The Pittsburgh Steelers are faced with some tough decisions this offseason regarding some of their veteran players who have played a pivotal role in their success over the course of the last decade-plus.
Perhaps none of the decisions will be as big as what to do with safety Troy Polamalu.
According to several reports, the future Hall of Famer won’t be returning to the Steelers for a 13th season.
Whispers around the team indicate that the Steelers hope Polamalu elects to retire so the team won’t have to cut him.
Polamalu turns 34 next month and his play was as bad as it ever was last season and all signs point to the fact that he isn’t in the Steelers plans for 2015.
The big question is how will his exit play out?
All parties involved want to see Polamalu retire as a Steeler and not put on another uniform even for a season.
That’s the simple solution, but there are also reports out there, including a quote from former teammate Ike Taylor that indicated that Polamalu is training as if he plans on playing in 2015.
“Troy’s training. Troy’s got his own thing going; he’s going to be ready,” said Taylor.
Polamalu is set to count $6 million against the cap this season and the Steelers would save $3.6 million on their 2015 salary cap if Polamalu is released.
Needless to say the Steelers are wise not to keep an aging veteran on the roster that clearly has a declining skill set.
The interesting part will be whether Polamalu will don a different jersey, perhaps joining former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in Tennessee.
If that ends up happening it will without a doubt be a very strange sight.
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