It’s been widely assumed since the start of the offseason that the Steelers would be parting ways with guard Willie Colon.
Colon, who wound up on injured reserve for the third straight year, is due to make $5.5 million in 2013 and the word in Pittsburgh is that the Steelers want to get younger and more athletic on the offensive line. Max Starks and Ramon Foster aren’t expected back after hitting free agency and the presence of David DeCastro and Kelvin Beachum seem to make Colon expendable as well.
That may come to pass, but it doesn’t appear to be imminent. Colon’s agent Joe Linta told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers have not asked for a reduction in Colon’s salary and that the team has informed him that they don’t plan to do anything with Colon for the time being.
With free agency still about to start and the draft looming next month, it’s way early to assume that Colon winds up remaining with the Steelers all the way to next season. For now, though, he isn’t among the veterans helping the team create cap space by changing his contract or departing altogether.