The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they had placed a transition tag on outside linebacker Jason Worilds. The move guarantees Worilds will earn $9.754 million in 2014 and allows the Steelers seven days to match any offer sheet another team offers the 26-year-old Worilds. The move also virtually assures that the LaMarr Woodley era in Steeltown is over.
Woodley’s production and health has declined ever since he signed a 6-year $61.5 million contract in 2011. Worilds, on the other hand, had his best season in 2013 with eight sacks and 63 tackles. Unfortunately, it may have turned out that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was playing Worilds on the wrong side the first few years of his career. Worilds had his best statistical games once Worilds switched to play the injured Woodley’s left outside linebacker opposite rookie Jarvis Jones.
Woodley is scheduled to count $13.59 million against the Steelers cap this year if they keep him. If cut before June 1st, Woodley would count $14.17 million against the cap in 2014 and be wiped off the books in 2015 and 2016. However, more likely, if Woodley was cut after June 1st, he would counts $5.59 million this year and $8.98 million in 2015.
It seems likely that Worilds is in the Steelers plans and that they will match any offer made to him by another team. First, the Steelers would receive no compensation if they elected not to match the offer sheet. Also, according to Profootballtalk’s Mike Florio, the so-called “poison pill” offers can no longer be done in the NFL. In 2011, the NFL changed the transition tag rule to require that the terms of an offer cannot operate differently for the current team than the new team.
If a team does make an offer to Worilds that the Steelers just cannot match, they are not any worse off than they would already have been. The Steelers simply keep Woodley and try to restructure his deal if possible.
However, in all likelihood, the Worilds era has begun and Woodley will be playing for another franchise in 2014.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @LASTWORDgcp. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Football writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Football fans…check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
