Negotiations with Troy Polamalu ongoing

[Atlanta Dan]

Did not see this coming

Steelers and Polamalu's agent try to reach last-minute contract extension

The Steelers have been negotiating with the agent for safety Troy Polamalu over the past several days, an 11th-hour attempt to sign the NFL defensive player of the year before the season begins Sunday.

Polamalu is entering the final season of his contract, and their previous discussions this summer with agent Marvin Demoff went nowhere and stalled. After the Steelers signed linebacker Lawrence Timmons to a six-year, $50 million contract two weeks ago, they decided they could do no more extensions until after the season.

Last week, however, team president Art Rooney had a change of heart and decided to give it one last shot.

Polamalu is scheduled to earn $6.4 million in salary this year, the last of a five-year, $33 million contract. He and wide receiver Mike Wallace were the last two key players with one year left on multi-year contracts the Steelers have not signed

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11250/1172650-66.stm

IMO signing #43 to along term deal is a big risk - given his injury history, the cost effective, cold blooded move is to franchise Troy for 2012

[Aussie Steeler]

Polamalu is a game changer. Now, I know he has been prone to injury in the past few years but it is definitely a risk worth taking. He wins games for us. Take the 2009 season - how weak was our secondary without Polamalu? Troy changes the way quarterbacks and WR's think and does account for more interceptions, YPC and disruptions than his personal statistics indicate. He is someone who must be accounted for in every snap by offenses (refer Joe Flacco and Baltimore OL). Not only does he do a great job in pass defense, but he is even more phenomenal in stopping the running game.

Lock him up long term.

[truesteelerfan]

My feelings on this is that its a risk vs. reward decision. When Troy is healthy, he is worth every possible penny we can pay him....He's likely the best safety of this generation, and we may not have another one as good as he can be in our lifetimes- i think he's that amazing. So, with that being said and his history of injuries- do we know..is he indeed all about the money? Last fall someone on here mentioned something about not being surprised if he's the kind of person who just retires young- ala Robert Smith or Barry Sanders- because he has pleanty of money and knows his body is going to be sore lots once he's old- but as I'm not understanding of how the contracts work- any way we can give him a great deal amount of money- but not break the bank up front, but give out in incentives instead based on how often he plays? I feel we need to sign him- even a 75% Troy is better than 90% of the starting people in his position in this league- we may not see one like him again, so we need to keep him while we have him.

[ETL]

Risk vs reward - that is correct.

Smart move is to franchise him next yr. This gives us one more year of "evidence" to see if he can stay injury free before we pay him.

HOWEVER, Steelers are not like the Jaguars who cut starting QBs the week before the season opens, one of the most classless things I have ever seen. By rewarding Polamalu with a new contract - for playing his heart out all the time and for being a model citizen and rep for the Steelers off the field - there maybe some intangible value attained ... a message sent to other players about how the Steelers operate, how you will be rewarded for hard work and how the Steelers value not just what you do on the field but how you are off the field as well no matter how "old" you are. Giving Troy a new contract in my view, is not just about him ... its about motivating and reassuring others on the team as well.

(But before I get all mushy, I am realistic as well - I see Farrior, Aaron Smith, Keisel and possibly Ward all done after this season... I would retire too after winning the SB, wouldn't you?)

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by truesteelerfan

My feelings on this is that its a risk vs. reward decision. When Troy is healthy, he is worth every possible penny we can pay him....He's likely the best safety of this generation, and we may not have another one as good as he can be in our lifetimes- i think he's that amazing. So, with that being said and his history of injuries- do we know..is he indeed all about the money? Last fall someone on here mentioned something about not being surprised if he's the kind of person who just retires young- ala Robert Smith or Barry Sanders- because he has pleanty of money and knows his body is going to be sore lots once he's old- but as I'm not understanding of how the contracts work- any way we can give him a great deal amount of money- but not break the bank up front, but give out in incentives instead based on how often he plays? I feel we need to sign him- even a 75% Troy is better than 90% of the starting people in his position in this league- we may not see one like him again, so we need to keep him while we have him.

even when hobbled i woulddnt rather have any other strong safety in the NFL

[Fire Arians]

Polamalu is a game changer. Now, I know he has been prone to injury in the past few years but it is definitely a risk worth taking. He wins games for us. Take the 2009 season - how weak was our secondary without Polamalu? Troy changes the way quarterbacks and WR's think and does account for more interceptions, YPC and disruptions than his personal statistics indicate. He is someone who must be accounted for in every snap by offenses (refer Joe Flacco and Baltimore OL). Not only does he do a great job in pass defense, but he is even more phenomenal in stopping the running game.

Lock him up long term.

Agree 100%

[Killer]

"both sides far apart"

"Steelers have Troy locked up for two years"


probably not gonna happen till next off-season

[Vincent]

What is it going to take to do this deal? The Bolts set the market at $40M / 5 yrs / $19M guaranteed for Weddle. We just paid Wood around $60M and Timmons around $50M. What must Troy be asking? It has to be in that neighborhood.

He counts $6.4M this year and it'll take up $10M to franchise him next year.

Go $60M over 5 years. $30M signing bonus...

2011 - $6M SB / $1M - $7M cap hit
2012 - $6M SB / $4M - $10M cap hit
2013 - $6M SB / $6M - $12M cap hit - Troy probably hangs it up
2014 - $6M SB / $9M - $15M cap hit - $6M dead money because he retired
2015 - $6M SB / $10M - $16M cap hit - $6M dead money because he retired

We can cover that with all the TV money to come. That's why they're even talking. This deal will become undo-able if it waits til next year.

[SteelKid212]

Troy is the best player and biggest game changer ive seen on that side of the ball.

he is worth every penny we pay him. and worth the risk.

bottom line, steelers D sucks without him.

i mean just look at my sig pik... LOOK AT IT !!!!!!!!!

PAY THE MAN!

[DanRooney]

I think Troy will play for another 4 years after this season.