Early returns on offseason moves

[Kodiak]

FA's: D+
Mitchell: Trending up [very slightly] from awful. Still well below the line.
Cam: Hot garbage
Moore/DHB: Almost 100% MIA
Blount: Pretty nice pick-up
Wing: More or less a wash with what we had. Neither worse nor an improvement.

Extensions: C-
Pouncey: Solid if perhaps overpaid. Ultimately hard to gauge as the OL plays as a unit and what's around him has not been good.
Gilbert: Another overpaid JAG. Some positives and a lot of negative. Far from the top-6 or 7 RT they paid for
Allen: Nowhere near solid #1 corner money he received. Looking like a shaky #2 at this point.
Worilds (tag): Hasn't even performed at the JAG level

Draft: F- (based on contributions for a team desperate for rookies to contribute)
Shazier: hurt after like 2 snaps
Tuitt: still apprenticing
East-West: one positive play?
Bryant: still trying to earn practice reps
Wes Johnson: released and acquired by the Jets
Zumwalt: IR
McCullers: waiting for Cam to get hurt
Shaq: PS
Blanflower: PS

[Steelafan77]

At least there's 2 passing grades right? Two out of three ain't bad.

[Steelperch]

How in the world can you even attempt to evaluate a draft class after 6 weeks, especially when 4 of the players sustained injuries that cost them a bunch of time? Shazier and Tuitt might be Pro Bowl caliber players for 10 years, they might both be busts. Way to early to even try to evaluate them.

Mitchell is starting to trend up. He may not be a bad signing. Too early to tell. Blount is exactly what we expected. DHB exceeded expectations by even making the squad. And I'd love to hear you explain how the Steelers are 2nd in rushing yards and 4th in YPC if Gilbert sucks so bad and the O-line "hasn't been good." Gilbert has been dominant aside for the 4 sacks he allowed in the first two games. I think he's played up to his pay scale over the past month. Cortez Allen is playing the worst ball of his career.

The good part about Cam Thomas, Worilds, and Moore is you can flush them all at the end of the year with little effect on the cap.

[Ice]

How in the world can you even attempt to evaluate a draft class after 6 weeks, especially when 4 of the players sustained injuries that cost them a bunch of time? Shazier and Tuitt might be Pro Bowl caliber players for 10 years, they might both be busts. Way to early to even try to evaluate them.

Mitchell is starting to trend up. He may not be a bad signing. Too early to tell. Blount is exactly what we expected. DHB exceeded expectations by even making the squad. And I'd love to hear you explain how the Steelers are 2nd in rushing yards and 4th in YPC if Gilbert sucks so bad and the O-line "hasn't been good." Gilbert has been dominant aside for the 4 sacks he allowed in the first two games. I think he's played up to his pay scale over the past month. Cortez Allen is playing the worst ball of his career.

The good part about Cam Thomas, Worilds, and Moore is you can flush them all at the end of the year with little effect on the cap.

I agree with all of this. After a pretty rough first couple of games, it's Polamalu that's been the problem at safety, not Mitchell. Gilbert has indeed been Tits in the running game. The last three lines of the post give me some hope. Really, the only massive fuck up to this point is the Tez extension. Hopefully he turns a corner.

[Steelperch]

Cutting Cam Thomas, Brett Keisel, and Lance Moore only equals $1 million in dead money and clears $4 million off the 2015 cap. Polamalu's contract is the real albatross. He'd do the team a real favor by retiring.

[StillerDownSouth]

Cutting Cam Thomas, Brett Keisel, and Lance Moore only equals $1 million in dead money and clears $4 million off the 2015 cap. Polamalu's contract is the real albatross. He'd do the team a real favor by retiring.

We can only hope Troy retires, I would never root for a Steeler to suffer a serious injury, but I wouldn't mind seeing Troy suffer a mild ankle sprain or hammy strain to get Shark on the field and seize his opportunity and keep the job.

[steelmann58]

Keisel is not an issue i cut Thomas now he been terrible one of the worst panic moves by Colbert.

[StillerDownSouth]

If Troy retires, does that save us roughly $8 mil on 2015 cap, if so, I would love for the Steelers to make a move to try to trade for megatron, who has been rumored to be on the block, or try to sign DEz or Demarius Thomas if they aren't franchised...get Ben an established stud receiver opposite AB, then draft a LT and a athletic TE.

[Jobu]

Shaq was IRed, when they made the PS moves earlier today.

[StillerDownSouth]

Shaq was IRed, when they made the PS moves earlier today.

not talking about richardson, talking about shark aka sharmarko

[Legacy User]

not talking about richardson, talking about shark aka sharmarko

I think Jobu's post was in reference to the OP where Shaq is listed as being on the PS

[V DUB]

How in the world can you even attempt to evaluate a draft class after 6 weeks, especially when 4 of the players sustained injuries that cost them a bunch of time? Shazier and Tuitt might be Pro Bowl caliber players for 10 years, they might both be busts. Way to early to even try to evaluate them.

Mitchell is starting to trend up. He may not be a bad signing. Too early to tell. Blount is exactly what we expected. DHB exceeded expectations by even making the squad. And I'd love to hear you explain how the Steelers are 2nd in rushing yards and 4th in YPC if Gilbert sucks so bad and the O-line "hasn't been good." Gilbert has been dominant aside for the 4 sacks he allowed in the first two games. I think he's played up to his pay scale over the past month. Cortez Allen is playing the worst ball of his career.

The good part about Cam Thomas, Worilds, and Moore is you can flush them all at the end of the year with little effect on the cap.

Good post.

The draft talk is pre mature...even with the need to play them early. Mitchell isn't being used as promised, based on his comments, pre season. But he's learning & playing better than Clark would've been, arrow up.

Cam Thomas as the 1st go to guy is the only thing that's been an albatross. He's on the same level of hate for me as Haley.

[R_S]

If Troy retires, does that save us roughly $8 mil on 2015 cap, if so, I would love for the Steelers to make a move to try to trade for megatron, who has been rumored to be on the block, or try to sign DEz or Demarius Thomas if they aren't franchised...get Ben an established stud receiver opposite AB, then draft a LT and a athletic TE.

And I'd like to have a 48 hour orgy with the Victoria's Secret Angels.

[Legacy User]

How in the world can you even attempt to evaluate a draft class after 6 weeks, especially when 4 of the players sustained injuries that cost them a bunch of time? Shazier and Tuitt might be Pro Bowl caliber players for 10 years, they might both be busts. Way to early to even try to evaluate them.

Mitchell is starting to trend up. He may not be a bad signing. Too early to tell. Blount is exactly what we expected. DHB exceeded expectations by even making the squad. And I'd love to hear you explain how the Steelers are 2nd in rushing yards and 4th in YPC if Gilbert sucks so bad and the O-line "hasn't been good." Gilbert has been dominant aside for the 4 sacks he allowed in the first two games. I think he's played up to his pay scale over the past month. Cortez Allen is playing the worst ball of his career.

The good part about Cam Thomas, Worilds, and Moore is you can flush them all at the end of the year with little effect on the cap.

Good post I agree 100%

Looking forward to seeing Tuitt get more PT

[Nick79]

Cutting Cam Thomas, Brett Keisel, and Lance Moore only equals $1 million in dead money and clears $4 million off the 2015 cap. Polamalu's contract is the real albatross. He'd do the team a real favor by retiring.

We can only hope Troy retires, I would never root for a Steeler to suffer a serious injury, but I wouldn't mind seeing Troy suffer a mild ankle sprain or hammy strain to get Shark on the field and seize his opportunity and keep the job.

Quit being "LOYAL" pussies and CUT HIS ASS! It's business, not personal.

[Legacy User]

Cutting Cam Thomas, Brett Keisel, and Lance Moore only equals $1 million in dead money and clears $4 million off the 2015 cap. Polamalu's contract is the real albatross. He'd do the team a real favor by retiring.

We can only hope Troy retires, I would never root for a Steeler to suffer a serious injury, but I wouldn't mind seeing Troy suffer a mild ankle sprain or hammy strain to get Shark on the field and seize his opportunity and keep the job.

Quit being "LOYAL" pussies and CUT HIS ASS! It's business, not personal.

His salary is guaranteed

Obviously you not understanding business side of it

[Steelperch]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

[Ice]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

I like the cut of this post's jib.

[Nick79]

His salary is guaranteed

Obviously you not understanding business side of it

All of it? 100% of his salary is guaranteed? Doesn't sound right, DOES ANYBODY WHO IS KNOWLEDGABLE CONCUR? Usually it's just the bonus right? If they cut him, you'd think they'd save some of it.

And you're right, I don't understand the business side at all, beyond casually reading and skimming the surface and have better things to do than immerse myself in it an really learn it.

Of course, that would never stop me from commenting as I please.

[Nick79]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

There you go, it's NOT all gauranteed! I guess IC doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about when it comes to the business side of things

[Ice]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

There you go, it's NOT all gauranteed! I guess IC doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about when it comes to the business side of things

When you cut a player whose salary is guaranteed, a portion of his salary remains on the books as salary cap "dead money." I think that's what was being referred to. Very rarely if ever is anyone going to have to count the entire salary of a cut/retired player under the cap the following season, but you also can't do it for free. For that, you've got to wait till the contract expires.

[Steelperch]

The prorated amount of the guaranteed money comes due when a player retires or is cut. I had falsely assumed that retirement would just remove everything from the books. Looking at Troy:

2015: Base $6,000,000 Bonus: $2,250,000 Cap Hit $8,250,000 (Savings if cut $3,750,000)
2016: Base $5,750,000 Bonus: $2,250,000 Cap Hit $8,000,000

[Nick79]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

There you go, it's NOT all gauranteed! I guess IC doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about when it comes to the business side of things

When you cut a player whose salary is guaranteed, a portion of his salary remains on the books as salary cap "dead money." I think that's what was being referred to. Very rarely if ever is anyone going to have to count the entire salary of a cut/retired player under the cap the following season, but you also can't do it for free. For that, you've got to wait till the contract expires.

So I was right, cutting Troy saves cap money.

[the-other-burg]

I'm willing to give Mitchell at least half of a season to show something. If it takes rookies 2-3 years to learn our defense, I will give a vet 8 games. I think he is steadily improving which would confirm that there is a learning curve.

[Legacy User]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

There you go, it's NOT all gauranteed! I guess IC doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about when it comes to the business side of things

It's guaranteed for this year dummy

[Legacy User]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

So use that cap space to sign Houston and let Worilds walk and use his money to sign a FA CB

[Legacy User]

I just looked it up. Apparently retirement is treated the same as cutting a player so it doesn't matter. Troy counts $8.25 million against the cap if he plays and $4.5 million against if he gets cut or retires. The good news is they can free up about $8 million in cap room by flushing Troy, Keisel, Cam Thomas, and Lance Moore. That's enough to sign one premium outside free agent. (Justin Houston)

So use that cap space to sign Houston and let Worilds walk and use his money to sign a FA CB

Fuck being sensical...we do what we do.