Good morning,

Some stuff before we turn things over to Ask Ed, of which the mailbag is overflowing, so we will continue with your questions Thursday as well:

--- Quarterback Tajh Boyd talks about his opportunity with the Steelers.

--- Mike Wallace says he cannot believe Maurkice Pouncey called him a coward.

--- And now, Ask Ed:

--- YOU: Ed, I have read a factor in Suh going to Miami was the benefit that Florida has no state income tax. Have you ever heard in league circles discussion that this creates an uneven position for Florida teams? In effect they have a higher salary cap based on money a player actually pockets?

ED: If indeed they get some benefit, the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not taken advantage of it. Some players do consider that. Former Steelers tackle John Jackson once told me he made his official home in Florida for tax reasons. In Pennsylvania, the state income tax is 3.07 percent. A player who earns, say, $5 million annually would have to pay $153,500 to the state. That amount also is a deduction on his federal income tax. I would think that most players would not allow a relatively small amount of money get in the way of making good career choices.

--- YOU: From the way Cameron Heyward speaks about Brett Keisel, it sounds like he (Heyward) is truly of the Steelers leader mold and understands the need to pay it forward. Is this your assessment as well? Who else, if anyone, is emerging as an old school Steelers leader?

ED: Heyward has definitely taken that role and seems to enjoy it. It would surprise me not at all if he were elected a captain this year. Mike Mitchell, who has remained in Pittsburgh and works out at the team facility, has a chance to step into a leadership role as well in his second season with the team. Once he gets established, Stephon Tuitt also has that kind of personality.

--- YOU: Ed, the Steelers have frequently restructured contracts to create near term cap room. Can they (or any team) do the opposite if they were to find themselves with extra cap space now and want to free up space for down the road? e.g. could they undo Poncey's restructure if they didn't need they extra money this year?

ED: No, you cannot “undo” the restructures, but it really does not matter because under the CBA signed in 2011 teams can carry any cap room from one season over to another. Previously, they had to use that cap space in the same year or lose it, which is why some teams signed players late in the season. This year, the Steelers had an extra $778,469 added to their salary cap that was left over from 2014, boosting their cap from the league-wide, per team cap of $143,280,000 to over $144 million. However, that was some of the lowest carryover of any teams. Jacksonville, for example had a carryover of nearly $22 million and Cleveland nearly $19 million. If the Steelers, say, end the 2015 season with $5 million unused cap space and next year’s cap rises to $150 million, their cap would be $155 million.

--- YOU: From what I've read here on the PPG, it sounds like coach Butler isn't going to simplify the defensive scheme all that much. Can you shed any light on changes he might implement to get some of the young guys/rookies involved in the D at a quicker pace than Coach LeBeau?

ED: It’s a little bit of a myth that Dick LeBeau did not want to play young players. One reason he did not play them is they had such good veterans in front of them. Cam Heyward and Jason Worilds are good examples because of the defensive ends and linebackers in front of them that blocked them from getting much playing time. I do not know yet what Keith Butler’s plans are for his defense, but I don’t think you will see any wholesale changes.

--- YOU: hi ed can u please settle this for me and some friends , who do you think a better coach ,bill cower or mike tomlin.

ED: In their own ways, they are/were both good coaches with different styles. I really don’t have an opinion on who might have been better.

--- YOU: Hello Ed, Glad to hear Big Ben will finish his career in Pittsburgh. When do you believe it is time to draft Ben's replacement?

ED: I’m always leery about saying or writing that a player will “finish his career” with so and so because it happens sometimes they do not even when they sign long-term contracts. Troy Polamalu could be one if he wants to keep playing yet when he signed his contract last year, it was hailed as one that would let him finish his career in Pittsburgh. I would say in two years you might start looking to draft someone who could fill that role but that would depend on the talent available and if you think he can wait a few more years as a backup.

--- YOU: How does the cap work with regards to incentives? Peyton Manning cleared $4m cap space for Denver by reducing his salary from $19m to $15m. Yet, if they win the Super Bowl, he will end up earning the original $19m. Does it count against the following year's cap? If it doesn't count against a future cap, why wouldn't teams use that as a way to work the salary cap?

ED: The CBA has two categories for incentives to count against the cap. There are likely and unlikely incentives. If they are likely they count against the cap in the same year. For example, if you give Roethlisberger in his new contract a $200,000 incentive if he passes for 4,000 yards, that would count right away because he did that last year. However, if you give him $200,000 for 5,000 yards it would not count this year because he has not done that. However, if he does reach that unlikely incentive in 2015 then that $200,000 you gave him would count against your 2016 cap. Since winning the Super Bowl would be regarded as an unlikely incentive, that $4 million won’t count against Denver this year. If they win it, it will count against them in 2016.

First Published: April 6, 2016, 4:09 p.m.