Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: Troy Polamalu Won’t Be Released
By Matt Shetler
Now that it appears the Jason Worilds situation is close to being completely taken care of, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert now faces decisions with other veterans on the roster.
Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) breaks off the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
One of those decisions involves Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.
Polamalu was a candidate to be released as the Steelers still need to create salary cap space, but as expected the Steelers will likely hold onto the fan favorite for the rest of his career.
While they still need salary-cap space, the Steelers will not release veteran safety, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning.
One source said the Rooney family simply is too loyal and Polamalu has been too valuable.
The Steelers will likely try and work out a restructured contract that will lower Polamalu’s $10.88 million salary-cap figure for the coming season, or they could approach the eight-time Pro Bowler to accept a pay cut.
That news should make both Polamalu and Steelers fans everywhere happy.
Even though he is 33 now, Polamalu showed last year that he has some good football left in him.
After a couple of injury-plagued seasons, he played every snap last season and recorded 85 tackles while intercepting two passes and forcing five fumbles during the 2013 season.
Steelers’ president Art Rooney II said in February that he wants Polamalu to play his entire career in Pittsburgh and that appears to be one step closer to becoming a reality.