Steelers Buzz: Woodley negotiations; Polamalu; Harrison, Ward Personal Conduct Policy

According to ESPN, the NFL has given the players until Tuesday to vote on a new CBA deal.

The players are starting to create some controversy, such as, indicating they haven’t seen the proposal and such, but this is going to get approved in a timely manner. Onto some business for the Steelers:

*Locking up LaMarr Woodleyto a long-term extension is said to be the Steelers top priority coming out of the lockout. Based off the NFL’s tentative scheduled released tonight, the two sides could begin talks as early as Saturday and the Steelers would have until September 20th to sign Woodley to a multi-year extension, which is the deadline for teams to sign designated franchise players to muti-year contracts.

The Steelers informed Woodley’s agent Doug Hendrickson of Octagon just before the lockout that they expected to work on a multi-year agreement in a timely manner, once the league was back in business.

Woodley is currently carrying a cap hit over $10 million. At age 27, Woodley’s should be looking at James Harrison’s 6 year – $51 million deal from 2009 that included a $20 million signing bonus as a starting point.

*Troy Polamalu who is in the final year of his deal, has intentions of playing 3-to-4 more years, according to sources. Polamalu, 30, who the Steelers want to retire a Steeler, will dictate his new deal.

Polamalu is set to make $6.4 million this season and carries a cap hit close to $9 million.

*Willie Colon, Matt Spaeth, William Gay and Daniel Sepulveda will be unrestricted free agents under the new CBA.

*Based off Jeff Pash’s (NFL chief labor negotiator) comments during tonight’s presser, the NFL will not look into James Harrison’s comments or any player who made deregatory comments about the league and such during the lockout.

Pash though did say that the personal conduct policy remained in effect during the lockout….. therefore the league could take action against Hines Ward for his DUI arrest. However, with the DUI arrest being Ward’s first offense, he is safe.