LB Timmons Says He’ll Renegotiate Deal to Be Able to Retire with Steelers

Steelers veteran inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons wants to retire a Steeler, and he’s willing to reopen his contract to make that happen, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Timmons, 29, is still playing at a high level, recording 132 tackles and two sacks last season in the Steelers’ ‘Buck’ position, where he can rush the passer or play in a traditional linebacker space.

But his looming salary cap hits are enormous — $12.6 million in 2015, $11.8 million in 2016 — because of proration from his six-year, $50-million deal signed in 2011, according to ESPN’s roster management system. Timmons is due $7.5 million in base salary this year.

Timmons said “of course” when asked if he’d be willing to work with the Steelers contractually because he loves being in Pittsburgh. Theoretically, that would come in two forms: a restructure or an extension.

“I’ve been here for nine years, I’ve got a house here, I’d like to keep that house,” said Timmons, 29. “I’ve got a family here that loves it.”