***OFFICIAL*** Steelers 2012 Thread (2 Viewers)

[treat88]

FWIW, Bouchette was interviewed on the radio today and said he thinks Ward will be back

Somtimes it's hard to know if Bouchette thinks he's a reporter or Hines' agent.If Hines comes to a quick stop Bouchette goes shoulders deep.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

@ScottBrown_Trib: Colbert said there is a good chance Rashard Mendenhall (knee) won't be ready for start of 2012 season and will open season on PUP list.

@ScottBrown_Trib: Colbert said Steelers won't sign any of their own free agents before start of FA on March 13 as they work to get under the cap.

@ScottBrown_Trib: Steelers general manager Kevin

Colbert said no decision has been made about Hines Ward's future with the team.

@EdBouchette: Despite Mendenhall's injury status Colbert says RB not necessarily a need

@EdBouchette: #steelers Colbert says he has no idea what team will be at training camp

 

[Godsbrother]

@ScottBrown_Trib: Colbert said there is a good chance Rashard Mendenhall (knee) won't be ready for start of 2012 season and will open season on PUP list.@ScottBrown_Trib: Colbert said Steelers won't sign any of their own free agents before start of FA on March 13 as they work to get under the cap.@ScottBrown_Trib: Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said no decision has been made about Hines Ward's future with the team.@EdBouchette: Despite Mendenhall's injury status Colbert says RB not necessarily a need@EdBouchette: #steelers Colbert says he has no idea what team will be at training camp

Figured that Mendy would be starting the season on the PUP list. Assuming that is the case I bet the sign a veteran RB.

 

[Godsbrother]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

Who do you have at 4?

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Steelers Mendenhall might not be ready for 2012

2012-02-13

Ed Bouchette Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers are not counting on Rashard Mendenhall being able to play in 2012 because of his ACL surgery, and it appears they will not sign any of their own pending free agents before they hit the open market on March 13.

Those were two revelations general manager Kevin Colbert offered during an interview today at the Steelers facility on the South Side.

Among others:

• He confirmed that no decision has been made on whether Hines Ward will be back with the Steelers in 2012.

• The Steelers "have work to do" to get under the mandatory NFL salary cap by March 13, which is the beginning of the new league calender and the start of free agency.

• They want to try to keep Mike Wallace "here for the long run.'' Wallace, their leading receiver last season, will become a restricted free agent March 13.

• Some big names could be out before training camp starts. "When you've had success . . . anybody who has been part of our team and you have to release them, it's always difficult.''

• The Steelers saw this problem with the salary cap coming for awhile and "knew we'd have to make adjustments,'' Colbert said. He called them "serious issues.''

"What our team will be at training camp? I don't know what it will be.''

Colbert did not say that Mendenhall would not play in 2012, but "I never feel good about an ACL for a year.'' Mendenhall had surgery on his knee in January after it was injured in Cleveland Jan. 1.

Even with the availability of Mendenhall in question, Colbert said they do not necessarily have to bring in another running back.

"No more than we are for any other position. Our young backup contributors did a nice job" in 2011.

He mentioned Isaac Redman as a back who has "established himself as an NFL running back.'' He also noted rookies John Clay and Byron Batch and second-year back Jonathan Dwyer.

Colbert said they likely cannot sign any of their own free agents before March 13 because of their position in the salary cap. It does not mean, however, they will not sign any of them after March 13.

That potentially means that Wallace will become a restricted free agent and another team could sign him. The Steelers, though, will almost surely offer him the high tender that would bring them a first-round draft pick if another team signed him and they did not match it and keep him.

First published on February 13, 2012 at 3:05 pm

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

 

[treat88]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines could absolutely play teams from a simply physical standpoint. The two questions would be:#1 Would he be willing to do it?#2 Would he be any good at it?ST is all about hustle and heart. I don't want to doubt either in Hines case, but a 36 y.o. 14 year vet with millions in the bank might just not have the fire needed to go out and earn his roster spot with his play on coverage units.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Was thinking the same, Keisel and Orpheus Roye used to be special teams demons. I guess the real question is whether Hines wants to go out that way.

 

[H8fulHuck]

When does the team have to start paying Antonio Brown? A guy who out performs his contract like Brown did last season deserves to be rewarded.

 

[The Hank]

When does the team have to start paying Antonio Brown? A guy who out performs his contract like Brown did last season deserves to be rewarded.

He has 2 seasons under his belt and given the Steelers cap woes this offseason, I heavily doubt his contract gets addressed this offseason. Especially with Mike Wallace as a RFA.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Steelers Mendenhall might not be ready for 20122012-02-13Ed Bouchette Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Steelers are not counting on Rashard Mendenhall being able to play in 2012 because of his ACL surgery, and it appears they will not sign any of their own pending free agents before they hit the open market on March 13.Colbert did not say that Mendenhall would not play in 2012, but "I never feel good about an ACL for a year.'' Mendenhall had surgery on his knee in January after it was injured in Cleveland Jan. 1.

So if Mendy were to go on IR, would his contract no longer count against the cap?I highly doubt they would send him to IR within the next month even if that were the case because its too soon after the surgery to know what his progress will be like, so its probably a pointless question, but Im not sure it wouldnt be the smart move at this point.

 

[The Jerk]

Decent salary cap FAQ last updated August 29, 2011:

Ask the Commish Salary Cap FAQ

Not found in the article, but as I understand it, once March 13, 2012 rolls around, no team can exceed the salary cap from that point forward to the conclusion of the 2012 season.

The reason the Steelers are so far over the cap is the differential between the 2011 and 2012 salaries. Once 2011 concluded, the 2012 numbers replaced the 2011 numbers in the cap calculation.

 

[thegiants]

Can't believe it

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Can't believe it

wut

 

[Godsbrother]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

Who do you have at 4?

Someone (anyone) else.

 

[Godsbrother]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines isn't built like an ILB. He is tough but with his (lack of) speed he would be hitting some big men. I don't think he could do it.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines isn't built like an ILB. He is tough but with his (lack of) speed he would be hitting some big men. I don't think he could do it.

He's bigger than Chidi, isn't he? Keith Rivers is a pretty big guy, etc...Just saying if they decided to keep him around at the vet minimum as a reserve receiver, he might have some added value on ST if he/they chose to go that route.Seeing a lot of talk about Hampton being cut and Hood being moved to NT. I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he? Are they planning to plump him up (after all, it was McLendon, not Hood, who played nose when Hampton/Hoke weren't in there) or is this maybe a smoke screen to mask the fact that they're targeting Dontari Poe?

 

[Kenny Powers]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines isn't built like an ILB. He is tough but with his (lack of) speed he would be hitting some big men. I don't think he could do it.

He's bigger than Chidi, isn't he? Keith Rivers is a pretty big guy, etc...Just saying if they decided to keep him around at the vet minimum as a reserve receiver, he might have some added value on ST if he/they chose to go that route.Seeing a lot of talk about Hampton being cut and Hood being moved to NT. I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he? Are they planning to plump him up (after all, it was McLendon, not Hood, who played nose when Hampton/Hoke weren't in there) or is this maybe a smoke screen to mask the fact that they're targeting Dontari Poe?

Yeah, I dont see how they could think Hood could be a NT. He's only average size for a 3-4 DE, no?Also, at Zigmund

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines isn't built like an ILB. He is tough but with his (lack of) speed he would be hitting some big men. I don't think he could do it.

He's bigger than Chidi, isn't he? Keith Rivers is a pretty big guy, etc...Just saying if they decided to keep him around at the vet minimum as a reserve receiver, he might have some added value on ST if he/they chose to go that route.Seeing a lot of talk about Hampton being cut and Hood being moved to NT. I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he? Are they planning to plump him up (after all, it was McLendon, not Hood, who played nose when Hampton/Hoke weren't in there) or is this maybe a smoke screen to mask the fact that they're targeting Dontari Poe?

Yeah, I dont see how they could think Hood could be a NT. He's only average size for a 3-4 DE, no?Also, at Zigmund

He's listed at 6' 3", 300 lbs. If that's his "fighting weight", then I don't know that beefing him up to 325-330 is the best plan of attack.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he?

Almost certainly not.Hood at NT isn't the answer. Hopefully they're just playing games to try and throw people off the scent....which is a pretty big waste of time, since most everyone who pays the slightest bit of attention to the NFL is going to realize that they Steelers are in the market for a noseguard.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Why not let Ward play on ST now? No longer need to worry about keeping him injury free, let him go out there and crack some skulls on KRs.

I don't think he has the speed to play ST anymore. He either makes the team as the #5 WR or he is gone.

They play ILBs on special teams. I doubt Stevenson Sylvester is any faster than Ward, or if he is, it isn't by all that much.

Hines isn't built like an ILB. He is tough but with his (lack of) speed he would be hitting some big men. I don't think he could do it.

He's bigger than Chidi, isn't he? Keith Rivers is a pretty big guy, etc...Just saying if they decided to keep him around at the vet minimum as a reserve receiver, he might have some added value on ST if he/they chose to go that route.Seeing a lot of talk about Hampton being cut and Hood being moved to NT. I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he? Are they planning to plump him up (after all, it was McLendon, not Hood, who played nose when Hampton/Hoke weren't in there) or is this maybe a smoke screen to mask the fact that they're targeting Dontari Poe?

Yeah, I dont see how they could think Hood could be a NT. He's only average size for a 3-4 DE, no?Also, at Zigmund

He's listed at 6' 3", 300 lbs. If that's his "fighting weight", then I don't know that beefing him up to 325-330 is the best plan of attack.

Id think he's more like 280, not 300, but thats just a guess

 

[treat88]

I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he?

Almost certainly not.Hood at NT isn't the answer. Hopefully they're just playing games to try and throw people off the scent....which is a pretty big waste of time, since most everyone who pays the slightest bit of attention to the NFL is going to realize that they Steelers are in the market for a noseguard.

If Hood or McClendon are seeing significant snaps at NT, it means they are going to be using more 1-gap principles up front.Which is really not all that bad of an idea as I think Heyward and Hood are equally if not more suited to play 1-gap vs. 2-gap.It makes some sense in this day and age of passing dominance. I'm not making any predictions, just saying it's not that far-fetched.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I'm not sure Zigmund is big enough to anchor against double-teams inside, is he?

Almost certainly not.Hood at NT isn't the answer. Hopefully they're just playing games to try and throw people off the scent....which is a pretty big waste of time, since most everyone who pays the slightest bit of attention to the NFL is going to realize that they Steelers are in the market for a noseguard.

If Hood or McClendon are seeing significant snaps at NT, it means they are going to be using more 1-gap principles up front.Which is really not all that bad of an idea as I think Heyward and Hood are equally if not more suited to play 1-gap vs. 2-gap.It makes some sense in this day and age of passing dominance. I'm not making any predictions, just saying it's not that far-fetched.

I wouldn't be stunned to see that, isn't that more in line with Tomlin's defensive upbringing anyway? It's LeBeau who's married to the 5 tech - 0 tech 3-4 front and with his departure maybe only a year away, perhaps they'll begin to transition back towards the 4-3/Cover 2 schemes Tomlin employed in his previous jobs.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I wouldn't be stunned to see that, isn't that more in line with Tomlin's defensive upbringing anyway? It's LeBeau who's married to the 5 tech - 0 tech 3-4 front and with his departure maybe only a year away, perhaps they'll begin to transition back towards the 4-3/Cover 2 schemes Tomlin employed in his previous jobs.

With Butler on board to replace LeBeau, I think it'd be very unlikely for them to completely divest themselves of the 3-4 Fire Zone.Perhaps they will begin running more multiple fronts once LeBeau retires, but I'm assuming the core of any Butler scheme will probably also include a lot of 3-4 zone blitzing. Butler is, after all, a LeBeau disciple and the personnel will likely still heavily favor a 3-4 next year too.Anything could happen though. I'd just be surprised to see them rolling out a Tampa 2 at any point in the near future. They don't have a penetrating UT on the roster, they don't have an elite speed rushing RDE either(and you'd need at least one of those two things....if not both), and only have one LB that is particularly any good in coverage, etc. etc.

 

[monessen]

I wouldn't be stunned to see that, isn't that more in line with Tomlin's defensive upbringing anyway? It's LeBeau who's married to the 5 tech - 0 tech 3-4 front and with his departure maybe only a year away, perhaps they'll begin to transition back towards the 4-3/Cover 2 schemes Tomlin employed in his previous jobs.

With Butler on board to replace LeBeau, I think it'd be very unlikely for them to completely divest themselves of the 3-4 Fire Zone.Perhaps they will begin running more multiple fronts once LeBeau retires, but I'm assuming the core of any Butler scheme will probably also include a lot of 3-4 zone blitzing. Butler is, after all, a LeBeau disciple and the personnel will likely still heavily favor a 3-4 next year too.Anything could happen though. I'd just be surprised to see them rolling out a Tampa 2 at any point in the near future. They don't have a penetrating UT on the roster, they don't have an elite speed rushing RDE either(and you'd need at least one of those two things....if not both), and only have one LB that is particularly any good in coverage, etc. etc.

I agree with your analysis, particularly because of the present defensive personnel. I had doubts that Tomlin, once he was hired, could co-exist happily with LeBeau's schemes. But, in general, LeBeau's approach has been better suited for this crew than a Cover 2. The draft should tell us a lot about direction for the D.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Kiper's latest mock:

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers Record: 12-4* Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis The Steelers are always going to find answers under the brilliant **** LeBeau, but they have to get younger, particularly up front, and they know it. Poe is that rare zero-technique centerpiece to a 3-4 defense, the guy who simply eats up blockers and frees up the linebackers. If he develops, Poe can be the heir to Casey Hampton in the middle of that scheme, and these guys are just really tough to find. The value lines up as well.

 

[treat88]

I wouldn't be stunned to see that, isn't that more in line with Tomlin's defensive upbringing anyway? It's LeBeau who's married to the 5 tech - 0 tech 3-4 front and with his departure maybe only a year away, perhaps they'll begin to transition back towards the 4-3/Cover 2 schemes Tomlin employed in his previous jobs.

With Butler on board to replace LeBeau, I think it'd be very unlikely for them to completely divest themselves of the 3-4 Fire Zone.Perhaps they will begin running more multiple fronts once LeBeau retires, but I'm assuming the core of any Butler scheme will probably also include a lot of 3-4 zone blitzing. Butler is, after all, a LeBeau disciple and the personnel will likely still heavily favor a 3-4 next year too.Anything could happen though. I'd just be surprised to see them rolling out a Tampa 2 at any point in the near future. They don't have a penetrating UT on the roster, they don't have an elite speed rushing RDE either(and you'd need at least one of those two things....if not both), and only have one LB that is particularly any good in coverage, etc. etc.

Agreed. I see only the slightest chance that they transition from a base 34 to a base 43 regardless of secondary schemes. It's a multi-year process to switch personnel out to fit the new scheme and as you mentioned our current DC tree is heavily invested in 34 principles.I do think the change in a 1 gap vs. a 2 gap system upfront is not an unlikely change in philosophy tho. It would at least help alleviate the immediate need for 0 tech help and matches up well with the DE's we've got on board already.Both Poe and Ta'amu fit a 1 gap system much better as well. Again, I am not making any predictions, just theorizing.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I wouldn't be stunned to see that, isn't that more in line with Tomlin's defensive upbringing anyway? It's LeBeau who's married to the 5 tech - 0 tech 3-4 front and with his departure maybe only a year away, perhaps they'll begin to transition back towards the 4-3/Cover 2 schemes Tomlin employed in his previous jobs.

With Butler on board to replace LeBeau, I think it'd be very unlikely for them to completely divest themselves of the 3-4 Fire Zone.Perhaps they will begin running more multiple fronts once LeBeau retires, but I'm assuming the core of any Butler scheme will probably also include a lot of 3-4 zone blitzing. Butler is, after all, a LeBeau disciple and the personnel will likely still heavily favor a 3-4 next year too.Anything could happen though. I'd just be surprised to see them rolling out a Tampa 2 at any point in the near future. They don't have a penetrating UT on the roster, they don't have an elite speed rushing RDE either(and you'd need at least one of those two things....if not both), and only have one LB that is particularly any good in coverage, etc. etc.

Not suggesting they'd leap right to a 4-3, but might begin to transition that way by using varied fronts, kind of like New England does.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I think that's far more likely, although still probably not very likely in and of itself. I could at least see that happening, particularly if they were able to land some kind of crazy hybrid player in the draft who was just too good to pass up at some point in the next couple years.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Kiper's latest mock:

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers Record: 12-4* Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis The Steelers are always going to find answers under the brilliant **** LeBeau, but they have to get younger, particularly up front, and they know it. Poe is that rare zero-technique centerpiece to a 3-4 defense, the guy who simply eats up blockers and frees up the linebackers. If he develops, Poe can be the heir to Casey Hampton in the middle of that scheme, and these guys are just really tough to find. The value lines up as well.

IIRC, hasnt Kiper had us taking Poe for around a month or so now?

 

[duaneok66]

is there no way to avoid losing Wallace??

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

is there no way to avoid losing Wallace??

-- No question, Rooney said, that wide receiver Mike Wallace "will be one of the priorities" this year. Wallace becomes a restricted free agent March 13.Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12017/1204097-100.stm#ixzz1mgkFiAyP

 

[treat88]

I like Wallace as much as the next guy, but honestly it's not a bad fallback position to net an extra first and use some of the newly acquired cap space to play in the FA market that is extremely deep at WR.

May even be able to land a guy that is a little better compliment to Brown and Sanders. Colston or someone in that mold.

 

[The Hank]

I like Wallace as much as the next guy, but honestly it's not a bad fallback position to net an extra first and use some of the newly acquired cap space to play in the FA market that is extremely deep at WR.May even be able to land a guy that is a little better compliment to Brown and Sanders. Colston or someone in that mold.

Colston too injured for my liking.I'd rather have Reggie Wayne than Colston.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I like Wallace as much as the next guy, but honestly it's not a bad fallback position to net an extra first and use some of the newly acquired cap space to play in the FA market that is extremely deep at WR.

May even be able to land a guy that is a little better compliment to Brown and Sanders. Colston or someone in that mold.

Agree with the bolded. It would be at the end of the first as a compensatory pick though, right? Im guessing Wallace will get $7-8M from whoever gets him. As good as he is, hard to see us paying him that considering our cap situation and the 2 young WRs behind him. An extra 1st would be huge in helping us fill our holes. I couldnt imagine getting 2 of Poe/Glenn/Adams/Konz/Hightower.That said, I dont see how losing Wallace frees up cap space though as he wasnt making much off his rookie contract, and I think he is the perfect compliment for Brown & Sanders as Wallace opens up all the stuff underneath.

 

[treat88]

I like Wallace as much as the next guy, but honestly it's not a bad fallback position to net an extra first and use some of the newly acquired cap space to play in the FA market that is extremely deep at WR.

May even be able to land a guy that is a little better compliment to Brown and Sanders. Colston or someone in that mold.

Agree with the bolded. It would be at the end of the first as a compensatory pick though, right? Im guessing Wallace will get $7-8M from whoever gets him. As good as he is, hard to see us paying him that considering our cap situation and the 2 young WRs behind him. An extra 1st would be huge in helping us fill our holes. I couldnt imagine getting 2 of Poe/Glenn/Adams/Konz/Hightower.That said, I dont see how losing Wallace frees up cap space though as he wasnt making much off his rookie contract, and I think he is the perfect compliment for Brown & Sanders as Wallace opens up all the stuff underneath.

Cap space is assuming they continue to purge veteran contracts that wouldn't be being spent on a Wallace deal could then go to a decent FA WR. Ideally they RFA him and he doesn't get an offer sheet then we can keep him on the cheap for another year and hope TV revenue jumps huge in 2013.I think a big physical chain mover is a better compliment to the Sanders/Brown pair personally, but I get what you are saying.

Don't get me wrong, I want them to make every effort to retain him, just don't think it's doom and gloom if he does get a big $$$ offer sheet.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Don't get me wrong, I want them to make every effort to retain him, just don't think it's doom and gloom if he does get a big $$$ offer sheet.

Agree totally, and am already getting tired of the fire and brimstone from a ton of Steeler fans that seem to think that Wallace is the engine of this offense.As long as they can keep Roeth marginally upright, the Steelers offense will be fine. Losing Wallace doesn't mean that Colbert would then say "Oh, damn. Lost our #1 wideout?*shrugs**starts reading a 10 year old copy Dr. Z's prospect rankings and waits for the draft to roll around**" They could, and probably would, target other starting caliber veteran wideouts to sign with the money they would have given to Mike anyway.It's all conjecture until we see who gets tagged/what offer sheets come Wallace's way. Steeler fans can come down off the ledge for at least another couple/three weeks.

 

[Godsbrother]

Not saying it would be doom and gloom but losing Wallace would create another hole to fill. I would much rather keep Wallace than get a compensatory 1st round pick.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Timmons has restructured freeing up $5.14M in cap space

Currently at 127.5m

With Taylor... its now 124.2m.Right on the perceived cap number.

Where are you getting your numbers? I think they are at around 137.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Timmons has restructured freeing up $5.14M in cap space

Currently at 127.5m

With Taylor... its now 124.2m.Right on the perceived cap number.

Where are you getting your numbers? I think they are at around 137.

The original post(s) had our cap number and our savings with cuts.Then added in the savings as reported by the restructures.

Considering we already cut/reworked 22 million savings, 137 would have had us at 159m at the onest.

 

[Hoosier16]

These look like pretty good cap and salary numbers:

Steelers 2012 Salaries

 

[BigSteelThrill]

These look like pretty good cap and salary numbers:

Steelers 2012 Salaries

Ive been cross referencing that, but it also had us at an astronomical onset. Which were not in all the reports when the off season began.

Accordingly, We GAINED (had added an additional) 10 million from when it started to now, despite making cuts and restructures.

 

[JoeSteeler]

per John Clayton on Feb 13:

The 2011 salary cap was $120.375 million, and the 2012 ceiling is expected to be close. ..the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have redone three contracts to be $11.7 million over.

That would put them at $132.075 as of Feb 13th.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Schefter just sent this seconds ago...

@AdamSchefter: Teams with least cap room today: Pitt ($11 million over cap); Oak ($11 mil over); Carolina ($9 mil over); Giants ($9 mil over); Jets (even).

 

[H8fulHuck]

I like Wallace as much as the next guy, but honestly it's not a bad fallback position to net an extra first and use some of the newly acquired cap space to play in the FA market that is extremely deep at WR.

May even be able to land a guy that is a little better compliment to Brown and Sanders. Colston or someone in that mold.

Agree with the bolded. It would be at the end of the first as a compensatory pick though, right? Im guessing Wallace will get $7-8M from whoever gets him. As good as he is, hard to see us paying him that considering our cap situation and the 2 young WRs behind him. An extra 1st would be huge in helping us fill our holes. I couldnt imagine getting 2 of Poe/Glenn/Adams/Konz/Hightower.That said, I dont see how losing Wallace frees up cap space though as he wasnt making much off his rookie contract, and I think he is the perfect compliment for Brown & Sanders as Wallace opens up all the stuff underneath.

The team signing Wallace would have to give up their original 1st round pick. For example: The Browns have the 4th and 22nd first round picks. If the Browns sign Wallace, the Steelers would receive the 4th overall pick in compensation. On the other hand, the Patriots have the 27th and 31st picks. NE would have to give up the 31st overall pick. Pittsburgh FO has to hope NE is going to stock up on defensive talent early in the draft as opposed to getting the one key cog their prolific offense is lacking.

 

[Bojang0301]

With Sanders and Brown in the wings, the cap the way it is and the WR market you can't Franchise him. I love Wallace and would especially hate if he went to a division rival (in my mind that would deserve the Lebron treatment) but you have to try to work things out at the 2.9 number and know you will at least be highly compensated if you can't match his demands.

 

[sihaokills]

I just don't think Sanders and Brown could be carry the WRs for years to come. I think the main priority for the Steelers is to keep Wallace

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Ed: What Is Mike Wallace Worth?

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:14

Written by Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Good morning,

Mike Wallace is back in the news this week because franchise tags were first permitted to be issued by teams Monday. No surprise the Steelers did not tag Wallace, although they can still do that until March 3.

Kevin Colbert pretty much acknowledged on 93.7 The Fan the other day that the Steelers were in no position to franchise Wallace because they had salary cap problems. The Steelers are about $10 million over the cap now. Franchising Wallace at more than $9 million for 2012 would put them close to $20 million over the cap.

Here is another issue that is more important -- Does anyone think Wallace should get more than $9 million in 2012. And, once they do that, the Steelers would have to start there if they wanted to negotiate a longer-term deal. Wallace is good, but not $10 million annually good. So, they will make him the more reasonable restricted free agent one-year tender and see what develops. Other teams can sign Wallace to a contract after free agency begins . The Steelers would then have two options -- do nothing and receive a first-round 2012 draft choice in return from the team that signed him, or they could match the contract he signed with the other team and keep him.

The Steelers are willing to have Wallace test the market, and if indeed he signs a contract and they deem it too high, they'll take a first-round draft choice in return and have two first-round picks for only the second time since the 1970s NFL merger (the other was 1989). So what is Mike Wallace worth? His first three seasons have been rocket-like, with him climbing higher and higher. However, in the middle of what seemed to be his best and record-setting season, Wallace fizzled.

Through the first eight games, Wallace caught 43 passes for 800 yards, on pace for a 1,600-yard season that would have obliterated the team record by more than 200 yards. However, in the final eight games he caught 29 passes for only 393 yards. He averaged 18.6 yards a catch in the first half of the season, just 13.6 in the second half to finish with a career low average of 16.6 yards per catch.

He topped it off with a miserable playoff game in Denver, where he caught three passes for 26 yards.

Here's the question the Steelers and other prospective suitors in free agency must determine: Did defenses figure out Mike Wallace finally as the one-trick pony that Mike Tomlin long declared he was? Wallace is at his best running the "go" routes and outside flag patterns, where he has a chance to outrun someone. However, when faced with cover two defenses and safeties hanging deep, he's not as effective. He does not seem to fight for the ball at times and even gives up on some when covered.

During this slump by Wallace in the second half of the season, Antonio Brown emerged like a Jeremy Lin. He clearly was the team's best receiver in the second half of the season. Curiously, Brown's rise should have helped Wallace because Brown's best asset is taking a short to medium range pass and running with it.

Maybe all the final eight games and one playoff game merely was a slump for Wallace and he will return to the kind of production he had in the first half of 2011. But as teams turn on the tape, they have to be surprised at the difference between the first half Wallace and the second half Wallace of 2011.

Onto some stuff:

-- YOU: Just wondering, never looked at it this way until now... if Wallace was offered a contract by another team, which he does not want to play for, does he have a choice to reject the contract and work something out with the Steelers? Or do the Steelers have to match that offer regardless? If they can't match the offer, would Wallace be forced to play for that team even if he did not want to accept the offer, kindof like a trade?

ME: Wallace would have to sign a contract before it goes into effect. The large majority of RFAs are never offered contracts, but if they are they certainly do not have to sign them. They can ignore offers and simply return to the Steelers, accept their one-year RFA tender or negotiate a multi-year deal.

-- YOU: What is Colon's status? Will he be healthy enough to play next year? If so do you think he'll renegotiate his deal to a more cap friendly and lower number (not just turning salary into signing bonus) so that he can stay with the team? I know he's right with Ben so maybe he'll give the team a little discount to hang around.

ME: Colon has recovered and is ready to return to play. I would be surprised if Colon gave the team a "discount" or paycut. He turned down a better offer from the Chicago Bears last summer to stay with the Steelers. With Max Starks a UFA with an ACL rehab, the Steelers will move Marcus Gilbert to left tackle. They need Colon and can go elsewhere to find someone who may be willing to take a paycut.

-- YOU: Not that I really care about the purported standoff between Ben and TH, but I am curious how these things work at HQ. Has Todd Haley had a formal meeting with his staff..........WR coach, TE coach, OL coach, etc. and Randy Fichtner? Lost in all this quasi-drama is Fichtner getting caught in the middle......especially after not getting the OC position. Do you get a chance to speak with Fichtner and has he been speaking with both Ben and Haley?

ME: Haley has met all of his coaches and some of the players including at least one quarterback, Charlie Batch. He still has not met Ben R. Fichtner is a good soldier and I assume he will work together with Haley.

--YOU: Worst case scenario on Mike Wallace the Steelers cant sign him to a long-term contract, do the appropriate RFA tender, and he gets some outrageous payday offer from a team like the 49ers or Patriots (both of which are in dire need of a deep threat) that the Steelers just cannot match. That would give the Steelers a very late 1st round pick (#30 or 31), which would appear to be poor value for Wallace. Do you know if the Steelers think this is a real concern?

ME: The Steelers are aware that scenario is possible.