What's next for Steelers

mesaSteeler · 03-06-2012, 06:01 AM

NFL from the sidelines

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.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
What's next for Steelers

After the painful goodbyes of last week, the Steelers now prepare for the next step in the 2012 offseason - making their final preparations for free agency.

After last week's releases and the previous restructures the team did in the previous weeks, the Steelers are approximately $12 to $14 million under the salary cap - depending on what it finally comes in at.

The Steelers must now tender their offers to restricted free agents. That will include a first-round tender of $2.742 million for wide receiver Mike Wallace and the low tender of $1.26 million to guards Ramon Foster and Doug Legursky, both of who were undrafted, corner Keenan Lewis (third), safety Ryan Mundy (sixth) and tight end David Johnson (seventh).

That will eat up some $9 million of their newfound cap space.

Offering the low tender for Foster and Legursky is a gamble, perhaps even more so than making a first-round tender for Wallace.

With the release of Chris Kemoeatu, the Steelers have no other guards with NFL experience on their roster. Should another team decide to make an offer to Legursky or Foster that the Steelers cannot or do not want to match, they would receive no compensation.

The team does still have some cap wiggle room should it have to clear space to match an offer for Wallace or either guard.

Nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is scheduled to make $5.89 million, could be asked to take a pay cut or be released. The Steelers could also trim offensive tackle Jonathan Scott ($2.2 million) or safety Will Allen ($1.28 million).

A couple of things we do now know after last week's cuts is that A. this team values Jerricho Cotchery over Ward and will make a strong push to re-sign him, and B. Guard and inside linebacker have become the undoubted biggest needs in the draft.

The Steelers have enough money under the cap to make a strong offer for Cotchery, though, again, if they have to match any offers to their own restricted free agents, obviously, some other cuts would have to be made.

Resigning Cotchery would also preclude the team from making a strong pitch for any of their unrestricted free agents, most notably corner Will Gay or running back Mewelde Moore.

truesteelerfan · 03-06-2012, 02:37 PM

There is no reason to be paying big snack so much money this upcoming season- he needs to take a pay cut to stay a Steeler IMO....Scott should never be making 2.2M based on his performance, and I didnt' even think Allen was still on our team.

SteelKid212 · 03-06-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truesteelerfan

There is no reason to be paying big snack so much money this upcoming season- he needs to take a pay cut to stay a Steeler IMO....Scott should never be making 2.2M based on his performance, and I didnt' even think Allen was still on our team.

^ AGREED 100%

Pentheon · 03-06-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truesteelerfan

There is no reason to be paying big snack so much money this upcoming season- he needs to take a pay cut to stay a Steeler IMO....Scott should never be making 2.2M based on his performance, and I didnt' even think Allen was still on our team.

I agree, he can't think hes worth that much anymore with the injuries hes had over the years and just recent;y again, I imagine it would probably slow him down a little more if anything as hes getting older not younger.

stb_steeler · 03-06-2012, 04:16 PM

I bet Big Snack comes back this spring another 50lbs heavier

austinfrench76 · 03-06-2012, 10:46 PM

Allen was among the 1st cut, with McFadden.

OX1947 · 03-06-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinfrench76

Allen was among the 1st cut, with McFadden.

That was Arnez Battle, not Allen.

FrancoLambert · 03-08-2012, 04:34 PM

They should cut the Snack and look to the future at NT (McClendon and draft).
The #1 priority should be overall upgrading/improvement of the OL. It stinks (Pouncey aside).
If this doesn't happen, improvements in other areas will be negated.
ILB and D-line are needs as well, but not as pressing as O-line.
Sylvester and Worilds, give them more playing time so you can see if they are bonafide strarters.
From a coaching standpoint, more strategic gameplans and much better game/time management.

03-06-2012, 02:37 PM	#2
truesteelerfan Team Captain Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern CO Posts: 656 Gender: Male Member Number: 11218 Thanks: 15 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: What's next for Steelers There is no reason to be paying big snack so much money this upcoming season- he needs to take a pay cut to stay a Steeler IMO....Scott should never be making 2.2M based on his performance, and I didnt' even think Allen was still on our team.

03-06-2012, 04:16 PM	#5
stb_steeler Living Legend Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 3,267 Gender: Male Member Number: 14315 Thanks: 71 Thanked 39 Times in 30 Posts	Re: What's next for Steelers I bet Big Snack comes back this spring another 50lbs heavier __________________ Might as well dress em in skirts!

03-06-2012, 10:46 PM	#6
austinfrench76 Assistant Coach Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,148 Member Number: 3516 Thanks: 282 Thanked 65 Times in 49 Posts	Re: What's next for Steelers Allen was among the 1st cut, with McFadden.

03-08-2012, 04:34 PM	#8
FrancoLambert Team Captain Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: tony soprano's neighborhood Posts: 905 Member Number: 20827 Thanks: 84 Thanked 107 Times in 93 Posts	Re: What's next for Steelers They should cut the Snack and look to the future at NT (McClendon and draft). The #1 priority should be overall upgrading/improvement of the OL. It stinks (Pouncey aside). If this doesn't happen, improvements in other areas will be negated. ILB and D-line are needs as well, but not as pressing as O-line. Sylvester and Worilds, give them more playing time so you can see if they are bonafide strarters. From a coaching standpoint, more strategic gameplans and much better game/time management.

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03-06-2012, 06:01 AM	#1
mesaSteeler A Son of Martha Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 7,976 Gender: Male Member Number: 10438 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What's next for Steelers NFL from the sidelines 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. Sunday, March 04, 2012 What's next for Steelers After the painful goodbyes of last week, the Steelers now prepare for the next step in the 2012 offseason - making their final preparations for free agency. After last week's releases and the previous restructures the team did in the previous weeks, the Steelers are approximately $12 to $14 million under the salary cap - depending on what it finally comes in at. The Steelers must now tender their offers to restricted free agents. That will include a first-round tender of $2.742 million for wide receiver Mike Wallace and the low tender of $1.26 million to guards Ramon Foster and Doug Legursky, both of who were undrafted, corner Keenan Lewis (third), safety Ryan Mundy (sixth) and tight end David Johnson (seventh). That will eat up some $9 million of their newfound cap space. Offering the low tender for Foster and Legursky is a gamble, perhaps even more so than making a first-round tender for Wallace. With the release of Chris Kemoeatu, the Steelers have no other guards with NFL experience on their roster. Should another team decide to make an offer to Legursky or Foster that the Steelers cannot or do not want to match, they would receive no compensation. The team does still have some cap wiggle room should it have to clear space to match an offer for Wallace or either guard. Nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is scheduled to make $5.89 million, could be asked to take a pay cut or be released. The Steelers could also trim offensive tackle Jonathan Scott ($2.2 million) or safety Will Allen ($1.28 million). A couple of things we do now know after last week's cuts is that A. this team values Jerricho Cotchery over Ward and will make a strong push to re-sign him, and B. Guard and inside linebacker have become the undoubted biggest needs in the draft. The Steelers have enough money under the cap to make a strong offer for Cotchery, though, again, if they have to match any offers to their own restricted free agents, obviously, some other cuts would have to be made. Resigning Cotchery would also preclude the team from making a strong pitch for any of their unrestricted free agents, most notably corner Will Gay or running back Mewelde Moore.

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