The Steelers have restructured the contract of linebacker Joey Porter and have decided to release cornerback Dewayne Washington and tight end Mark Bruener by March 3, making each move to create salary cap room for 2004.
Those three transactions will remove nearly $2 million from their salary cap, which should put them close to the NFL's $80.5 million team cap that goes into effect March 3.
They are not finished, either. Running back Jerome Bettis is considering an offer from the team to return under a steeply reduced salary. Still to come is a decision on whether to release running back Amos Zereoue by March 3 or to keep him on the books for a while longer to see if they can trade him. Linebacker Jason Gildon will be asked to take much less than his $3.65 million salary for 2004. The Steelers also may restructure the contract of defensive end Aaron Smith to give them even more cap room.
They will need the room to make offers to their restricted free agents and to try to sign their own unrestricted free agents or someone else's. Last week, they restructured tackle Marvel Smith's contract to create nearly $1.4 million in salary cap room for 2004.
As of Friday, the Steelers were $2.4 million over the new salary cap. That reflected the restructuring of Smith's contract but not Porter's new deal.
With the savings from restructuring Porter's contract ($1,661,250 this year) and those from releasing Washington and Bruener ($1,320,000), the moves will shave nearly $3 million from the accounting for their 2004 cap.
By the time they get done with Bettis, Zereoue, Gildon and possibly Smith, they should have more than enough room to sign some free agents and save enough for their rookie salary pool.
The Steelers are negotiating to sign linebacker Clark Haggans, who will become an unrestricted free agent by the middle of next week. They also would like to sign two other starters who will become unrestricted free agents, fullback Dan Kreider and safety Mike Logan. Haggans is the No. 1 backup at outside linebacker, and could become a starter depending on Gildon's status.
"I believe there's going to be quite a market for Mr. Haggans," said Haggans' agent, Jeff Sperbeck. "I'm not sure if we'll be able to get a deal done with Pittsburgh or not."
Haggans had 5 1/2 sacks in the first eight games of the 2002 season when he played the right rush end in the dime defense, but he was replaced in that position in 2003 and did not play as often. He is the only experienced outside linebacker after Gildon and Porter.
"We're continuing to talk," Sperbeck said. "I know he enjoys playing there, enjoys Pittsburgh. He wants to make sure that after four years, he wants to contribute and be on the field."
Sperbeck also represents Porter, and restructuring that deal was a win-win for both sides. It helps the team create salary cap room and while it gives Porter no more money, it gives it to him sooner in the form of a signing bonus. Porter was supposed to receive a salary of $2.75 million this season. Instead, he agreed to split that into a signing bonus of $2.215 million and a salary of $535,000. The savings under the cap come because the new bonus is prorated over the remaining four years of his contract.
Bettis has taken a few offers from the Steelers under advisement. They want him back for 2004, but under a steep pay cut. Bettis was scheduled to make $3,757,000 in salary and bonuses this year.
The Steelers have given up on Zereoue, who was promoted over Bettis to start the season but lost his job after six games. Zereoue was scheduled to earn $2.2 million this year and $2.3 million in 2005. So far, they have received no trade offers for him.
The combined saving this year for Washington and Bruener don't amount to much, but it eliminates any cap charges for the two beyond this season. By releasing them before June, the Steelers will absorb the remaining prorated portions of their signing bonuses and be done with it after this year. Bruener was signed through 2006 and Washington through 2005. The $1,320,000 savings for the two ultimately will be reduced because they will be replaced on the 53-man roster.
Each lost his job last season. Bruener, a starter since his rookie season in 1995, took a big salary cut last year (from $2 million to $800,000) and then found himself as the No. 3 tight end and did not dress for two of the first three games. He was scheduled to earn a $2.4 million salary this season.
Washington, who started every game since he signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent in 1998, was benched by coach Bill Cowher after eight games in favor of Deshea Townsend. Washington returned to start the final four games in place of injured Chad Scott. He was scheduled to earn $3.75 million in salary this season.
First Published: February 24, 2004, 5:00 a.m.
