Steelers have a busy March ahead, starting with cap situation

PITTSBURGH — The old adage says March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb.

The lion is going to be roaring pretty steadily at the UMPC-Rooney Sports Complex. The new league year begins March 17, meaning the clock is ticking for the Steelers to get their affairs in order before the 2021 salary cap kicks in.

What that cap will be, however, remains to be seen. The Sports Business Journal reports that the NFL’s new TV deals are all but completed and could be announced as soon as this week.

That’s good news for teams such as the Steelers who are over the cap going into this period thanks to the pandemic. While the cap won’t be going up from its $198.2-million level this season, with the TV deals in place, it also won’t be dropping to the $180-million floor announced a couple of weeks ago.

The Steelers currently have $197.2 million in salary cap expenditures, meaning they still have a little bit of work remaining to get under the 2021 cap, but it should be much easier if the cap comes in at, say, $185 to $190 million.

First up will be the tinkering the team needs to do with Ben Roethlisberger’s contract. That has to be done by March 17 and on its own should put the team under the cap. Things should heat up on that front rather quickly, as the Steelers need to lower the quarterback’s $41.25-million cap hit.

Even a simple extension that converts his $4 million 2021 salary and a $15-million roster bonus he is due March 19 would save the Steelers as much as $14 million against the cap.

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