Seems that a lot of the higher priced Steelers are or have already redone their deals to help the team with their salary cap situation.
Now, two more Steelers are apparently willing to help.
The Trib Review is reporting that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison will be next up to restructure their contracts before March 13th when the new NFL year kicks off.
The Steelers don’t expect the ceiling to increase much from the $120.375 million that clubs were allowed to spend on player salaries in 2011. They entered the offseason roughly $25 million over the salary cap.
The Steelers have trimmed a little more than $14 million off that number by restructuring the contracts of linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, and cornerback Ike Taylor. They saved another $3.5 million by releasing cornerback Bryant McFadden and wide receiver Arnaz Battle.
“Certainly we’d be very willing to help,” said Bill Parise, who represents Harrison.
Right now Harrison is about to enter the 3rd year of his six-year, $51.175 million dollar deal, while Ben inked an eight-year, $102 million deal in 2008. Both players restructured their contracts last year to help the Steelers manage the salary cap.
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DrGeorge
February 15, 2012 at 1:44 pm
The average fan finds stories on restructuring about as interesting as the tax code. But money makes the wheels go ’round in pro sports, and the Steelers are as good at restructuring as anyone in the league.
This game works much like the Congressional effort to balance the budget: the pain is pushed forward into the nebulous future when higher revenues will (in theory) cover the bet. But if TV revenues for NFL games ever decline — not an impossibility with this economy and an aging population — things could get messy. And very painful. But for the moment, the Steelers are on top of things and making all the right moves, including the release of McFadden and Battle, who were excess talent. But even good players are not exempt from the trimming. Those who get greedy or selfish simply won’t be around — which explains why Harrison’s agent is so “willing to help.” It’s all about survival in one of the best franchises in football. (For an interesting comparison, see the story on Irsay’s public comments regarding P. Manning’s return. Money talks.)