http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000133245/0ap2000 000133173

Steelers 13.9 Million over the cap.. 

I think we will be fine, once we get Joe under Contract. We have one of the best, if not the best front offices in the league.

Thedailydose wrote: http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000133245/0ap2000 000133173

Steelers 13.9 Million over the cap.. 

I think we will be fine, once we get Joe under Contract. We have one of the best, if not the best front offices in the league.

We are going to be OK, and we should be real good in the future as well.. Much to do about nothing.

Thedailydose wrote: http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000133245/0ap2000 000133173

Steelers 13.9 Million over the cap.. 

I think we will be fine, once we get Joe under Contract. We have one of the best, if not the best front offices in the league.

That number is accurate, but remember it doesn't include the (up to) 7 RFA and 9 EFA tenders, so once those are added in, we'll be right up against the Cap.  That said, it's also before the deduction for Ray's retirement ($4.35M), so they'll likely be around $5M under before having to do anything else.

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

BmoreRavor wrote:

Thedailydose wrote: http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000133245/0ap2000 000133173

Steelers 13.9 Million over the cap.. 

I think we will be fine, once we get Joe under Contract. We have one of the best, if not the best front offices in the league.

That number is accurate, but remember it doesn't include the (up to) 7 RFA and 9 EFA tenders, so once those are added in, we'll be right up against the Cap.  That said, it's also before the deduction for Ray's retirement ($4.35M), so they'll likely be around $5M under before having to do anything else.

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Birk, Williams, and Leach, were already going to be goners tag or not. And none of the numbers we see now for any team include RFA, EFA and draft picks, or any of the other 20 moves a team will make in the next month.

You could probably come up with about 10 different numbers 10 which ways if you really wanted to. We aren't going to have any real solid numbers until free agency winds down, and we actually have a roster that will somewhat resemble what it will look like in Sept sans draft picks.

As long as Flacco deal gets done, I have projections that have us keeping Reed and Ellerbe without any restructures, and a full 51 players counting towards the cap. at around $122 million. With dead money from releases(post June 1), but didn't include any 2012 rollover which I think is about 1.4 million.

Deal gets done with Flacco we are good to go.

If we need to restructure one deal to pick up 5 million this year it won't be the end of the world.

BmoreRavor wrote:

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Birk will retire in my opinion. 

Kruger and Williams will get more money elsewhere than they are truly worth.

Cary Williams stepped up his game after Webb went down, but he's not worth a front-line CB contract, and that is what he will get from a team with a crap defense and a lot of money to spend (like Tampa Bay). 

Paul Kruger has already stated that he's looking for $8-10 Million per, and he's just a complimentary player. He's a GOOD complimentary player, but complimentary nonetheless (2 sacks on the year until Suggs came back). Someone will pay close to what he's looking for, and Kruger will become another in a loooooooong line of Linebackers that went somewhere else and broke the hearts of that teams' fans who were hoping for a savior. 

I love Leach, but there was ZERO chance of Ozzie paying him $4 Million for the coming season. I think that he will be cut even if Baltimore is able to reach an agreement with Flacco before having to place him under the Franchise Designation. We're going to have to look to the draft for a new head-cracker at the FB spot. Sad but true on a team where they will have to trim salaries somewhere.

Sign Flacco, cut Leach, and extend Suggs, Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Bring back Ellerbe, and re-sign McKinnie to a short deal, then we're looking good. We'll have enough money left to draft and then maybe look for a couple or three bargains in the Free Agent market.

Who knows...we might be able to re-sign Leach for less if he doesn't find many suitors. There aren't a ton of teams using a traditional Iso-lead blocker anymore.

Still think the Bungals with all that cap space cant get it done. The Colts with 40+million in cap space scares the crap out of me. Imagine what they could put around Luck if they want?!?!

BmoreRavor wrote:

Thedailydose wrote: http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000133245/0ap2000 000133173

Steelers 13.9 Million over the cap.. 

I think we will be fine, once we get Joe under Contract. We have one of the best, if not the best front offices in the league.

That number is accurate, but remember it doesn't include the (up to) 7 RFA and 9 EFA tenders, so once those are added in, we'll be right up against the Cap.  That said, it's also before the deduction for Ray's retirement ($4.35M), so they'll likely be around $5M under before having to do anything else.

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Can someone post how much cutting each of the players under contract Cox, Koch, B. Williams, J. McClain, Birk, Leach rumored to be cut will save?

I don't think there's a chance that we release JJ or Q and that discussion upsets me 

naca72 wrote:

BmoreRavor wrote:

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Birk will retire in my opinion. 

Kruger and Williams will get more money elsewhere that they are truly worth.

Cary Williams stepped up his game after Webb went down, but he's not worth a front-line CB contract, and that is what he will get from a team with a crap defense and a lot of money to spend (like Tampa Bay). 

Paul Kruger has already stated that he's looking for $8-10 Million per, and he's just a complimentary player. He's a GOOD complimentary player, but complimentary nonetheless (2 sacks on the year until Suggs came back). Someone will pay close to what he's looking for, and Kruger will become another in a loooooooong line of Linebackers that went somewhere else and broke the hearts of that teams' fans who were hoping for a savior. 

I love Leach, but there was ZERO chance of Ozzie paying him $4 Million for the coming season. I think that he will be cut even if Baltimore is able to reach an agreement with Flacco before having to place him under the Franchise Designation. We're going to have to look to the draft for a new head-cracker at the FB spot. Sad but true on a team where they will have to trim salaries somewhere.

Sign Flacco, cut Leach, and extend Suggs, Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Bring back Ellerbe, and re-sign McKinnie to a short deal, then we're looking good. We'll have enough money left to draft and then maybe look for a couple or three bargains in the Free Agent market.

Who knows...we might be able to re-sign Leach for less if he doesn't find many suitors. There aren't a ton of teams using a traditional Iso-lead blocker anymore.

Well said.

The play of McKinnie down the stretch sealed Leach's fate, if it wasn't already.

That money we were going to pay him is going to McKinnie in 2013.

52decleetzu wrote:

naca72 wrote:

BmoreRavor wrote:

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Birk will retire in my opinion. 

Kruger and Williams will get more money elsewhere that they are truly worth.

Cary Williams stepped up his game after Webb went down, but he's not worth a front-line CB contract, and that is what he will get from a team with a crap defense and a lot of money to spend (like Tampa Bay). 

Paul Kruger has already stated that he's looking for $8-10 Million per, and he's just a complimentary player. He's a GOOD complimentary player, but complimentary nonetheless (2 sacks on the year until Suggs came back). Someone will pay close to what he's looking for, and Kruger will become another in a loooooooong line of Linebackers that went somewhere else and broke the hearts of that teams' fans who were hoping for a savior. 

I love Leach, but there was ZERO chance of Ozzie paying him $4 Million for the coming season. I think that he will be cut even if Baltimore is able to reach an agreement with Flacco before having to place him under the Franchise Designation. We're going to have to look to the draft for a new head-cracker at the FB spot. Sad but true on a team where they will have to trim salaries somewhere.

Sign Flacco, cut Leach, and extend Suggs, Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Bring back Ellerbe, and re-sign McKinnie to a short deal, then we're looking good. We'll have enough money left to draft and then maybe look for a couple or three bargains in the Free Agent market.

Who knows...we might be able to re-sign Leach for less if he doesn't find many suitors. There aren't a ton of teams using a traditional Iso-lead blocker anymore.

Well said.

The play of McKinnie down the stretch sealed Leach's fate, if it wasn't already.

That money we were going to pay him is going to McKinnie in 2013.

McKinnie still misses overload assignments. If he gets his hands on the defender he will likely neutralize him. He's also hard to coach. I don't have a better decision, but the decision is not as clear cut as you make it.

As we saw this season, you cannot have enough CBs in this league. Webb and J. Smith are injury prone even if they are more talented than C. Williams. I think the opportunism of all DBs was a critical factor in generating TOs and winning the SB.

dropsalotaylor wrote: The Colts with 40+million in cap space scares the crap out of me. Imagine what they could put around Luck if they want?!?!

And they play in a dome half of the season.

canonian1 wrote:

dropsalotaylor wrote: The Colts with 40+million in cap space scares the crap out of me. Imagine what they could put around Luck if they want?!?!

And they play in a dome half of the season.

How about drafting Eddie Lacy, while getting Jake Long, Greg Jennings in Free agency and bolstering their D with Paul Kruger and Ed Reed....   that would suck.

canonian1 wrote:

52decleetzu wrote:

naca72 wrote:

BmoreRavor wrote:

If they have to tag Flacco, expect - at a minimum - Birk, Williams and Leach to go.

Birk will retire in my opinion. 

Kruger and Williams will get more money elsewhere that they are truly worth.

Cary Williams stepped up his game after Webb went down, but he's not worth a front-line CB contract, and that is what he will get from a team with a crap defense and a lot of money to spend (like Tampa Bay). 

Paul Kruger has already stated that he's looking for $8-10 Million per, and he's just a complimentary player. He's a GOOD complimentary player, but complimentary nonetheless (2 sacks on the year until Suggs came back). Someone will pay close to what he's looking for, and Kruger will become another in a loooooooong line of Linebackers that went somewhere else and broke the hearts of that teams' fans who were hoping for a savior. 

I love Leach, but there was ZERO chance of Ozzie paying him $4 Million for the coming season. I think that he will be cut even if Baltimore is able to reach an agreement with Flacco before having to place him under the Franchise Designation. We're going to have to look to the draft for a new head-cracker at the FB spot. Sad but true on a team where they will have to trim salaries somewhere.

Sign Flacco, cut Leach, and extend Suggs, Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Bring back Ellerbe, and re-sign McKinnie to a short deal, then we're looking good. We'll have enough money left to draft and then maybe look for a couple or three bargains in the Free Agent market.

Who knows...we might be able to re-sign Leach for less if he doesn't find many suitors. There aren't a ton of teams using a traditional Iso-lead blocker anymore.

Well said.

The play of McKinnie down the stretch sealed Leach's fate, if it wasn't already.

That money we were going to pay him is going to McKinnie in 2013.

McKinnie still misses overload assignments. If he gets his hands on the defender he will likely neutralize him. He's also hard to coach. I don't have a better decision, but the decision is not as clear cut as you make it.

As we saw this season, you cannot have enough CBs in this league. Webb and J. Smith are injury prone even if they are more talented than C. Williams. I think the opportunism of all DBs was a critical factor in generating TOs and winning the SB.

MicKinnie missed one such assignment in the playoffs, he doesn't miss them all the time. All tackles will miss one every once in a while when they send the house. Harbaugh was already telling McKinnie he wanted him back before the SB, and after the SB. That hatchet is buried, he will be back. It isn't like we have any other options at the position.

Cornerback? We have 3 good ones and depth without Cary, who had 0.0% chance of coming back before the season even started when he turned down their offer. He is gone, wouldn't hold my breath holding out for a miracle on that one it isn't happening. He is in the rearview mirror. Good player who will get paid like a great one, by someone else. I am sure we will draft a CB fairly early to replace Cary and have in the rotation to come along.

If there's any room left over when the dust from free agency has settled, I would totally offer Graham that 3/15 extension.

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--- 52decleetzu wrote:

If we need to restructure one deal to pick up 5 million this year it won't be the end of the world.

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Personally, I don't have problem with them restructuring a deal or two, but there's not one deal they have that they could restructure and pick up $5M.

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--- naca72 wrote:


Sign Flacco, cut Leach, and extend Suggs, Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Bring back Ellerbe, and re-sign McKinnie to a short deal, then we're looking good. We'll have enough money left to draft and then maybe look for a couple or three bargains in the Free Agent market.

Who knows...we might be able to re-sign Leach for less if he doesn't find many suitors. There aren't a ton of teams using a traditional Iso-lead blocker anymore.

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While I think that is an ideal scenario, and is possible, I think a lot of things have to go right to get there. I'm also not convinced that they are going to have enough Cap space to get Ellerbe fit in. I think there's going to be a bigger market for him than originally thought and that's going to drive the price up.

BmoreRavor wrote:

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--- 52decleetzu wrote:

If we need to restructure one deal to pick up 5 million this year it won't be the end of the world.

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Personally, I don't have problem with them restructuring a deal or two, but there's not one deal they have that they could restructure and pick up $5M.

True, I was just throwing out a number.

But there are multiple ways to create about 5 million or so if we really need it.

That $6 million base salary for Boldin is screaming for a little 2 year extension to get that lower. Same goes for Suggs.

52decleetzu wrote:

BmoreRavor wrote:

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--- 52decleetzu wrote:

If we need to restructure one deal to pick up 5 million this year it won't be the end of the world.

---------------------------------------------

Personally, I don't have problem with them restructuring a deal or two, but there's not one deal they have that they could restructure and pick up $5M.

True, I was just throwing out a number.

But there are multiple ways to create about 5 million or so if we really need it.

That $6 million base salary for Boldin is screaming for a little 2 year extension to get that lower. Same goes for Suggs.

plus with the new cba they have a roll over feature of cap money from the past year.

canonian1 wrote:
McKinnie still misses overload assignments.

Saw that in the Super bowl. Even Flacco commented on it after he scraped himself off the turf when McKinnie missed his block..

ravmaniac wrote:

canonian1 wrote:
McKinnie still misses overload assignments.

Saw that in the Super bowl. Even Flacco commented on it after he scraped himself off the turf when McKinnie missed his block..

Did you see the other 358 snaps he took in the last 5 games when he didn't miss any assignments?

Something else I saw in the Super Bowl...

...Baltimore winning the Super Bowl.