Steelers News: Salary Cap, Harrison, Polamalu

The Steelers players head into the offseason for recovery and the coaches head out to prepare for free agency and the draft.

Steelers season never truly ends for Steeler Nation so while the offseason starts to heat up we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Thursday, Feb. 18^th.

Value Deals

There’s been a whole lot of talk recently about the Steelers’ salary cap situation, especially when the actual salary cap for the new league year hasn’t even been set. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reminds us how the Steelers always seem to avoid major salary cap issues even when it seems like they might not.

More from Steelers News

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• Byron Leftwich isn’t the answer Steelers need at offensive coordinator
• Buccaneers to fire OC Byron Leftwich, Steelers rumored to be interested
• Steelers news: Matt Canada remains, Pittsburgh reaches in mock draft, and more
• Mike Tomlin not entirely responsible for the Steelers 9-8 record in 2022

Fowler explains that the Steelers’ system of building through the draft works for them because it allows them to sign players to what he deems are “value contracts”. He might be on to something here.

When you think of the offensive firepower between Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell you’d think they’ve got some of the league’s highest contracts.

As it stands now Bell is still on his rookie deal and could potentially be looking at an extension this offseason, Brown still has two years left on his current deal and Roethlisberger’s deal gets him $20 million, which isn’t exactly a bargain but that’s the going rate for a future HOF quarterback.

That’s pretty kind

Steelers linebacker James Harrison represented the Steelers and celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day by delivering some goodies to Giant Eagle shoppers as well as local firemen in Greenfield. He brought his two sons along for the trip. He’s so warm and cuddly, isn’t he?

Keeping his distance

I’m a fan of the Steelers. I am a fan of Troy Polamalu. Like all other fans of the Steelers and Troy Polamalu I was sad to see him go last offseason but I understood how and why it happened. I also understood that Polamalu has always been a private person and he’d likely take some time away from the team and football in general after retirement.

What I am not a fan of is the narrative that Polamalu harbors negative feelings about having been “forced” into retirement when he still wanted to play. Ed Bouchette of the PPG explains Polamalu’s distance in a way that I think makes sense.

Next: Steelers: Deebo give me one more chance

Polamalu needed some time away; he earned it. It’s not about the Steelers, it’s about him. He doesn’t need to show up at games or events to wave a Terrible Towel for the crowds to continue to have a special place in the franchise history. He already has that.