The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran kicker Shaun Suisham on Friday with the “Failed Physical” designation and because that was a significant transaction, I will now pass along what the team’s salary cap picture looks like pending an injury protection benefit payout.
First, let’s have a look at what the CBA has to say about that benefit Suisham will likely be eligible to claim:
ARTICLE 45
Section 1. Qualification: A player qualifying under the following criteria will receive an Injury Protection benefit in accordance with Section 2 below:
(a) The player must have been physically unable, because of a severe football injury in an NFL game or practice, to participate in all or part of his Club’s last game of the season of injury, as certified by the Club physician following a physical examination after the last game; or the player must have undergone Club-authorized surgery in the off-season following the season of injury; and
(b) The player must have undergone whatever reasonable and customary rehabilitation treatment his Club required of him during the off-season following the season of injury; and
(c) The player must have failed the preseason physical examination given by the Club physician for the season following the season of injury because of such injury and as a result his Club must have terminated his contract for the season following the season of injury.