Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: Tagging Jason Worilds Doesn’t Ensure He Stays
By Matt Shetler
Nov 10, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds (93) rushes the passer with Buffalo Bills tackle Erik Pears (79) blocking during the third quarter of a game at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won the game 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising move on Monday when they placed the transition tag on free agent outside linebacker Jason Worilds.
In all likelihood they probably made their chances of signing the 26-year-old to a long-term contract much worse as it would have probably been more effective to just buy Worilds a plane ticket to his new team than tagging him.
All the Steelers did by tagging Worilds is assure themselves the right to determine how much they are willing to overpay for the four-year veteran if other teams pursue him in free agency.
Being that pursuing teams won’t have to give the Steelers compensation by signing Worilds to a long-term deal, he will still have plenty of suitors when free agency begins March 11.
By tagging Worilds, it simply signifies that the Steelers and Worilds aren’t anywhere near close on a long-term deal.
Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert said he doubted that they would use a tag this year in large part because of their salary-cap situation. By doing so, it looks as if the Steelers are in near panic mode as they can almost see the writing on the wall.
All it takes is for one team out there to overpay Worilds and he will be out of the Steelers price range. Worilds led the team with eight sacks in 2013 and showed the type of impact as a pass rusher that teams salivate over.
We will get the answer of how much other teams value Worilds in a couple of weeks.
All the Steelers did Monday was potentially delay the inevitable.