The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly asking cornerback Cortez Allen to take a paycut from his 2016 salary, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
As Fowler points out, Allen is owed a $4.4 million base salary for 2016. In an expanded tweet, Fowler says he does not know what the team’s official plans are to do with Allen, but asking for a paycut is a good indication the team is not afraid to release him.
Allen signed a four year, $24.6 million contract back in September of 2014. Since then, he’s started just 7 games and intercepted two passes. He played in just one game this season, the opener at New England, before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. He appears to have chronic issues with that knee, given plenty of rest in camp and obviously missing most of 2015.
Even if Allen makes it through the offseason, there is certainly no guarantee he’ll make the roster. He simply hasn’t been able to prove his body can withstand the rigors of football. If released, it is likely he’ll be designated as a post-June 1st cut.
The team has given mixed signals about the future of him. Mike Tomlin was very non-committal at his season-ending press conference bu Art Rooney II implied he would be given another chance a few weeks later.
