Oct 28, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates a first down against the Washington Redskins during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown for their week eleven match up against the Baltimore Ravens. While there is no timetable for Roethlisberger’s return, it is being reported that Brown is targeting a week 13 return which would bring him back to the Pittsburgh line up in time for their second AFC North showdown against Baltimore.

A source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that Brown, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, could return for the week 13 match up.

Brown initially suffered the injury against the New York Giants in week 9. Typical recovery time for a high ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks, so a week 13 return fits right into the projected timeline.

September 23, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) points to the crowd before the start of the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed wide receiver Antonio Brown to a big five-year contract extension this offseason but the team will be without the speedster for a couple of games, according to a league source. Per Pro Football Talk:

After Sunday’s win over the Giants, Brown said he has a high ankle sprain, but that he’ll be fine.  (Rarely is any player with a high ankle sprain ever “fine.”)  We later reported that it’s not a high ankle sprain, and that in the hours after the game it wasn’t regarded as severe.

Per the source, it’s worse than believed.  Beyond Monday night’s game, the Steelers face the Ravens, the Browns, and then the Ravens again.

In Brown’s absence, Emmanuel Sanders will get the start. On the season, Sanders has 24 catches for 302 yards including one to paydirt.

Image by Peter Diana/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and Antonio Brown — who recently signed a five-year extension — got into a fight Sunday afternoon during training camp. It was the second time this preseason that Brown and Taylor have been involved in a scuffle together.

The Brown and Taylor fight started when the two were wrestling for a pass in the endzone. Brown was thrown to the ground and then immediately got up and threw a punch at Taylor. It didn’t stop there. Taylor then went after Brown at midfield when the practice was over. Multiple players tried to break it up and Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert even had to get try breaking it apart.

Taylor and Brown were joined by safety Ryan Clark and receiver Jerricho Cotchery with Colbert and receivers coach Scotty Montgomery after the practice. Taylor and Brown eventually left the field together while Taylor held an ice pack to his forehead.

Neither player spoke to the media after practice but head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the incident saying ”We’re competitors … those things happen.

“These guys understand what we’re working for, and when we step into stadiums, we’re together. When you fight your brother, sometimes, it gets a little heated … the guys understand what that’s about, and they’ll leave it on the grass where it should be.”

Fights in preseason are usually no big deal but this could be a situation to watch. Taylor and Brown now have a history with each other and it could lead to a potential “blame game” in the locker room if the team struggles early in the season. For now it is a non-issue but it could lead to chemistry issues down the road.

Jan 27, 2012; Ko Olina, HI, USA; AFC wide receiver Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers (17) and Antonio Brown (84) during practice at AFC media day for the 2012 Pro Bowl at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Wallace has been absent from Steelers camp and offseason workouts while Brown has been working hard to improve on his game. That hard work was rewarded in typical Steelers fashion. The franchise always takes care of those who work hard for the franchise.

With the extension, Brown’s cap number for 2012 goes up from just over $560,000 to $2.24 million. So for those wondering, yes, the Steelers still have room to sign Wallace.

But will they?

Wallace has taken a hard stance and stayed away from camp. The team was close to reaching a long-term deal with Wallace prior to camp but the talks were off as soon as Wallace didn’t show. He failed to take advantage of an opportunity to get the money he wanted. Big mistake on his part.

Since Wallace didn’t want to show up and negotiate, the Steelers gave Brown the money.

It was a big message to Wallace. A message that was echoed by head coach Mike Tomlin earlier in the week when he publicly told Mike Wallace this is bigger than him.

The relationship between Wallace an the Steelers was already starting to fall apart and the recent news can not make Wallace happy.

While Brown now has a new deal and will not become a restricted free agent next offseason, what does that mean for Mike Wallace?

It means that if he doesn’t get to camp soon, he will either become increasingly frustrated with the Steelers or he will be traded.

For the Steelers, the best thing to do would be to force Wallace to make a move. See if he is willing to miss regular season games and allow Brown to work at the “X” receiver in Todd Haley’s new offense, which is the position Wallace would have occupied. If Wallace is dead set on sitting out for a new contract, the Steelers would let him do so until next season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Otherwise, he can sign his one-year tender and play.

Then when next season rolls around the Steelers can re-open contract talks with Wallace and place the franchise tag on him. That would secure that one of the league’s biggest deep threat would be on their roster for one more season.

Finally, the team has one last option — trade the disgruntled wideout.

If the Steelers could find a potential suitor for Wallace, they could get significant compensation in return for his services without ever having to pay him the big money. It would be a win-win for Pittsbugh.

The team doesn’t need Wallace. They locked up their best all-around wide receiver in Antonio Brown for the next five years and they have an emerging star in Emmanuel Sanders. If Wallace wants to play hard ball and hold out for his money that will not come if he stays away, so be it. If he has a change of heart and wants to stay with what could be one of the best receiving corps in the NFL, he will report to camp.

Only Wallace knows what his next move will be but the Steelers don’t seem too worried. They will not change the Steeler way for one player and for that you have to respect the franchise.

July 26, 2012: Latrobe, PA, USA: Steelers receiver Antonio Brown (84) leaps for a catch during training camp at St. Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Pugliese-US PRESSWIRE

While the Pittsburgh Steelers have cut off contract talks with Mike Wallace who has not show up for training camp, they have agreed to reward the team’s other top wideout for showing up. The Steelers announced they have agreed to extend receiver Antonio Brown for five-years.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/steelers/status/228980336070107136"]

It is a five-year, $42 million deal — the same amount of money that was rumored to be sent Wallace’s way with a long-term contract. If the Steelers had not agreed to an extension with Brown, they would have faced a similar situation as they face this offseason with Wallace.

Brown is arguably the team’s most well-rounded wide receiver, so locking him up for the long-term was a good move. It now puts more pressure on Mike Wallace to return to camp and re-open contract talks. Until he gets in camp, there will be no discussions. If he never shows up, Brown will take over his “X” receiver role in Todd Haley’s new offense.

It’s up to you now, Mike Wallace. Pittsburgh is rewarding their players who are showing up so if you want that money it is best to report.

Feb 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) during Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

It was recently revealed that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace was asking for a new contract that would pay him in the range of Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald. That demand is a big part of the reason there has been almost zero market for for Wallace on the free agency market — no one is willing to give up a first-round pick and $100 million for Wallace.

Despite the ridiculous demands from Wallace, the Steelers are still hoping to sign the speedy wideout to a long-term contract. The Steelers just don’t know when exactly that will be.

“We stay in constant touch with him and his representatives,” Steelers team president Art Rooney II.

“The sooner the better as far as we’re concerned but there’s two parties to it. We’ll have to see what we agree on so I don’t want to put any particular time frame on it or restrictions on it because these things take time and I wouldn’t want to box myself in on it.”

Over the first three years of his career, Wallace has averaged over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. There is no questioning that Wallace is a valuable weapon, but is he really worth the cost?

The Steelers have Antonio Brown on their roster and they will face this same situation with Brown next offseason. When you compare the two wideouts, Brown is the more well-rounded receiver and arguably the best receiver on the Steelers roster. Wallace is one of the best deep threats in the league, but he is a bit of a one-trick pony.

Ultimately, the Steelers would like to bring back both players, but they are up against the salary cap and it will be a challenge.

“It’s something you have to adjust as time goes on but I think we feel like we are where we need to be at this point,” Rooney said. “Probably more decisions are going to have to be made this offseason and some contract decisions are going to have to be made. There’s certainly more to come in terms of putting all of the pieces together on this team. I think we’re comfortable where we are and looking forward to the draft.”

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has been singing the praise of former Ohio State Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor, as of late. Ochocinco has more of an insight on Pryor’s skill, because he has been helping Pryor prepare for the NFL’s supplemental draft.

In a video released on YouTube!, Pryor and Ochocinco are joined by Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown for a workout. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk points out: “The throwing sessions have been arranged by Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for all three players. Obviously, Rosenhaus isn’t going to let footage of Pryor’s bad throws get out, so the video that’s been released won’t tell us a whole lot.”

Nevertheless, it is nice to get a look at Pryor and see that he is working on his skills. Now for what you have all been waiting for, video of the throwing session is available after the jump.

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