Steelers headed for salary cap hell in 2012?

[Steeldude]

see Foote sticking around to start in place of Farrior leaving

if that happens then the steelers are dead. foote can't cover anyone. he is too slow. i think they move timmons to farrior's spot and have foote take timmons' position. unless they feel sylvester is ready to take one of the positions.

[Steel_Bus_24]

That will really really bum me out if we can't keep wallace

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by solardave

You forgot Gay. Please say Gay.

i doubt gay will be cut. he's still young and his salary isn't out of control. i think he is $600,000 against the cap. they are going to keep either gay or mcfadden. since they both suck it will probably come down to money. mcfadden is $2,667,000 against the cap. also, take into account mcfadden's injury problems. i don't know if the steelers would get rid of two veteran DBs.

gay played pretty well in 2008. in 2009 lebeau admitted he play a very passive defense because of polamalu's absence, but that being said gay didn't play very well. gay is cheap and he isn't a starter so i really don't have a beef with him.

[Dodens Grav]

The whole entire roster will be gone and we will become the Houston Oilers next year.

Jesus christ, you people are out of your minds sometimes.

[DanRooney]

Originally Posted by Buddha Bus

I see Farrior, Smith, Harrison, Clark, McFadden, Battle and Kiesel gone next season. Outside chance BMac stays around if they decide to attempt a move to safety with him. Otherwise, I see him gone.

I see Foote sticking around to start in place of Farrior leaving.

Hampton stays because his position hasn't been addressed in the draft yet. I think we'll see the Steelers try to do that this coming offseason, but we'll need Hamp at least one more year to get a replacement ready unless they go the FA route.

Smith, McFadden and Battle absolutely.

Farrior I'm 50/50 on. I think Sylvester is ready.

Clark, Keisel and Harrison will be on this team for another 2-3 years.

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by Dodens Grav

The whole entire roster will be gone and we will become the Houston Oilers next year.

Jesus christ, you people are out of your minds sometimes.

so you are saying no veterans will be let go in 2012?

[Dodens Grav]

No, I'm saying listing every single player 30 years and up (plus Gay) is ridiculous. Ryan Clark? Brett Keisel? Really? Has there ever been even the slightest hint that these guys are nearing the end? And James Harrison said his back feels better now than it did most of last season, and that he'll be closer to 100% after this season. So why would he be done? Why would Hampton be done? Who would even be playing NT and who would be backing up if Hampton and Hoke left after this season? McLendon could be the backup, but I wouldn't want him starting, and it's unlikely that a rookie would start. Maybe if the Steelers win the super bowl there will be an unexpected retirement or two, but even that is far from a guarantee.

[SunshineMan21]

Originally Posted by Steeldude

veterans that could be release for salary caps reason are...

hampton
smith
foote
farrior
mcfadden
clark
battle
kiesel

i am not saying they will all be released, but they aren't all going to stay.

I'm not worried. Smith is likely to retire, and Farrior may follow him. Foote will take a significant pay cut if he's back.

Also, we hopefully won't have to resign McFadden, and both Hampton and Harrison are aging.

The position I'm most worried about is safety--we have up-and-coming young guys at pretty much every position where we're starting vets, but behind Polamalu and Clark we've got nothing at safety. I actually think BMac would be a better safety than he is a cornerback--maybe he could make the switch?

[ricardisimo]

Originally Posted by SunshineMan21

I'm not worried. Smith is likely to retire, and Farrior may follow him. Foote will take a significant pay cut if he's back.

Also, we hopefully won't have to resign McFadden, and both Hampton and Harrison are aging.

The position I'm most worried about is safety--we have up-and-coming young guys at pretty much every position where we're starting vets, but behind Polamalu and Clark we've got nothing at safety. I actually think BMac would be a better safety than he is a cornerback--maybe he could make the switch?

Links please. Where did you get any of these ideas? Smith is "likely to retire"? Farrior will follow him? Why the hell would Foote take a pay cut? I've not once read any beat writer even remotely suggest any of the things you state here as fact. Is this wishful thinking on your part?

[steelfury02]

All we have to do is win #7 and that will take care of a lot of things