Pouncey restructures

[Legacy User]

Dale Lolley ‏@dlolleyor · 19m19 minutes ago
Per capologist Ian Whetstone, the #Steelers have restructured the contract of Maurkice Pouncey

[Obviously]

Wonder if Ben resigning imminent.

[Legacy User]

I really think the Worlids retirement is going to force their hand and make them go hard after one of the FA OLBs. Rumors have most all of the OLBs worth anything starting the rounds visiting teams. But with Worlids gone they almost have to land one of the Derrick Morgan, Jabal Sheard, or Brian Orakpo group of OLbs. It also looks like Brice McCain is getting some play on the market and has visited or plans to visit Miami and Minnesota so they also have to find a new CB....Chris Culliver Please.....

[Legacy User]

I agree, maybe amd hopefully the Worilds retiring has gotten the Steelers out of their comfort zone and off their wallets.

[Kodiak]

Wonder if Ben resigning imminent.

They don't need to clear cap to extend Ben. They could actually free-up a decent amount of change from an extension, if they needed.

[Orangesteel]

Funny that it takes a surprise retirement by a 27 year old to get a fire lit under mangement's ass about lack of depth. And as I'm typing this not a damn thing has happened yet.

[Legacy User]

Ian Whetstone ‏@IanWhetstone · 44m44 minutes ago
Maurkice Pouncey's restructure dropped his '15 cap hit from $8.1M to $4.296M. Future hits are now $10.551M, $11.051M, $10.551M, and $7.951M.

[bradshaw2ben]

[Kodiak]

They're definitely going after someone, possibly two.

[Thrillsseeker]

They're definitely going after someone, possibly two.

I tend to agree.


I'm not a capologist by any stretch of the imagination. What I do know is there is an awful lot of restricting/freeing up money that doesn't seem same ole same ole to me.

[Gonzo]

Just pushing the problem on

[Steelperch]

Just pushing the problem on

The problem is dead money for players that aren't here anymore. Woodley's $8 million albatross is gone after this year. They'll probably be eating $4 million for Polamalu next year. After that they are golden.

[BethlehemSteel]

Wonder if Ben resigning imminent.

They don't need to clear cap to extend Ben. They could actually free-up a decent amount of change from an extension, if they needed.

My rant exactly, they are simply being asshole irish assholes...... show a little decency Rooneys

[jeemie]

Free agency isn't even 24 hours old, and the Rooneys are moving too slow for people...

[Legacy User]

Free agency isn't even 24 hours old, and the Rooneys are moving too slow for people...

Fucking cheap ass socksuckers

[BethlehemSteel]

Free agency isn't even 24 hours old, and the Rooneys are moving too slow for people...

That's fuuking right hall monitor. Rooneys are behind the times he past few years on getting with the program.

[Legacy User]

I really think the Worlids retirement is going to force their hand and make them go hard after one of the FA OLBs. Rumors have most all of the OLBs worth anything starting the rounds visiting teams. But with Worlids gone they almost have to land one of the Derrick Morgan, Jabal Sheard, or Brian Orakpo group of OLbs. It also looks like Brice McCain is getting some play on the market and has visited or plans to visit Miami and Minnesota so they also have to find a new CB....Chris Culliver Please.....

I think it was 70/30 that he was gone anyways and I think that the FO was pretty clear that they were good with it. I think this will shake out better than we think. We have some serious depth at MLB and it seems like people are out there doing more deals than I can remember- perhaps the Steelers might go that route.

I have some serious concerns about Orakpo. He is a great great talent but when your injury is something coming off the bone- you tend to think a guy is done unless hes a pro wrestler. Guy hasnt finished two seasons, if we were going that route should just go and get Woodley.

[Legacy User]

I didn't really think that he was coming back either, but his absence thins out the pool and every team that has the same needs or are looking at the same guys now have one less to choose from. Making those other guys a little more valuble. Orakpo would be third on that list for me, healthy he is a beast but who knows. Derrick Morgan is the guy I want. Morgan and Jones starting with Moats and a high draft pick backing up is how I would roll at OLB.

[Legacy User]

Nobody likes Akeem Ayers?

[bradshaw2ben]

I didn't really think that he was coming back either, but his absence thins out the pool and every team that has the same needs or are looking at the same guys now have one less to choose from. Making those other guys a little more valuble. Orakpo would be third on that list for me, healthy he is a beast but who knows. Derrick Morgan is the guy I want. Morgan and Jones starting with Moats and a high draft pick backing up is how I would roll at OLB.

Morgan is not a plus edge rusher.

Really, here's what's left:

A. Orakpo (serious injury red flags)
B. James Harrison (expiration date nears)
C. Greg Hardy (serious off the field flags)
D. Worilds (retired for now)

anything else is just window dressing/deck chairs on the titanic

Even if they sign one of the above guys, they're going to bring in 2 more in draft/UDFA. Orakpo only has to stay healthy long enough to bridge to the new guys; you work his deal so that you're protected if he is injured. Harrison is just such a bridge, as well. Hardy, you're bringing in backup in case he goes to jail or gets suspended.

So, they start camp with:
1. Orakpo/Deebo/Hardy
2. Jarvis Jones
3. Arthur Moats
4. Rookie early pick
5. Rookie late pick or UDFA
6. Shawn Lemon
7. Jordan Zumwalt
8. Howard Jones

It won't happen though... they'll start camp with 2-8 and plan to bring in Harrison later if they need him.

[Minkah'n History]

They're definitely going after someone, possibly two.

I tend to agree.


I'm not a capologist by any stretch of the imagination. What I do know is there is an awful lot of restricting/freeing up money that doesn't seem same ole same ole to me.

Currently as I type this we are 7.2 under the cap, which is pretty solid for us.

If Ben can reduce his cap hit from 18 to even say 15 for 2015 we would be slightly over 10.

Next: Troy?

[Kodiak]

Currently as I type this we are 7.2 under the cap, which is pretty solid for us.

If Ben can reduce his cap hit from 18 to even say 15 for 2015 we would be slightly over 10.

Next: Troy?

And Heyward's extension will probably save another $3M...


but but but I think everyone is forgetting that they likely are also going to extend Decastro, Foster and Beachum - all in the final year of their contract....it doesn't have to add much if anything to the cap, but without pushing too much out I'm thinking those 3 eat-up $5-$7M additional in cap on their extensions.

[Legacy User]

Key point to consider: they don't HAVE to reduce Ben and Heyward's cap #'s with extensions. Ultimately they will re-sign for some value amount and the Steelers will construct the cap #'s to have max benefit. For the sake of future years, it may actually be better to NOT reduce Ben and Cam's cap hits next season. Put larger amounts up front and (relatively) smaller amounts in the out years.

Basically, they need to decide when they want to get the cap room. They can get it this year by signing extensions with lower cap #'s this year OR they could get more room in future years by spreading cap hits of extensions more evenly. Given what's left on the market now, I would personally put more upfront and save my cap room for future years and future free agents.

[Legacy User]

I laugh my ass off at all this intricate cap bullshit.

Win now pay later collect premium picks as you eat dead money.

Fuck that 15 to 25 draft position bullshit. Much more likely to get that QB or Pass Rusher between 1-10.

[Kodiak]

Basically, they need to decide when they want to get the cap room.

That's a good point, but the new CBA rules make it moot because you can carry cap space over to the following year. If you reduce Ben's cap number $5M but then don't spend it, it will just carry over offsetting the $5M you shifted into later years.

Plus, you can always shift more money into later years by restructuring. I think all else equal, you want a guy's cap number to be a relative constant % of what you expect the cap to be...in that scenario, if you're then having to restructure guys or backload contracts then you know you're borrowing money from the future. Teams also have to spend 90% of their cap, so by similar logic you don't want to create a situation where you have $40M you have to spend and no good options to spend it on (probably why the high-end FA market salaries have exploded).