We’re not in trouble; we have some numbers to crunch. We’ve been addressing our aging defense all along, grooming young players to take over for aging veterans. You missed the third option: Players can retire. It’s very possible James Farrior, Aaron Smith, and Casey Hampton will opt to do that given their ages–and in Smith and Hampton’s cases, their injuries.

None of the three will be picked up by other teams, and they know it. Farrior can still perform at a high level despite his age, but both Smith and Hamptom are only playing part-time as it is. We’ve already got talented people backing them up. If they decide to stay, they’ll likely lose their starting positions and have no choice but to take paycuts.

Harrison and Polamalu are at their peak in terms of age/effectiveness. Polamalu was the only Steeler to make All Pro for 2011. They haven’t yet started to decline although they will over the next few years, and we’ll address those positions as that happens. In the meantime, I’m sure both will be willing to restructure their contracts. Working around the cap is an intricate business, but it’s one the Steelers have managed well for some time.

The salary portions of their pay was converted into signing bonus, which is prorated, not paid over the remaining years of the contract. So it is actually the opposite of what you wrote. The only monies they are not guaranteed are the smaller salary amounts. The big money is already in their bank accounts and will count against the cap whether they are on the team or kicking it w/ Lebron in Miami.

They are EXCELLENT players. However, no two players have embodied a defense’s identity like those two guys. As good as Suggs and Ngata are they are an afterthought compared to Lewis and Reed. Also, when Ray leaves so does your DC, as he is the DC on that team no matter what coach holds that title.

Also we were the number 1 pass defense in the league last year so I think we’re set at CB

Today’s bonus money will definitely get paid. 100% of it. I’m not sure you understand how restructuring a contract or signing/roster bonus money works.

Here’s what: DPotY Terrell Suggs(29), Haloti Ngata(28) and Jimmy Smith(23).

How many more of their stars will restructure? This restructuring will eventually bit them as well.

Holes at Dline, Oline, RB, CB, and now dealing with a real treat of a new OC with 14 Mil over the cap on top its not looking good.

These big contracts you hear about never get paid out. Example: Albert Haynesworth. There was all of this talk about $100 mil., but he ended up getting about 30mil. But he stole every damn dime of it, so he should have no complaints.

Teams in the past have done this, trying to
hold their team together for “one last run”.
(The ’02 Titans come to mind. There have been many others)

Even if they do have success, at some point the team
will have to cut many high priced veteran guys and
go with lots of lesser talent at several positions.

The smarter way to do things is to try to always have
young backups getting ready to be the next starter at key positions.

If you do not, then you wind up like the Colts.
They went “all-in” with Peyton Manning and
had no decent replacement getting ready.

Unless something unforeseen happens, I predict
the Steelers being a truly awful team by 2014…

Cutting the entire offensive line except their young center, Pouncey, would be a great start.

Steelers salary cap wizard Omar Khan working his magic again. The Steelers will get under the cap, kill it in the draft like they always do, and be in the hunt once again at the end of next season.

Yawn

In a few years the salary cap will jump up due to the new TV contract. I think I’ll trust the judgment of the Steelers organization over that of a few anonymous internet commenters.