Jason Worilds Rejects Pittsburgh Steelers Long-Term Offer

After quickly signing his transition tag this spring, many have wanted to know why the Pittsburgh Steelers and outside linebacker Jason Worilds have not made any progress on reaching a long-term deal.

We now likely have that answer.

Worilds reportedly rejected a long-term offer from the Steelers “a while ago,” Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported last week.

While Bouchette did not get into the specifics of the contract offer, he did note that the Steelers won’t go any higher.

The two sides have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal, meaning if the Steelers hold their stance, Worilds will either have to accept what the Steelers are offering or play out the season under the $9.754 million transition tag.

Worilds is unlikely to accept anything other than a large deal.

Even though he expressed his desire to remain in Pittsburgh, telling the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: “You put so much time and effort in with these guys, so you want to be here for the duration of your career,” he’s not going to do so without cashing in.

Signing the transition tag was a calculated gamble by Worilds. If he has another big year, he is going to cash. Unfortunately he will likely do so somewhere other than Pittsburgh.

Worilds is coming off a season in which he combined for 63 tackles with eight sacks as he emerged as a legitimate NFL pass rusher.

All along he seemed out of the Steelers price range and if the Steelers remain at the dollar figure, the 2014 season could be the last one we see No. 93 in black and gold.