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Steelers Notebook: Woodley talks are under way
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Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley.
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Negotiations on a new contract for LaMarr Woodley began Monday, but the linebacker says they're not close to getting a deal done.
"Nowhere right now," Woodley said, describing the state of a possible new contract.
Although the new NFL calendar year may not begin Thursday as planned (and teams do not have to be under the salary cap until it begins), the Steelers do not need to sign Woodley to a new deal to be under the cap, sources told the Post-Gazette.
Woodley counts slightly more than $10 million against the cap because his salary for 2011 stipulates him as their franchise player. They can reduce that number drastically by doing a long-term deal and spreading the signing bonus over its length for salary-cap purposes.
"We just have to get the number right," Woodley said. "At the end of the day, you have to make sure the number's right and, when the number's right, hopefully that's when I'll be done."
The long lockout has affected the Steelers in the pocketbook at training camp because so few fans are turning out.
Attendance has been down at Saint Vincent College the first week of camp, likely because the lockout did not allow many fans to plan travel arrangements to visit Latrobe.
The Steelers sell a lot of merchandise at training camp from the big white tent near the Saint Vincent College entrance. On good days, when fans pack the practices, they will sell about $50,000 in merchandise, and, even on slow days, they do a good business. That is way down this summer.
James Harrison, who has complained recently about his back, walked off the practice field with his surgeon, Joe Maroon, Wednesday afternoon. Uh-oh? No, coach Mike Tomlin said he gave Harrison and Troy Polamalu the day off.
Others had the day off because of injuries, including linebacker Erik Clanton (thigh), cornerbacks Cortez Allen (hamstring), Crezdon Butler (hamstring), and Bryant McFadden (hamstring), offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (foot). Cornerback Keenan Lewis returned after missing two practices because of a heat-related condition.
Tomlin conducted another 2 1/2 hour practice in a light mist/rain. ... The Steelers will practice again at 2:55 p.m. today, and it will be open to the public. ... Their next off day is Sunday.
First Published August 4, 2011 12:00 am
