Steelers restructuring...

[Born2Steel]

https://nfltraderumors.co/steelers-r...-in-cap-space/


Here we go.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I have a feeling that there might be something mind blowing in the way of a transaction coming up.

Interesting that article mentions Vance McDonald ranks as the #66 TE of 67 eligible for ranking. He is basically the Antowan Blake of NFL TE's.

[Craic]

I have a feeling that there might be something mind blowing in the way of a transaction coming up.

Interesting that article mentions Vance McDonald ranks as the #66 TE of 67 eligible for ranking. He is basically the Antowan Blake of NFL TE's.

Not quite. Antwan Blake's rank was do to a lack of NFL ability. Vance McDonald's is due to a lack of availability and horrible QB play last year. I think had McD had Ben all year last year, he'd probably be middle of the pack. Maybe a tad above middle if his previous year's stats held true.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Not quite. Antwan Blake's rank was do to a lack of NFL ability. Vance McDonald's is due to a lack of availability and horrible QB play last year. I think had McD had Ben all year last year, he'd probably be middle of the pack. Maybe a tad above middle if his previous year's stats held true.

One of the most important abilities in the NFL is avail-ability.

Vance McDonald has proven over his 7 year career that he is often not available and is pretty good at dropping passes, but picking up a paycheck hasn't been his issue. He ranks as the 2nd worst TE, but when it comes to being overpaid for underperforming....IMO he is #1.

[HollywoodSteel]

From the deals I’ve seen TEs making lately Vance seems like a bargain given how badly we need him. There aren’t any quality bargains to be had.

It also seems like almost all TEs are some kind of health risk. It’s the nature of the position.

Let’s face it, we have to have fortune smile upon us in the health department in 2020. There’s definite luck involved. If our starters stay healthy we are contenders. If the injury bug strikes us we’re the Chargers of the past few years.

[AtlantaDan]

Had to clear space for this blockbuster deal

[tube517]

Had to clear space for this blockbuster deal

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

They should have used the tag on him instead of Bud. Lucky things work out!

[86WARD]

So where does the cap sit after Restructures, Dupree and D.Watt?

[86WARD]

Read that they freed up $35M after the restructures and roster moves.

[Craic]

One of the most important abilities in the NFL is avail-ability.

Vance McDonald has proven over his 7 year career that he is often not available and is pretty good at dropping passes, but picking up a paycheck hasn't been his issue. He ranks as the 2nd worst TE, but when it comes to being overpaid for underperforming....IMO he is #1.

Not arguing any of that. Only that he really can't be compared to Blake because the situations are too different. That's it.

[Mojouw]

Read that they freed up $35M after the restructures and roster moves.

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/pittsburgh-steelers/

This says they are 8 millon over the cap.

[86WARD]

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/pittsburgh-steelers/

This says they are 8 millon over the cap.

I don't think they are allowed to be over the cap now since the new league year has begun. Post Gazette had a story that after all the roter moves (and before Watt and Dupree) that they shaved $35M off the cap.

What you posted may not be up to date? Still has Vance at $7.1M and he was supposedly one of the restructures.

[86WARD]

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/pittsburgh-steelers/

This says they are 8 millon over the cap.

[Mojouw]

This seems far more correct. Thanks!

[86WARD]

This seems far more correct. Thanks!

Not sure that is accurate but I think that's his estimate and he's usually pretty close. With a little more roster work (DeCastro, Villenueva and maybe Pouncey) they may be able to get some good cash flow?

[steelreserve]

If I am not mistaken, saving $9.975 million this year means that Ben's cap hit in 2021 will be around $41.5 million. Yikes. Since that's the last year of his deal, the only way they can reduce it is to extend him again, and at that point he'll be 40. I hope we have a plan for the reality that he can't play forever.

[BlackAndGold]

Another restructure, Pouncey this time.

- - - Updated - - -

If I am not mistaken, saving $9.975 million this year means that Ben's cap hit in 2021 will be around $41.5 million. Yikes. Since that's the last year of his deal, the only way they can reduce it is to extend him again, and at that point he'll be 40. I hope we have a plan for the reality that he can't play forever.

Good thing the salary cap will sky rocket next year.

[Mojouw]

Not sure that is accurate but I think that's his estimate and he's usually pretty close. With a little more roster work (DeCastro, Villenueva and maybe Pouncey) they may be able to get some good cash flow?

This is an even more updated version and it looks like they have about $6 million to toss around.

https://steelersdepot.com/2020/03/st...te-as-of-3-18/

[steelreserve]

Another restructure, Pouncey this time.

- - - Updated - - -



Good thing the salary cap will sky rocket next year.

That's what they say every year. The cap has probably gone up 50%-75% over the past decade, yet we still end up in exactly the same place, which is scrambling to restructure deals.

I don't see it bailing us out anyway - we have been rolling money over for years and years with Ben's restructures, to the point where we are basically carrying a fifth of the salary cap in funny money on his deal alone. Retirement is the one thing where you CAN'T get out of paying. That bill is coming due soon.

Keep in mind also that if there really is a huge cap increase, it doesn't help us if everybody else has an extra $40 million to spend and we stand still. They spent their money on players, we spent ours on dead cap space. In that environment, Watt will want $25 million and get it; Dupree will be worth $17 million even if he sucks; role players like Hilton will want their $8 million and get it. We still have to actually deal with the fallout from all that dead cap space.

[pczach]

That's what they say every year. The cap has probably gone up 50%-75% over the past decade, yet we still end up in exactly the same place, which is scrambling to restructure deals.

I don't see it bailing us out anyway - we have been rolling money over for years and years with Ben's restructures, to the point where we are basically carrying a fifth of the salary cap in funny money on his deal alone. Retirement is the one thing where you CAN'T get out of paying. That bill is coming due soon.

Keep in mind also that if there really is a huge cap increase, it doesn't help us if everybody else has an extra $40 million to spend and we stand still. They spent their money on players, we spent ours on dead cap space. In that environment, Watt will want $25 million and get it; Dupree will be worth $17 million even if he sucks; role players like Hilton will want their $8 million and get it. We still have to actually deal with the fallout from all that dead cap space.

The Steelers aren't the only team doing that. There are plenty of teams manipulating the cap to try to win right now.

They are one of the only teams that manages to do it year after year and compete for a championship most seasons.

[86WARD]

The Steelers aren't the only team doing that. There are plenty of teams manipulating the cap to try to win right now.

They are one of the only teams that manages to do it year after year and compete for a championship most seasons.

Yet, every year it’s doom and gloom. I say every year if they want a player, they can make it happen and get whatever money they need. Just not sure how they will handle Ben next season...lol.

[steelreserve]

The Steelers aren't the only team doing that. There are plenty of teams manipulating the cap to try to win right now.

They are one of the only teams that manages to do it year after year and compete for a championship most seasons.

Yes, and a large reason why they can do it is that they can restructure Ben's contract every year to save between $10-$18M against the cap. Soon, they will not be able to do that. In fact, for the year when he retires, it'll be the reverse of that.

This is not "doom and gloom." It is wondering what the actual plan is. They will need to do something to make that $40 million manageable - it will not just go away because I'm a fan and not a pro football GM.

[Born2Steel]

Yes, and a large reason why they can do it is that they can restructure Ben's contract every year to save between $10-$18M against the cap. Soon, they will not be able to do that. In fact, for the year when he retires, it'll be the reverse of that.

This is not "doom and gloom." It is wondering what the actual plan is. They will need to do something to make that $40 million manageable - it will not just go away because I'm a fan and not a pro football GM.

The plan is to have a good enough TEAM around the new QB that not being able to sign FAs won't be an issue. Right now that plan is still being rolled out. Defense looks much better, getting good young weapons, OL rebuild through the draft(hopefully), and gotta find that replacement QB for when Ben does retire. Actually Ben just turned 38. Tom Brady turns 43 this year. Ben is 3 times the man Tom is so Ben could conceivably play well into his 60s.

[pczach]

Yes, and a large reason why they can do it is that they can restructure Ben's contract every year to save between $10-$18M against the cap. Soon, they will not be able to do that. In fact, for the year when he retires, it'll be the reverse of that.

This is not "doom and gloom." It is wondering what the actual plan is. They will need to do something to make that $40 million manageable - it will not just go away because I'm a fan and not a pro football GM.

I didn't accuse you of being in the "doom and gloom" crowd. I just responded to something you said to point out that the team has been very successful operating right at the cap for a long time now.

Of course things are going to change when Ben leaves, but they won't have a quarterback making $30 mil a year. They probably start a QB on the roster and draft a quarterback to be the eventual starter who will be playing under a rookie contract. Ben's cap hit is gone after a year, and life begins again with a shitload of cap room and a young QB.

[86WARD]

I didn't accuse you of being in the "doom and gloom" crowd. I just responded to something you said to point out that the team has been very successful operating right at the cap for a long time now.

Of course things are going to change when Ben leaves, but they won't have a quarterback making $30 mil a year. They probably start a QB on the roster and draft a quarterback to be the eventual starter who will be playing under a rookie contract. Ben's cap hit is gone after a year, and life begins again with a shitload of cap room and a young QB.

[Craic]

Yes, and a large reason why they can do it is that they can restructure Ben's contract every year to save between $10-$18M against the cap. Soon, they will not be able to do that. In fact, for the year when he retires, it'll be the reverse of that.

This is not "doom and gloom." It is wondering what the actual plan is. They will need to do something to make that $40 million manageable - it will not just go away because I'm a fan and not a pro football GM.

Except that, next year, half the team's cap hit disappears and we're 40 mill under this year's cap for next year at this point. Sure, we'll have to sign people back, but Ben, Haden, Tuitt, Pouncey, Nelson, DeCastro, Bush, Boswell, Edmunds, Fitzpatrick, and Washington are already locked into salaries. The big cost for next year will be T.J.'s contract, Dupree's contract (if he performs this year), Heyward's contract, and maybe Schuster's contract if he performs well this year. Sutton as well. I'm pretty sure we can fit those in for next year with enough room to sign others. And, don't forget, we have another $9 million in dead money that will fall off next year. Not to mention if we sign Dupree, it will actually reduce his cap hit compared to this year.

So, if there ever was a time to do this without cause long-term damage, this would be that time.

[Mojouw]

Except that, next year, half the team's cap hit disappears and we're 40 mill under this year's cap for next year at this point. Sure, we'll have to sign people back, but Ben, Haden, Tuitt, Pouncey, Nelson, DeCastro, Bush, Boswell, Edmunds, Fitzpatrick, and Washington are already locked into salaries. The big cost for next year will be T.J.'s contract, Dupree's contract (if he performs this year), Heyward's contract, and maybe Schuster's contract if he performs well this year. Sutton as well. I'm pretty sure we can fit those in for next year with enough room to sign others. And, don't forget, we have another $9 million in dead money that will fall off next year. Not to mention if we sign Dupree, it will actually reduce his cap hit compared to this year.

So, if there ever was a time to do this without cause long-term damage, this would be that time.

After this year, they can pay any bills that were postponed AND spend like drunken sailors.

[Six Rings]

Had to clear space for this blockbuster deal

Whew! What ever happed to the long snapper we drafted?

[tube517]

Whew! What ever happed to the long snapper we drafted?

Holba is on Giants now.