PITTSBURGH — After passing on the chance to give linebacker Jason Worilds the transition tag for the second year, the next big news to come from the Pittsburgh Steelers will involve safety Troy Polamalu.

Polamalu, one of the greatest players in team history, has two years left on his contract with a $6 million salary scheduled for 2015. He had a poor season in 2014 and at 34 it is time for the Steelers to move on, even if it is one year too late.

The Steelers were hoping Polamalu would retire before March 10, but that now does not seem likely. According to teammate Ike Taylor, Polamalu is working out with the intention of playing in 2015. He will not play in Pittsburgh at $6 million and there is only a small chance he will play at all again with them.

If the Steelers release Polamalu, they will create $3.75 million in salary-cap room for 2015. If they designate him as a June cut, they would create $6 million in room — but not until June — this year and he would count $2.25 million on their cap in 2016.

The Steelers have released other iconic players through the years, starting with L.C. Greenwood and Franco Harris through Hines Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith. They knew it was time for all of them and they know it with Polamalu.

If Polamalu retired, there is little chance they would try to get any of the $4.5 million signing bonus yet to be prorated, so there would be no risk to him if he decides to go that route.

His alternative might be to play in Tennessee, which hired Dick LeBeau as its defensive chief after the Steelers decided not to retain him in that capacity. Word is that LeBeau would like to bring in a few of his former players such as Polamalu, Taylor and defensive end Brett Keisel to help mold the Titans’ 3-4 defense to his liking.

Keisel has one year left on his contract at $1.5 million with the Steelers, but he too is likely to be released. His 2014 season ended Nov. 30 with a torn triceps. He turns 37 in September and has two starters in front of him, Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

Keisel, Taylor, Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison are the last Steelers defenders with two Super Bowl rings.