Steelers Match One-Year, $2.5M Offer Sheet To WR Emmanuel Sanders

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will remain a restricted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the team matched the offer sheet he signed with the New England Patriots last week, the wide receiver's agent, Jordan Woy, announced on Twitter on Sunday.

Sanders signed the one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet with the Patriots on Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Albert Breer. The Steelers' initial, "original pick" tender offer to Sanders was for $1.3 million.

Sunday's offer comes after Roethlisberger lobbied coach Mike Tomlin and others within the Steelers' organization to keep Sanders in black and gold, CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported Friday. Mike Wallace - who left for the Miami Dolphins this offseason - and Sanders combined for 108 catches and 1,462 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Source: NFL.com

 

Cool. He needs to stay healthy, put in work, and get extended. He has potential to be better than Wallace and Brown.

 

Didn't have major feelings either way. I'm good with keeping him but was excited with the prospect of another third round pick.

If they don't extend him and he walks next year, it'll be a bad move IMO.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vll_BmQy2IM]Steelers Match Offer For Sanders - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ame=http://www.nfl.com/videos/pittsburgh-steelers/0ap2000000159760/Steelers-keep-Sanders]Pittsburgh Steelers keep wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders - NFL Videos[/ame]

 

might have played out differently if they hadn't have just let go of wallace but it would be hard to immediately replace 2 of your top receivers.

 

If they tendered him with a second round offer, they would have saved $500,000...

 

it was a small gamble, wouldnt really have thought anyone would have gone after him

 

I think it was a bigger gamble matching the Patriots offer. They'd been better off taking the third IMO. The Patriots basically laid the groundwork to go after Sanders next year with this "gesture." The Steelers won't tag him next year so he's definitely a free agent and his agent has already said he's going to test the market. New England knows this and the Steelers basically played right into their hand. He'll get his money next year and the Steelers will be out the Player and the pick.

 

yeah i wanted them to take the third but theres no doubt that this makes them better this year. I hope they plan on keeping him now that they blew the pick on him, its gonna suck seeing him beast this season and walk away for nothing

 

Apparently he already thinks he's worth a lot more money than what he's shown us on the field.

 

And that's what I am afraid will happen...