The Pittsburgh Steelers and safety Troy Polamalu may be splitting up after 12 seasons together. According to multiple reports, the Steekers will likely release the 34-year-old veteran before the season starts if he doesn't retire before then.
Signs are suggesting Polamalu will no longer be in Pittsburgh this season. The first came from Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who said, "everything I hear is they are planning to play 2015 without Troy Polamalu."
The next came from Jeff Hartman of BehindTheSteelCurtain.com
"Everyone in the Pittsburgh Steelers' front office, from president Art Rooney II to GM Kevin Colbert have been mum on the Polamalu situation for weeks. Head coach Mike Tomlin echoed those sentiments at the annual owners' meeting last week," Hartman wrote Tuesday. "Essentially, the organization is doing a couple things. First, putting the ball in Polamalu's court, and second, protecting themselves from a publicity nightmare which they've already experienced. ...
"It is likely the team has informed Polamalu his services will not be required in 2015. The only options still available for the veteran safety is whether to retire, or to try and find work elsewhere, and unlike with Ward's departure, the team seems committed to waiting out the All Pro safety."
SteelersDepot.com also reported Polamalu is expected to be released if he chooses not to retire before the season.
While it's possible Polamalu could agree to a pay cut, none of the aforementioned reports indicate that's likely to happen.
Polamalu has a base salary of $6 million this season, but his contract comes with an $8.2 million cap hit. If the Steelers do release Polamalu, they'll have a few options: re-sign free agent Will Allen, lean on safety Shamarko Thomas, draft a safety with their No. 22 pick or shuffle around their free safeties, Robert Golden or Mike Mitchell.
