Pittsburgh Steelers deny decision on Hines Ward as worries around expense above cap persist – NFL News
The Pittsburgh Steelers denied to have taken a decision on the future of their wide receiver, Hines Ward, in spite of their reiterated concerns about overspending on the players’ salaries.
Steelers’ general manager, Kevin Colbert, has spoken of earlier confirmed problems of his team in bringing down the players’ salaries expense, which at the moment is well above the cap.
He denied that the team’s management has made its final choice about the departure of any player including Hines Ward. He said that they will wait for free agency deadline of March 13, which will make a number of players to be free agent.
The GM again did not disclose the specific players’ names, who are likely to become the free agency after the deadline.
"What our team will be at training camp? I don't know what it will be," Colbert said.
Steelers soon after end of their 2011 National Football League (NFL) season run have hinted at their aims of slashing the players’ expense, which is about $22.5 above the cap of around $120 million.
They said that they will be looking to consolidate the players pay rosters without naming the potential players who are likely to have restructured their contracts.
Hines Ward on fears of going under the hammer reacted strongly, saying he wanted to play for the team even if he needed renegotiation of his deal terms with Steelers.
"I don't normally like to respond to rumours, but as I've said all along, I want to finish my career with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Ward had said.
Steelers’ management has refuted the player’s reports of making him redundant to save around $4 million annually.
Irrespective to the denial, the GM confirmed that there had been internal discussions around the issue of Hines Ward.
Ward, under the terms of his deal, has two more years left at the team with total payment of $8 million over the period. If he is let go at this point the team expects to save the amount in the stipulated period of his deal.
Reports of his possible exit from the Pittsburgh have emerged after the team released their cornerback, Bryant McFadden, a week earlier.
McFadden’s cut has helped them to fetch savings of $3.5 million a year. This apparently is not enough for the side to control its expense on the head of players’ salaries.
According to the GM, they will wait for the free agency deadline. He did not confirm the team’s desire of seeing as many players going free agency as possible, they are obviously waiting for it to happen.
The possibility of number of veterans, who are on rather expensive contracts, becoming free agent, will certainly help their cause indirectly.
If the team does not renew their deals before the deadline it is certain that they will become free agency.
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