Hampton takes a cut

[mesaSteeler]

NFL from the sidelines
http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/
After hobnobbing around the NFL in the press boxes and sidelines, sports reporter Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard as a sometime host on ESPN 970-AM. Follow him on Twitter at dlolleyor.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Hampton takes a cut

With Casey Hampton taking a cut in pay - it's a cut, not a restructure as some are reporting it - the Steelers' need to take a nose tackle high in the draft is a little less pressing.

And it again goes to show how the Steelers like to do business.

Pittsburgh never likes to go into a season being forced to rely on a rookie at any position, particularly on defense.

That's why there hasn't been a full-time rookie starter on the team's defense since Hampton and Kendrell Bell broke in there in 2001.

And even at that, Hampton and Bell had to earn their spots. They weren't handed the positions.

So the Steelers now have Hampton under contract, meaning they can ease a rookie into the rotation if he deserves it. The same goes at inside linebacker, where they are comfortable playing Larry Foote beside Lawrence Timmons if need be.

Certainly, things aren't so cut-and-dried on offense. But even in cases where rookies have come in and started - Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, etc. - the Steelers had veteran options around just in case things took a little longer than expected.

It's the Steelers way. And it's worked for some time.

So while fans may get upset that both Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin don't like to play rookies, the reality is that they don't like to HAVE to play rookies. And there is a difference.

[tunes4life]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

it's a cut, not a restructure as some are reporting it.

I keep hearing this, but everything I've read so far suggests it's a restructure and not a pay cut. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Not arguing, just looking for more info on the details of this.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

Pittsburgh never likes to go into a season being forced to rely on a rookie at any position, particularly on defense.

That's why there hasn't been a full-time rookie starter on the team's defense since Hampton and Kendrell Bell broke in there in 2001.



So while fans may get upset that both Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin don't like to play rookies, the reality is that they don't like to HAVE to play rookies. And there is a difference.

Thanks Mesa. I know at least once a season I get into a debate about rookies playing right away. Steelers dont like to do it and like the article says dont like to HAVE to do it.

Its why all the posters that want to cut Hampton, cut Farrior and Foote, cut Colon, Kemo, Jon Scott, Foster and start fresh in the draft are so frustrating to listen to. Its not the smart thing to do and not the Steeler way.

[mesaSteeler]

Originally Posted by tunes4life

I keep hearing this, but everything I've read so far suggests it's a restructure and not a pay cut. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Not arguing, just looking for more info on the details of this.

Hampton takes large pay cut
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/...-takes-pay-cut

Casey Hampton and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin have long been at odds over the nose tackle's weight. Tomlin has repeatedly expressed his desire for Hampton to reduce his waist size.

On Thursday, Hampton underwent a reduction of a different kind.

Hampton agreed to take a cut in pay with the Steelers for next season, giving the Steelers a little more than $3 million in much-needed salary cap relief.

The move came three days after the Steelers were forced to allocate just over $9 million in salaries to six restricted free agents, including wide receiver Mike Wallace. That ate nearly all of the cushion under the $120.6-million cap for the 2012 season.

Hampton had been scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.89 million in 2012, with a salary cap number of just above $8 million.

But Hampton reduced his base salary to $2.8 million and agreed to waive a $1 million workout fee, meaning he will count just $4.96 million.

Hampton's agreement to waive the workout fee was likely little more than a formality, considering the nose tackle had to undergo the third ACL surgery of his career in late January after injuring his knee in the Steelers' playoff loss at Denver.

Hampton is expected to be ready to play when the Steelers open the regular season.

"You don't have to worry about speed," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said at the NFL combine when asked about the expected quick turnaround time for Hampton from ACL surgery.

"You don't have to worry about quick change of direction when you're talking about offensive and defensive linemen. The one edge that Casey will have on anybody is he's been through this twice and knows what to expect."

[tunes4life]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

Hampton takes large pay cut
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/...-takes-pay-cut

Casey Hampton and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin have long been at odds over the nose tackle's weight. Tomlin has repeatedly expressed his desire for Hampton to reduce his waist size.

On Thursday, Hampton underwent a reduction of a different kind.

Hampton agreed to take a cut in pay with the Steelers for next season, giving the Steelers a little more than $3 million in much-needed salary cap relief.

The move came three days after the Steelers were forced to allocate just over $9 million in salaries to six restricted free agents, including wide receiver Mike Wallace. That ate nearly all of the cushion under the $120.6-million cap for the 2012 season.

Hampton had been scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.89 million in 2012, with a salary cap number of just above $8 million.

But Hampton reduced his base salary to $2.8 million and agreed to waive a $1 million workout fee, meaning he will count just $4.96 million.

Hampton's agreement to waive the workout fee was likely little more than a formality, considering the nose tackle had to undergo the third ACL surgery of his career in late January after injuring his knee in the Steelers' playoff loss at Denver.

Hampton is expected to be ready to play when the Steelers open the regular season.

"You don't have to worry about speed," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said at the NFL combine when asked about the expected quick turnaround time for Hampton from ACL surgery.

"You don't have to worry about quick change of direction when you're talking about offensive and defensive linemen. The one edge that Casey will have on anybody is he's been through this twice and knows what to expect."

Thx Mesa

[Dalarin]

Music to my ears. Take a cut, restructure, or release seems to be the theme this year as I hoped it would be.

[Steeldude]

It was either that or be let go