Lawrence Timmons Contract: Latest News, Rumors on LB's Talks with Steelers

Timothy RappJul 28, 2016

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons and the team continue to discuss a new deal ahead of the final year of the player's contract.

Continue for updates.

Timmons Comments on Future in Pittsburgh

Tuesday, Aug. 2

“I’ve been playing here forever,” Timmons said, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’ve only been with one franchise. I want to keep it that way. I’m all for it.”

Timmons, Steelers Reportedly Not Close to New Deal

Thursday, July 28

The Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker Lawrence Timmons are reportedly “not close” to agreeing on a long-term contract extension, sources revealed to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday.

Timmons' Age May Make him Expendable for Steelers

Timmons has a $15.1 million cap hit in 2016 due to the restructuring of his contract in 2012, 2013 and 2015, per Kaboly, but the Steelers are under the cap and don't necessarily need to extend his contract to lessen his cap blow.

The opportunity for the sides to come to some agreement on a contract extension for the 30-year-old is growing shorter. As Kaboly noted, "The Steelers have had a long-standing rule of not negotiating contracts in season," meaning if Timmons isn't signed by Sept. 12, he'll likely become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

Timmons doesn't seem inclined to leave Pittsburgh, however.

“We’ve been joking around with each other for 10 years,” Timmons said of a recent interaction with head coach Mike Tomlin, when the coach playfully reminded him to remain in shape, per Mike Prisuta of the Steelers' official website. “He’s just making sure I stay in the same shape, the way I’m in shape right now. I’m willing to do whatever just to be a part of this team and keep doing what I’m doing here.”

Timmons' level of play certainly hasn't dipped. He finished the 2015 season with a team-leading 119 tackles, adding five sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He's missed just two games in his career, and he has now started 85 straight games.

There are indications the Steelers no longer see him as an every-down player, however. As Kaboly wrote: "Last year, he played in every snap until Week 13 against the Bengals when he was replaced in some passing situations by safety Robert Golden. Over the final four games, Timmons played in only 83 percent of the Steelers' snaps, which didn't sit particularly well with him."

Timmons said as much.

“That doesn’t sit well with me, but it’s the best for our team so I’m all about doing that,” he told Prisuta.

That attitude, combined with his excellent play on the field, suggests Timmons is still a valuable player for Pittsburgh. At the moment, however, Timmons and the Steelers cannot seem to agree on just how much that value is actually worth.

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