How much cap space did the Pittsburgh Steelers save with Troy Polamalu's retirement?
By Jacob Klinger | jklinger@pennlive.com
The Patriot-News
April 10, 2015
As much as Troy Polamalu's retirement means the end of one of the all-time great Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL careers, it also means the team will save several million dollars.
Both in salary cap space and in terms of base salary, the 12-year veteran's retirement frees the Steelers up financially. It's just a matter of when.
If the team and Polamalu submit his retirement papers before June 1 then Pittsburgh will save $3.75 million in cap space this season.
$6M (base salary) + $2.25M (signing bonus) - $4.5M (dead cap value) = $3.75M
Should the Steelers and Polamalu process his retirement after June 1 then the team would save more under the cap this season, $6 million for Polamalu's base salary, but be charged $2.5 million in dead cap space for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Before Polamalu's retirement, the Steelers were $6,657,149 under the salary cap, according to Spotrac.com. If the Steelers go with the first option, they'll be $10,407,149 under the cap. The second option puts them $12,657,149 under the cap.
Polamalu was tied for third on the team with Antonio Brown in highest base salary set to be earned this season. He also would earn the team's third-highest prorated signing bonus this season, with $2,250,000 going to the eight-time Pro Bowler.
This post was edited on 4/10 8:39 AM by Sullivan
Troy
By Jacob Klinger | jklinger@pennlive.com
The Patriot-News
April 10, 2015
As much as Troy Polamalu's retirement means the end of one of the all-time great Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL careers, it also means the team will save several million dollars.
Both in salary cap space and in terms of base salary, the 12-year veteran's retirement frees the Steelers up financially. It's just a matter of when.
If the team and Polamalu submit his retirement papers before June 1 then Pittsburgh will save $3.75 million in cap space this season.
$6M (base salary) + $2.25M (signing bonus) - $4.5M (dead cap value) = $3.75M
Should the Steelers and Polamalu process his retirement after June 1 then the team would save more under the cap this season, $6 million for Polamalu's base salary, but be charged $2.5 million in dead cap space for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Before Polamalu's retirement, the Steelers were $6,657,149 under the salary cap, according to Spotrac.com. If the Steelers go with the first option, they'll be $10,407,149 under the cap. The second option puts them $12,657,149 under the cap.
Polamalu was tied for third on the team with Antonio Brown in highest base salary set to be earned this season. He also would earn the team's third-highest prorated signing bonus this season, with $2,250,000 going to the eight-time Pro Bowler.
This post was edited on 4/10 8:39 AM by Sullivan
Troy
