The Steelers will take a “wait-and-see” approach toward a contract extension for Rashard Mendenhall (ACL surgery).

Steelers president Art Rooney II confirmed that a long-term contract for Mike Wallace will be a top priority this season.

Wallace’s free agency is restricted, which means he’s a lock to play in Pittsburgh next season regardless. The Steelers often lock up young nucleus players before they reach unrestricted free agency. One of the NFL’s elite deep threats, Wallace has finished as a top-10 fantasy receiver in each of the past two seasons.

 

 Steelers president Art Rooney II was noncommittal Tuesday when asked about the future of Hines Ward.

Rooney called Ward an “all-time” Steelers great and “hopefully” a Hall of Famer, and will continue to talk to him about his future with the organization. Rooney noted that his team is $25 million over the salary cap. “There will be some tough decisions,” acknowledged Rooney.

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 as Wallace is, few teams would be willing.) Wallace is almost certain to be back with Pittsburgh in 2012. In a perfect world, the Steelers would lock up the 25-year-old for the next four to five seasons.

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 Cowher’s original staff in 1992 and as secondary coach helped install a defense they still run today. He was promoted to coordinator in 1995 and then left to become assistant head coach in Cincinnati in 1997, eventually becoming the Bengals head coach from 200 to 2002. He was assistant head coach in Buffalo in 2003 before returning to the Steelers.

LeBeau’s defense finished first in the NFL this season in both points and total defense.

“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 understand the ramifications — we have the cap number and stuff, but I want to be here.”

Ward’s preference is to play for the Steelers next season. But, if the Steelers don’t want him back, he is prepared to play elsewhere.

“I do want to play. I still think I can play,” Ward, who will turn 36 in March, told the newspaper. “I’m not even thinking like that — what if. If that scenario happens, I’ll be devastated, but I do want to play football.”

Ward already had shot down rumors that he was hanging it up following a season in which he had just 46 catches, though he did collect the 1,000th reception of his career in the regular season finale.

He’s become a mentor as he’s aged, and he may have been too good for his own good. The maturation of Mike Wallace and the ascension of second-year receiver Antonio Brown — who set a team record for all-purpose yards — into one of the league’s top young wideouts dropped Ward to fourth or fifth on the depth chart.

“We all know the direction in which we’re going with the receiving corps,” Emmanuel Sanders said. “But, like I said, Hines is still a great addition, just the knowledge he brings to the room. You can’t pay for that. You can’t coach that. He just brings that well-being of how to be a pro into the room.”

“I was out there practicing again today,” Woodley said. “I felt pretty good.”

Woodley has missed the past three games over four weekends with a hamstring injury. Nevertheless, he’s still tied for second in the AFC with nine sacks, just 1.5 behind leader Von Miller, a rookie with the Denver Broncos.

Troy Polamalu, who Mike Tomlin said has no symptoms from a possible concussion Sunday, did not practice today.