A Look At The Offseason and What the Black and Gold Should Do

March is the real start to the NFL offseason. It’s when free agency hits, the salary cap must be met and teams begin to shake up their rosters. In 2012 the Steelers made several off season changes by letting some key veterans walk and of course restructuring deals in order to get in compliance with the salary cap. In 2013 they find themselves in a similar spot, being a projected $14 million over the cap. They will need to make key decisions on free agents and current players on the roster in regards to re-signing, re-structuring or releasing.  

Some tough decisions will have to be made and Kevin Colbert has already made it clear that no player will be franchised, not all free agents will be retained, some veterans will be released and that he anticipates overhauling a roster that finished a paltry and unacceptable 8-8 in 2012. 

As we approach the start of this whirlwind; I wanted to take a look at the current group of free agents and some potential players to re-structure or release. 

Before we go down the list of players it must be noted that a free agent is capable of signing with any club at any time without any penalty.

A restricted free agent is a player who has received a “qualifying” offer (negotiated in the CBA) from his old club, but is free to negotiate with any club through the free agent signing period. If he accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him, or not match the offer and possibly receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer.

 If an offer sheet is not executed, the player’s rights revert to his old club after the free agent signing period ends.

With that all said, let’s take a look at the roster and see what the black and gold should do.

Will Allen, Safety: Free agent.  He filled in nicely for Troy Polamalu when he was out and if the Steelers can bring him back for another season or two for a relatively cheap amount, they should look at doing so. I suspect they’ll bring him back.

Charlie Batch, QB: Free Agent. I love Charlie but I think it’s time he retires and focuses on his community work. I believe that’s exactly what will happen.

Plaxico Burress, WR: Free Agent.  Burress still has potential and with his height and ability to catch the high balls I think he still has red zone value. I don’t think the team used him properly last year but I’d like to see them sign him for 2 more years if they can get him at the league minimum. I think they’ll let him walk.

Willie Colon, OL: Under Contract at $5.5 million for 2013.  I think the time has come to say goodbye to Willie. He’s got the talent but he doesn’t seem to have the ability to stay healthy. They can save the money by releasing him and moving forward with some of the younger guys. I’m not sure what they’ll do with him, they may ask him to re structure his deal, which at the very least they need to do.

Jonathan Dwyer, RB: Restricted Free Agent. I believe they should tender him a contract and bring him back. He has the ability to be a complimentary back at the very least and with only Baron Batch under contract at the running back position they need to bring a guy or two back to fill out the roster. They’ll most certainly tender him a contract.

Larry Foote, LB: Free Agent. Foote put up a great year and although he’s aging, he still has value. If they can bring him back for another 2 years at a fair price they would be well served to do so. He can be a leader and take some of the young LB’s under his wing.  I think they’ll try to sign him but for very cheap.

Ramon Foster, OL: Free Agent.  He’s a guy that I could go either way on. He’s got the talent to start but he doesn’t always show it. I’d like to bring him back but if he leaves I won’t be heart broken. I think the team is going to let him go elsewhere and move on.

Casey Hampton, DT: Free Agent. Big Snack has been a stalwart on this team for many years. He still has the ability to run stuff and plug the holes. He’ll be looking for big money and I believe the team won’t bring him back however if they can get him to agree to a 1 year league minimum contract I think they should sign him. Don’t expect that to happen though.

James Harrison, LB: Under Contract for $6.57 million.  They need to restructure this deal. I love Harrison and at the end of 2012 he started getting his legs back. That all said, he’s aging and his days are numbered. I know the team doesn’t want to get thinner at a position they are already in need of however if they can’t get him to restructure and/or reduce his pay, they may need to let him go.  I believe he’ll refuse his pay reduction and sadly the team is going to release him.

Brandon Johnson, LB: Free Agent.  Goodbye

Byron Leftwhich, QB: Free Agent.  He’s an ok backup but often injured. If they can sign him for one more year at a cheap price it may not be a bad move. I think they’ll bring him back again. 

Doug Legursky, OL: Free Agent. Legursky has some value because he can play every OL position, including center.  I think he’s worth bringing back for a few more years and I believe the Steelers agree. They’ll sign him and let Foster walk.

Keenan Lewis, CB: Free Agent.  He may be a top priority to bring back. He had a great year and as a starting corner they need to find a way to lock him up. I’d give him 4 years to get him sealed in for a while. I think they’ll make him a significant offer to stay around.

Steve McLendon, DT: Restricted Free Agent. McLendon appears to be the replacement to Casey Hampton and while I’d like to push that off another year, I think the Steelers are happy enough with him to let him start in 2013. They’ll tender him an offer and they should, he’s a good player.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB: Free Agent. He’s probably still the most talented back on this team but he has to go. He won’t be offered a contract here.

Heath Miller, TE: Under Contract at $5 million. If they can get Heath to restructure to free up some room, that would be a huge help in keeping some key guys. They’ll approach him.

Ryan Mundy, DB: Free Agent. They can let him walk. He was pretty unimpressive in 2012. They won’t offer him a deal.

Troy Polamalu, S: Under Contract for $7 million. People say he’s a consideration to be released, I don’t think so but they really need to re do his contract if possible. He’s probably not a $7 million dollar player anymore.

Leonard Pope, TE: Free Agent. They should probably bring him back for a year since Heath is hurt and I suspect they’ll do that.

Isaac Redman, RB: Restricted Free Agent.  I think he is also a good complimentary back, like Dwyer and he’s worth keeping around a few more years. They’ll most likely tender him a contract as well.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB: Under contract at $20 million. He is restructuring his deal to help the team.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR: Restricted Free Agent. He is part of the young money crew that disappointed in 2012. I’d like to see them give him a tender and bring him back. I think he’s a guy that could go either way in their eyes and I won’t be surprised to see them let him hit the market without an offer.

Max Starks, OL: Free Agent. Max played every snap last year and to me is a must to bring back. He’s durable and on this OL that’s hard to find. I’d give him 2 more years.  The Steelers are going to let him walk as they want to get smaller at OL believe it or not.

Stevenson Sylvester, LB: Restricted Free Agent. I think he has talent and hopefully can be a starter one day on this team. At the very least he’s a solid backup and they should give him an offer. I think they’ll keep him.

Ike Taylor, CB: Under contract at $6 million. He’s a guy they need to restructure. I think he’s easily the best CB on this team so he’s safe from being released but they may consider it if they can’t get him to re do his deal; and then use his money on Lewis.

Mike Wallace, WR: Free Agent. I actually think they need to keep him, somehow, some way.  He had a down year and still led the team in receiving categories. You can’t coach speed. I was down on him most of the year but after looking at all the numbers, he truly is the best they have.  Unfortunately, he’s as good as gone.

Greg Warren, OL: Free Agent. He’s gone.

LaMarr Woodley, LB: Under contract at $9 million. He has to re do his deal. He underperformed last year and while I think he’s still a pro bowl level player, the team may have to look at cutting him as he is not putting up $9 million numbers at this point. He’s certainly been the center of a lot of controversy over the past few weeks so this one will be an interesting one to keep track of.

Whether the team follows my perfectly thought out plan of spending money that’s not mine or whether they go in a completely different direction, this one thing is for certain, the team needs to do a better job of decision making in 2013 than they did in 2012. They must keep the right leaders, get rid of locker room cancers that we in the public may not know about and certainly make wise monetary decisions that won’t force them into more years like this in the future where they need to continue to  get rid of leaders and solid veterans. 

Historically the Steelers bounce back rather quickly and here’s hoping that trend continues in 2013.