The situation may continue to be "jacked up", but nonetheless, Steeler LB LaMarr Woodley will show up on time for this year's training camp and will not hold out, according to ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker.
The Steelers' decision not to discuss an extension with Woodley is a major roll of the dice, as the 25-year-old Super Bowl champion could be in line for a monster payday in the offseason. Walker specifically cites the recent extension of Denver's Elvis Dumervil ($61.5 million over six years) as the kind of deal that Woodley could eventually be expecting to receive.
One wonders how the recent drafting of LBs Jason Worilds and Thad Gibson will factor into the Steelers' long-range plans at the position. But keep in mind that in Woodley's situation, there's also the possibility of the franchise tag for 2011, although that remains up in the air until the new CBA is worked out.
Woodley will make $550,000 this season in the last year of his rookie year deal, which is an unbelievable bargain for a guy who's racked up 25 sacks over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, this is a conflict between player and team that looks like it won't be resolved for quite a while, if ever.
One wonders how the recent drafting of LBs Jason Worilds and Thad Gibson will factor into the Steelers' long-range plans at the position. But keep in mind that in Woodley's situation, there's also the possibility of the franchise tag for 2011, although that remains up in the air until the new CBA is worked out.
Woodley will make $550,000 this season in the last year of his rookie year deal, which is an unbelievable bargain for a guy who's racked up 25 sacks over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, this is a conflict between player and team that looks like it won't be resolved for quite a while, if ever.
4 comments:
Cracks me up that these players are pissed off about a contract that THEY signed themselves! Steelers will do the right thing...
A situation like this ultimately benefits both player and the team. If Woodley wants to get Dumervil money, then he'll have to have another great season and the Steelers will reap the benefits on game day and in the W-L column. I only have a problem if he has another great season and they throw the franchise tag on him. I think at that point, a player needs to get paid what he deserves and if the Steelers can't afford it, they should let him look elsewhere. Franchise tags are B.S.
I also think any player that holds out and doesn't fulfil his end of the contract should be sued, just like if I signed a contract with a company or individual for my services and balked 2/3 of the way into it because I screwed up and didn't ask for more up front. That's ultimately my problem, not my employer's.
Remember when Woodley was fined by the King Hypocrite for sacking Jason Campbell too hard.........
People need to realize that these "contracts" aren't like contracts that you or i might sign. The team can just decide to tear it up at any time. And that happens fairly (read: very) often. That's why players hold out & 'whine' about guaranteed money in signing bonuses.
I don't think anyone will argue that Woodley hasn't outplayed his current compensation level. If the steelers want to see what the new CBA is going to look like before extending any monster deals, then i'm ok with that. But that should have been clearly communicated to Mr. Woodley. "Hey, we don't know what this CBA is gonna look like, but we'll catch you up next year"
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