The Steelers will take a “wait-and-see” approach toward a contract extension for Rashard Mendenhall (ACL surgery). Team president Art Rooney II suggested that Mendenhall is still viewed as an offensive nucleus player, but the Steelers have time to evaluate him while returning from reconstructive knee surgery in 2012. Mendenhall, still just 24 years old, is a free agent after next [...]

The Steelers are expected to tender restricted free agent Mike Wallace at the first-round level if the sides can’t agree to a long-term contract before free agency begins on March 13. If another team tried signing Wallace to an offer sheet after he was tendered at the first-round level, the Steelers would receive a first-round pick in return. (As good [...]

Dick LeBeau will return as defensive coordinator for the Steelers in 2012, sources told me today. Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he wanted both of his coordinators back and LeBeau has told him he wants to return. LeBeau has been the Steelers defensive coordinator since 2004 in his second coaching stint with the Steelers. LeBeau was part of Bill [...]

 Wide receiver Hines Ward said he is willing to take a pay cut if that means he can remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I’d probably have to restructure my contract,” Ward told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That’s fine with me. I recognize that. I’m telling you I want to be here, I’m telling you I’m willing to do that. And I [...]