Economics key to Woodley's fate

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Should the Steelers keep LaMarr Woodley or let him go and re-sign Jason Worilds?

General manager Kevin Colbert said they could keep both, but he said it with little conviction and, for many reasons, it just is not conceivable that both Woodley and Worilds will be on the team in 2014.

Forget the finances, who do you start? Worilds is not returning for backup money and you cannot pay him starter money and not start him. They did not draft Jarvis Jones in the first round last year to be a backup in his second season.

So, one must stay and one most go (unless somehow they cannot sign Worilds and release Woodley, which would leave them with only one proven starter, Jones, and he hasn't proven himself yet).

The debate, though, has turned into one of people throwing their hands in the air and declaring that Woodley would cost too much to release. That simply is not the case, as we've pointed out many times; he would cost much, much less.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/02/16/On-the-Steelers-Analysis-Economics-key-to-Woodley-s-fate/stories/201402160057#ixzz2tVpCvBvy

I believe the Steelers could keep both, but that's almost, notice I said ALMOST, unrealistic.

Woodley has been paramount in the Steelers defense over the years but a recent string of injuries the last few years shows he is expendable, especially with the way Worilds proved himself during the 2013 season.

I like Woodley, he is my 2nd favorite Steeler behind Polamalu. But that doesn't mean I'll see him in the black and gold next season. Matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see him go somewhere else and try to extend is injury plagued career. If he is here in 2014, I expect his role to diminsh and Worilds to takeover.

Even if it was financially possible to keep both, I don't see it happening. Worilds has stated that the only way he'll re-sign is if he starts. That's understandable considering how long he's waited and the kind of year he had last season. So if Worilds starts, why would we pay Woodley the kind of money he's making to ride the bench when we have so many other needs? I just don't see it.

I think we try to re-sign Worilds and part ways with Woodley. If we can't re-sign Worilds, then we go with Woodley and OLB becomes a higher draft priority.

Wallace108 wrote:

Even if it was financially possible to keep both, I don't see it happening. Worilds has stated that the only way he'll re-sign is if he starts. That's understandable considering how long he's waited and the kind of year he had last season. So if Worilds starts, why would we pay Woodley the kind of money he's making to ride the bench when we have so many other needs? I just don't see it.

I think we try to re-sign Worilds and part ways with Woodley. If we can't re-sign Worilds, then we go with Woodley and OLB becomes a higher draft priority.

WHAT HE SAID  

I just don't know if Woodley can make it through a full season anymore so why pay him big bucks. I think Worilds is the smart choice. For what it's worth.