By Alan Robinson
Published: Monday, March 10, 2014, 2:36 p.m.
Updated 30 minutes ago
LaMarr Woodley is about to become one of the most expensive ex-Steelers in team history.
The Steelers will release the former Pro Bowl outside linebacker -- one who is coming off three consecutive injury-interrupted seasons -- on June 1, a move that will allow them to defer part of Woodley's dead money salary cap hit until 2015.
Woodley was apparently told Monday of the decision, which was confirmed by his representatives.
After Woodley spent most of the second half of the 2013 season injured and unable to play, and former backup Jason Worilds had a breakthrough half-season, the Steelers designated Worilds last week as their transition player. The move guarantees him $9.754 million this season, unless he signs a multi-year contract that both sides want.
The Woodley decision also means that 2013 first-round pick Jarvis Jones, who will be tutored by new assistant Joey Porter, is all but certain to start in 2014.
The Steelers will not have to pay the remaining $25.5 million in salary on the $61.5 million, six-year contract that Woodley signed three years ago. His salary cap hit of $13.59 million in 2014 will be reduced to $5.6 million, but he will count an additional $8.5 million against their 2015 cap.
Woodley's $14.1 million in dead money -- which counts against the cap whether he is on the team or not -- increased by about $10 million as Woodley restructured his contract the last two seasons.
Woodley and James Harrison, the star outside linebackers on the Steelers' 2008 and 2010 Super Bowl; team, now have left the team in less than a year. Harrison was cut last season after the Steelers could not rework his contract and he signed with the division rival Bengals. Not unexpected. Part of the problem with these big contracts. If the team doesn't get the return, little choice but to cut the player loose. Otherwise you'r just moving money around in the shell game. As it is, the Steelers have to eat $14 mil against the cap. Money that could be spent much more productively.
I'm very happy they had the guts to cut him
