the summer. When and if the two sides come to terms, it will more than likely drop Worilds’ 2014 cap charge by as much as $6.5 million.
In addition to waiting to see what happens with Worilds and Taylor between now and Tuesday, I still fully expect the contract of wide receiver Antonio Brown to be restructured for a second straight year. The Steelers stand to gain 3,952,500 in cap space in 2014 by taking it to the full amounts allowed and personally, I’m a bit surprised that we haven’t heard about that happening by now.
As far as the contract of linebacker Lawrence Timmons goes, the Steelers can clear another $3.93 million of cap space by once again restructuring his contract to the fullest. Looking at their situation right now, I would say there’s a 50/50 chance that happens.
For those of you eagerly waiting to help linebacker LaMarr Woodley pack his bags, you might be waiting a while. As I pointed out this morning, the Steelers don’t stand to gain anything by releasing him now, outside of being called good Samaritans for letting him hit the free agent market before the start of the new league year. I’m not going to guarantee it, but don’t be surprised if we are still talking about the future status of Woodley for a few more months.
As far as a possible contract extension for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger goes, general manager Kevin Colbert recently made it sound like those talks might not heat up until later this summer. In addition, team president Art Rooney II said earlier in the offseason that there’s a possibility it doesn’t get done at all this offseason. I think it will at some point before the start of the 2014 season, but personally would be surprised if it happened between now and Tuesday.
