Steelers Not in Cap Trouble

Good morning,

Some stuff in our first March blog:

--- Sports Illustrated had an item the other day that the Steelers were in a dreadful cap situation. I don’t see it. The NFL Players Association has them at $141 million and change with 61 players under contract. Since the cap is expected to be around $143 million, that means they already are under it and only the top 51 players count. Spotrac has them at $134 million for their top 51 and has them at $141 million with 68 players under contract because that site already has factored in their seven draft picks.

Either way, with the 51 only counting until the season begins, plus the vets who likely will be removed and the Steelers really do not have a salary cap problem at all.

In fact, if they want to hold onto someone such as Cam Thomas for a bit until they make sure they can sign another defensive end, they can do so because they do not need the $2 million salary he will earn next season to get under the cap. They could release him if they sign another at his position.

The same would hold true for someone such as Lance Moore. He is set to make $1.5 million in salary in 2015, but as with Thomas there are no roster bonuses involved that might prompt them to release him early. They can wait if they want to see if they have a fourth or fifth wide receiver. In fact, they can invite him to training camp to compete for that job without any repercussions other than an injury.

Will they do that? The Steelers always have had a sense of fair play when it comes to releasing veterans, giving them a chance to hook on elsewhere if they are sure they do not want them. It is why they released Woodley last March rather than wait until June even though as a June designated release, he did not come off their cap until June. They wanted to give him a chance to go after the early money in free agency, which is always larger. He did so too when he signed with Oakland.

Either way, they are not in cap hell; they have more room to operate this year and that either could be signing free agents or even saving money for next year.

--- If the Steelers release Troy Polamalu before March 10, they will save $3.75 million in his accounting off their salary cap If they designate him as a June cut, then they would create $6 million in room this year but he would still count $2.25 million on their cap in 2016.

However, if they decide to release Polamalu (or if he retires), there is no real ramification unless they do not have the cap room this year -- only then would a June release be in order (if they plan to cut him, or if he retires). They then could put that extra cap room to use by signing someone to an extension, such as Kelvin Beachum, whose cap number ($671 K will grow once they do.

--- On the other hand, Cam Heyward’s cap number of $6,969,000 for 2015 will be reduced when they sign him to a new contract. His salary will be much lower and the pro-rated portion of what should be a large signing bonus will not bring his cap for this year nearly that high.

--- Please stop suggesting that the Steelers take a look at LaMarr Woodley. I don’t care how cheap he comes, he cannot play anymore. He has shown that over the past three or four seasons.

Here is what one seasoned veteran told Ron Cook about Woodley TWO YEARS ago:

“He tells us he works out, but we didn't see it. He wasn't in shape. That has to be a reason why he was always hurt."

--- The Steelers will be charged $8,580,000 against their salary cap this year for Woodley. LeGarrette Blount will cost them $475,000 in cap space in 2015.

--- Woodley earned $4,843,750 from the Raiders last season. He played in six games, and did not play well in those.

--- The Steelers have not yet restructured the contract of Maurkice Pouncey, according to the NFLPA.

--- Remember that Cortez Allen is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 14 and will count nearly $7 million against their salary cap in 2015.

--- Send your questions to Ask Ed at ebouchette@post-gazette.com