Troy Polamalu’s contract runs through the 2014 season, when
he is scheduled to make $8.25 million.
“I’ll
honor my contract with the Steelers,” Polamalu told ESPN.com on
Friday. “That’s what I hope to do, but we’ll see how everything
bears out after this game.”
The Steelers could
ask the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year to take a pay cut
because of their salary-cap situation and Polamalu’s advancing age.
They did that with outside linebacker James Harrison last year and
released him when the two sides couldn’t agree on a new deal.
Polamalu turns 33 in April, and his desire to continue playing
beyond 2013 may stem from how healthy he has stayed this season. He
has not missed a game even though he has played a significant
number of snaps at inside linebacker and remains a collision
waiting to happen on the field. The 5-foot-10, 207-pounder missed
nine games last season because of a recurring calf injury, but
claims he feels great this year.
“I feel great,”
Polamalu said. “I honestly feel better than I did at the end of
last year even with the games that I missed.”
Will Polamalu be in his Steeler uniform for the last time? The
Steelers should try to trade him, since he has been healthy. Shoot,
if he can get a draft pick, the Steelers should move him.
