Steelers/NFL
WORILDS SIGNS TENDER Jason Worilds is officially off the market. Worilds to the surprise of some has signed his one year, $9.754 million tender, taking him off the free agent market which means no team can sign him to an offer sheet.
Worilds and the Steelers are believed to be closing in on a long-term deal. The Steelers hope to have the deal finalized before the end of the weekend. The deal could come in around 5 years, $40 million with close to $20 million in guaranteed money.
Worilds officially back is believed to mean the end to LaMarr Woodley’s tenure with the Steelers as many expect the Steelers to release the former pro bowl linebacker this week.
Releasing Woodley now would mean a dead money cap hit of $14.17 million but the positive is the Steelers get $8 million in free money to spend elsewhere and they would wipe him off their books for 2015 and 2016.
If the Steelers designate Woodley a June 1 roster cut, he would count only $5.59 million this year but the team would take a $8.5 million dead money cap hit for next season.
The Steelers fully expect to get under the cap easily with the cap rising to $133 million. The team will release Levi Brown, saving $6 million and the team is nearing an extension with Heath Miller to reduce his $9.5 million cap hit and the team is also discussing an extension with Troy Polamalu to lower his cap hit.
Releasing Ike Taylor would save the Steelers $7 million but there have been talks about a significant paycut of at least 50%.
