This season's salary cap.

[lilyoder6]

cowher said he didn't want to coach again until 09... and i heard this morning that if pete carroll does leave usc he would most likely take the job at wash. instead of atl.. b/c he wants to win... in the past i always wondered how wash always got the big names on there roster and always under cap by the start of the season... it's a mystery how they do it...

[Tackdaddy]

The only way i can the Steelers solving any problems is to take a chance at some free agents. They have very little depth for someone to step up and be a good starter. I don't like the way things are starting to look, if the Steelers do things like they have always done they will have major problems next season. This is one year that building from within is not a viable option.

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Tackdaddy

The only way i can the Steelers solving any problems is to take a chance at some free agents. They have very little depth for someone to step up and be a good starter. I don't like the way things are starting to look, if the Steelers do things like they have always done they will have major problems next season. This is one year that building from within is not a viable option.

Considering that they'll probably be breaking the bank for an extension for Ben, how will this be accomplished without putting themselves in salary cap hell down the road? Good FAs are quite pricey.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by fansince'76

Considering that they'll probably be breaking the bank for an extension for Ben, how will this be accomplished without putting themselves in salary cap hell down the road? Good FAs are quite pricey.

We have what, 18 mill under the cap now... maybe 20 or so if we cut or let some players go. However, we then come back with having to put 10 players on the team. Don't forget Ben's big cap numbers... maybe a 4 or 5 mill hit this year alone when he re-signs. Then a first round pick will eat up another couple from that cap. That leaves 13 mil for 9 other players. about what, 1.3 mil per player?

Unless I see us doing something strange... cutting a high salary contract, or Ward restructuring, I just don't see us going out on the FA market... and that is a shame, because I want Karlos Dansby.

[FourThreeMafia]

Originally Posted by lilyoder6

cowher said he didn't want to coach again until 09... and i heard this morning that if pete carroll does leave usc he would most likely take the job at wash. instead of atl.. b/c he wants to win... in the past i always wondered how wash always got the big names on there roster and always under cap by the start of the season... it's a mystery how they do it...

I know what Cowher said, but every man has a price, and Dan Snyder has the money to pay that price. Cowher is too much like Schottenheimer, and Snyder and MartyBall didnt get along, so I dont see it happening anyway.

I think Carroll would be stupid to leave USC. He's got a sweet gig out there.

And even if the Redskins do sign alot of FAs, what has it gotten them in the last 15 years? Two 10 win seasons and 4 trips to the playoffs including this year, In the meantime, the Steelers have been one of the winningest franchises, with 11 trips to the playoffs and our 5th SB title.

Ill take the Steelers front office over the Redskins any day.

[FourThreeMafia]

Originally Posted by Preacher

We have what, 18 mill under the cap now... maybe 20 or so if we cut or let some players go. However, we then come back with having to put 10 players on the team. Don't forget Ben's big cap numbers... maybe a 4 or 5 mill hit this year alone when he re-signs. Then a first round pick will eat up another couple from that cap. That leaves 13 mil for 9 other players. about what, 1.3 mil per player?

Unless I see us doing something strange... cutting a high salary contract, or Ward restructuring, I just don't see us going out on the FA market... and that is a shame, because I want Karlos Dansby.

Karlos Dansby will be franchised. I cant see the Cardinals letting arguably their best defensive player go. If he does leave, some other team will go all out for him.

People need to realize a few things though.

Ben's contract is not going to kill us. We will be fine. Some people seem to think signing him is going to set us back.

The Steelers wont be signing any big FA. Not because they dont have the money, just because thats not what they do. Still, they better do a better job of picking up low-medium grade FAs than they did with Mahan.

Marvel Smith and James Farrior will probably be gone after next season. They are both at the end of their contracts and will be on the wrong side of 30. Those are 2 big contracts gone right there.

After 2009, Ward will probably be gone or will have to take a big paycut. I personally think Ward will retire after the 2009 season. Thats another big contract.

After that, as of right now, after 2009, the biggest cotnracts will be Ben, Troy and Ike Taylor. By then, we will have to be thinking about resigning Holmes, Miller and Woodley .

I do think we will have to dip in FA a little, but no big names. BUT, the Steelers better do a better job of choosing who they bring in.

[lilyoder6]

i think we do need to resign starks.. he is only 25 and he showed he can play.. but we do need to find players that will play special teams..

[Elvis]

I definitely think that the Steelers should consider signing Max Starks back or maybe even franchising him.....
He has shown the last 2 or 3 games that he played in that he can play. Didnt We Just Win A Super Bowl 3 Years Ago With Him at Right Tackle?..

[FourThreeMafia]

Originally Posted by Elvis

I definitely think that the Steelers should consider signing Max Starks back or maybe even franchising him.....
He has shown the last 2 or 3 games that he played in that he can play. Didnt We Just Win A Super Bowl 3 Years Ago With Him at Right Tackle?..

Did you seriously just say Franchise Max Starks?

I'm up for signing him for the right price, but you dont franchise a guy that lost his job to 2nd year player that isnt even supposed to be playing tackle. Franchise means paying a player the average of the top 5 players in the league. For OLineman, thats up around $8 mil. Do you really want to pay Max Starks $8 mil?

Starks hasnt really shown much, which is why I dont understand why people are screaming to sign him. He handled Jason Taylor against Miami, but the field helped alot. He played alright against the Rams too, but they were without Leonard Little.

Starks is looking better because he lost weight and his movement has improved. Some credit goes to Larry Zierlein for helping him in that department.

Still, signing Starks is still a risk, since he hasnt proven he is much better than he was before.

And yes, we did win a SB with him at RT. That was in a power run offense. This is more of a balacne offense now, and the line we have now isnt suited for this offense.

[Welcome To Smashmouth]

lol some nice thought was put into that whole scheme, but with harrison coming off an mvp season why move him to a new position after such success?? if anybodys gettin switched to middle backer, it's timmons.

as far as those cuts go, we're already undoubtedly losing faneca, possibly starks, and now your talking about taking out two more starting lineman??? reeeally

smith has been a solid player on the most important position for ben, and i dont see him going anywhere. i'd love to see us get some solid help on the line this year in both draft and FA. its not always the flashiest of moves as far as the team goes, but in terms of importance its quisessential and overlooked far too often - lets fix this damn line and get ben some help back there!!!! so yes in that regard i'll agree with you that the line could use some re-vamping, but cutting all those players leaves us really grabbin at desperation in terms of finding that many players to fill in the gaps. ive got faith in the organization, and look for the '08-'09 offensive line to play more solid as a unit than this past year, even without faneca