How the Steelers must get under the salary cap

The Steelers should be able to get under the cap by following the previous steps. But the problem is that they have a handful of restricted free agents to sign, not to mention a new draft class that will require contracts. All of that might result in the release of a veteran backup, like Will Allen or Jerricho Cotchery.There are other high value contracts on the roster that the Steelers must do their due diligence in exploring for potential cap savings. Antonio Brown received a lucrative new contract last season after just two years. He would be a prime candidate for a restructure. Meanwhile, Heath Miller is coming off of a late-season torn ACL and may not be ready to start the 2013 season. But he is as reliable as they come, which presents the option of reworking his contract as well.Ben Roethlisberger still has a couple of years on his contract. He is already in his 30s. But he is also a franchise cornerstone, and that is a rare commodity. The Steelers could give Roethlisberger an extension of a year or two, and doing so would lower his nearly $20 million salary cap hit for 2013, which would make a huge dent in their efforts to become cap compliant.View the list »
A few years ago, the Steelers gave linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons shiny new contracts, and every year since then, the Steelers have restructured their contracts, paying their money upfront to diminish their cap charges for that season. Coming off a disappointing season, the team might not be as eager to give Woodley so much money upfront again. But GM Kevin Colbert did mention him by name as a candidate for restructure.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers currently find themselves about $14 million over the salary cap for the 2013 season, depending on where the final cap number rests for the year, which is still not quite decided. But rest assured it will put them well over.

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The team has some big players scheduled to hit free agency, and many of them are expected to leave. If they want to retain any of them, however, they first must get under the salary cap.

Last year, the Steelers found themselves in a similar position, and they were able to part ways with some veterans that were no longer reliable, such as Hines Ward, James Farrior, Aaron Smith, Bryant McFadden, and Chris Kemoeatu.

Will they be able to get under the salary cap this year while avoiding any significant cuts of players like James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, and even Troy Polamalu? The list offers some potential solutions.

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View the list
  • A few years ago, the Steelers gave linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons shiny new contracts, and every year since then, the Steelers have restructured their contracts, paying their money upfront to diminish their cap charges for that season. Coming off a disappointing season, the team might not be as eager to give Woodley so much money upfront again. But GM Kevin Colbert did mention him by name as a candidate for restructure.
  • Ben Roethlisberger still has a couple of years on his contract. He is already in his 30s. But he is also a franchise cornerstone, and that is a rare commodity. The Steelers could give Roethlisberger an extension of a year or two, and doing so would lower his nearly $20 million salary cap hit for 2013, which would make a huge dent in their efforts to become cap compliant.
  • There are other high value contracts on the roster that the Steelers must do their due diligence in exploring for potential cap savings. Antonio Brown received a lucrative new contract last season after just two years. He would be a prime candidate for a restructure. Meanwhile, Heath Miller is coming off of a late-season torn ACL and may not be ready to start the 2013 season. But he is as reliable as they come, which presents the option of reworking his contract as well.
  • The Steelers should be able to get under the cap by following the previous steps. But the problem is that they have a handful of restricted free agents to sign, not to mention a new draft class that will require contracts. All of that might result in the release of a veteran backup, like Will Allen or Jerricho Cotchery.
  • Even with all of those steps, the Steelers still have other issues to address: primarily, their own free agents, like Mike Wallace, Rashard Mendenhall, and Keenan Lewis. How much do they value these players? Several veterans are approaching their mid-30s; would they rather keep their younger counterparts? Say, release Ike Taylor to keep Keenan Lewis around?
View the list

, Newark Football Examiner

Having grown up in New Jersey, Matt has naturally been around Giants and Jets football his entire life. But at a young age, he also found an affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he got older, his fondness for the game itself grew beyond rooting for certain teams. Although the NFL season...

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