I thought that I posted about this on Thursday, but apparently the server gremlin ate the story.
By the sound of things, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds won’t be the next player to have his contract extended. In fact, it’s looking more and more like the former second-round draft pick will play out the 2014 season under the transition tag.
According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers made a multi-year contract offer to Worilds earlier in the offseason and he turned it down. Bouchette doesn’t know the exact parameters of that offer, but he does say it’s a take it or leave it deal that’s still on the table.
This report makes sense and I wouldn’t doubt that the offer made to Worilds has a yearly average well below $9.7 million, which is the amount he will make in 2014 after signing the transition tag back in March. In addition, the guaranteed money is probably not to Worilds’ liking.
As of today, there are 85 days left for the two sides to get an extension worked out, but it sounds like the Steelers won’t be budging. With $9.7 million going in his bank account this season, Worilds will probably be best served to bet on himself this season. If he has a great 2014, he will likely be tagged again. If he doesn’t, he’s still young enough that another team would likely be willing to give him a deal.
Worilds missed all but one of the OTA practices with a calf injury.
