Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review tweeted Thursday Steelers LG Doug Legursky has signed his $1.26 million tender offer from the Steelers, and will play for Pittsburgh in 2012.

Not that there was much concern he wouldn't, but amid lots of speculation surrounding the Steelers this week, anything solid is good.

Solid is Legursky. More nimble than powerful, Legursky made himself a viable option at both guard positions and at center over the last three seasons.

Continue reading this post »

As expected, fourth year Steelers TE David Johnson signed his 1-year $1.26 million (lowest level) restricted free agency tender offer, giving him a guaranteed contract for the 2012 season.

Johnson, a 2009 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, has been used as the team's second tight end and often motioned into the backfield and was utilized as an H-back in his career.

Continue reading this post »

Mark March 15 as Steelers S-C Day - victory over the Salary Cap has been achieved.

After contract restructures by CB Ike Taylor, LBs Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. OT Willie Colon and QB Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers found themselves right around the point where they could tender offers to all of their restricted free agents, and sign their impending draft picks.

NT Casey Hampton's $5.9 million contract wasn't restructured, and the thought was they were saving Snack's contract as the ace up their sleeve.

If that was the case, they played that ace Thursday, getting the 11-year veteran to trim his base salary from $4.89 million to $2.8 million, and eliminate a workout bonus, which was set at $1 million. A total of $3.09 million was trimmed from the salary cap, per BTSC friend Brian McIntyre.

Continue reading this post »

As expected, the Steelers officially gave WR Mike Wallace the high level tender offer of $2.7 million for one season, the restricted free agency level allowing the Steelers to receive a first-round draft pick in compensation should Wallace sign with another team.

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert has said his priority with Wallace is to get him signed to a long-term deal. This is the first step in that process.

Just about all of the Steelers' other restricted free agents - CB Keenan Lewis, Gs Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster, TE David Johnson and FS Ryan Mundy - received original round tender offers, which are worth one year for $1.26 million.

Continue reading this post »

The NFL announced Sunday that the Salary Cap for the 2012 season is $120.6 million, up just $225,000 from last season. All 32 teams must be under that mark by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, which is the beginning of the unrestricted free agency period.

Several veteran releases by the Steelers and contract restructures for multiple players have gotten them to a relatively thin cushion under the cap - considering that tender offers to their restricted free agents still need to be accounted for, as well as the signing of their draft class.

Continue reading this post »

Local journalists and lowly internet hacks have never typed the word "restructure" as often as those covering the Steelers have this offseason.

This time, as expected, QB Ben Roethlisberger reportedly has agreed to restructure his contract, thus saving the Steelers $8 million against the salary cap this season.

Continue reading this post »

Ya ever have that co-worker who comes in with a look that says "I have a gun and a shovel, and I doubt anyone will miss you, so don't toy with me today"?

A co-worker who, perhaps, is running a fever, and is royally ticked off at his dog's escape from his collar and subsequent trek through four inches of wet, heavy snow this morning.

It may not be rational. Or logical. It may be pure insanity, but that's me today. So I'm going to rant a little. The thought and realistic possibility of the Bengals nabbing WR Mike Wallace away from us with a low-end first round pick just does that to me, and I want answers. Sometimes, Twitter just doesn't give you enough room to ask the questions needing to be asked. Here's what I want to know.

Continue reading this post »

News broke out Tuesday morning of OT Willie Colon's willingness to prorate $3.8 million of the $4.5 million he's owed in 2012 over the remaining four years of his deal. Saving the team another $2.85 million against its 2012 salary cap is good progress, but there's still $5-6 million to go, according to Football Outsider writer Brian McIntyre.

The total savings created so far this off-season through player releases and contract restructures is around $18 million - but freeing up $5-6 million more would only reach the estimated 2012 salary cap. The total savings figure the Steelers are aiming for will include all restricted free agent tenders, rookie contracts and a cash fund for in-season transactions.

Continue reading this post »