Colbert: Pittsburgh Steelers could see major roster changes
By Matt Shetler
Everyone wants to know what the Pittsburgh Steelers have in mind for the upcoming offseason.
Well it looks like Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert gave everyone a preview of what is in store.
Feb 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert before Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Post Gazette’s Ed Bouchette reported on Wednesday that Colbert promised major changes for the 2013 season.
"“When you’re 12-4 and a playoff team, sometimes you get mesmerized by your success and you get a little reluctant to change,” Colbert told Bouchette. “If we don’t change a roster that produced 8-8, we’d be silly to expect a better result.”"
Colbert stated the first issue of business will be to get the team under the projected $121 million salary cap, which they are currently over by roughly $10 million.
He stated that will happen through contract terminations, extensions and reconstructions. Colbert also noted that none of the Steelers current fee agents will likely get offers before they can hit the open market on March 12.
“We won’t know what an individual player will cost until he gets out there,” Colbert also told Bouchette. “Going into this thing, we’re not married to anybody.”
He also noted that the Steelers won’t be using the franchise tag on anyone this season by saying that the team didn’t have any franchise type free agents.
Finally Colbert addressed the problem at running back, noting there would be changes.
“Where we were in the running game last year was indicative of the talent at the position … That group of players didn’t produce the way we anticipated they would.”
It looks like this will be a very interesting offseason and more than a few changes are in store for the black-and-gold.