The Pro Bowl receiver still have until June 15^th to sign the tender offer sheet of $2.7 million that was presented to him. If Wallace decides not to do so, then the Steelers have the right to cut the tender to $577,500, which would be a $2.1 million dollar cut for Wallace.

As I mentioned last month, Wallace does deserve a lucrative contract based on his statistics over the past three years. However, he still isn’t at the elite level where he can demand an all-time NFL record contract.

Holding out at this point and time will not benefit Wallace, or the Steelers’ offense. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is already mentioning of how complicated offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s new offensive scheme is. Having Wallace at minicamps right now will make things a little less stressful for himself and the offense. Holding out can also have a negative effect on the three-year veteran receiver’s performance going into next season. Resent history has shown us this.

If there is one person that Wallace can look to as an example from last year is Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. Leading up to last season, Johnson held out of training camp and missed the entire preseason, which resulted in his subpar 2011 NFL regular season.

I guess that it still hasn’t crossed Wallace’s mind that the Steelers have been in a tight bind financially since the start of the offseason, and is in no position to give him a big deal right now. Signing the tender will not only help the franchise as far as with the salary cap, but it will also give Wallace more than enough time to get acclimated to a new offensive coordinator, which would give him a better chance to prove this upcoming season that he is worth a gargantuan contract.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

Adams, an offensive tackle out of the Ohio State University, was a second-team All Big Ten selection in 2011, but is most known for his troubles off the field. The Pennsylvania native was a part of the tattoo scandal at Ohio State and was suspended for five games. In addition, Adams has admitted that he has smoked marijuana. However, despite all of the negative publicity, the Steelers still gave Adams a chance and reached very high for him in the second round.

Clemons is a wide receiver out of the University of Colorado, and is a native of Pittsburgh. The 231^st overall pick of the draft not only played for Colorado, he also played for the University of Michigan, and is the first player to have played in the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12.

Frederick was chosen 15 picks after Clemons as the 246^th overall selection. The 5’10”, 187-pound Texas A&M cornerback was an All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2010 and 2011.

Sandwiched in between Clemons and Frederick was Paulson being selected 240^th overall. The tight end out of the University of Oregon played a part in the Ducks’ BCS National Championship Game appearance. Paulson has also earned selections to the All-Pac-12 second team and first-team honors as a Pac-12 All-Academic student-athlete.

The Steelers have now gotten six of their nine draft picks to sign on the dotted line. They still have to get first-round pick David DeCastro, third-round pick Sean Spence, and seventh-round pick Kelvin Beachum to do the same.

It’s great to see that a lot of rookies are getting their contracts situated so quickly. This eliminates the drama of holdouts from training camps, and gives them a much better chance to get used to the transition from college to the NFL. The new rookie salary cap has a lot to do with this. It should be just a matter of time for the Steelers to have all of their rookies signed and ready to go for organized team activities and training camp.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was among the over 600 students to receive a bachelor’s degree in education.

Big Ben left Miami (OH) early in order to enter the NFL draft in 2004. The associate dean of the College says that Roethlisberger was four courses short of meeting the requirements to graduate. Ben completed those courses and was finally able to earn his degree.

This gesture from a two time Super Bowl champion should not go unnoticed. In a day and age where many young athletes (particularly basketball players due to college football’s three year rule) only attend college for a year and jump ship to the pros without the slightest intent of getting an education. Even in college football many stars who are bound for the NFL take classes such as ball-room dancing just to meet the eligibility requirements.

It is rare that such a decorated athlete would choose to finish out their education. However, another star athlete has recently done the same thing. Basketball Legend Shaquille O’Neal received a doctorate in education from Barry University. Shaq also left college early to enter the pros, but promised his parents that he would get a degree.

Roethlisberger and O’Neal should be revered for their will and determination to fulfill what each of them started out to do before they reached a high level of success in their respective sports.

Follow me on twitter @bbonsell24

Ta’amu, a nose tackle out of the University of Washington, just might get the chance to start right away with veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton still recovering from reconstructive surgery on his ACL. The 6’3”, 348-pounder is a perfect fit for Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense, and will eat up a lot of space to make it easier for Steelers linebackers.

In his final season with the Huskies, Ta’amu registered 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks. In addition, Ta’amu was an All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention in 2010 and 2011.

Rainey, the 159^th overall pick in the draft, will more than likely contribute offensively on third downs either lining up in the backfield or in the slot. Rainey’s role in the backfield will help a depleted running back corps that is coping with the injury to Rashard Mendenhall’s ACL. The University of Florida jack-of-all-trades will more than likely get some reps at returning punts as well, which will lighted the load for wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Rainey, a 5’8 ¾”, 180-pound back, played tailback, slot receiver, and was a return specialist for the Gators in Gainesville. Rainey finished his collegiate career with 3,948 all-purpose yards, blocked six punts on special teams (setting both school and Southeastern Conference records).

Both Ta’amu and Rainey will definitely make big contributions to the Steelers as rookies this season, and having them signed this early will only make matters even better for them going into organized team activities this offseason.

Now the next order of business is to get David DeCastro, Mike Adams, Sean Spence, and the rest of the rookie class to sign on the dotted line. And it wouldn’t hurt to get Mike Wallace to sign his tender as well.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

However, Suggs believes that he can possibly return by midseason.

Regardless of how long the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is off the field, this can greatly play in favor for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were 12-4 last season, and still didn’t win the AFC North. With Baltimore possibly not having their premier pass rusher for the season, that could result in the Ravens struggling in the phase of the game in which they are best known, and could leave the door wide open for Pittsburgh to become division champions.

This will definitely be of great help for the Steelers when they face Baltimore twice in a three-week span (Weeks 11 and 13). And adding rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams to the offensive line, via the 2012 NFL Draft, will help protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger versus Baltimore without their sack master.

Three of the four teams in the AFC North made the playoffs in 2011, the Steelers, the Ravens, and the Cincinnati Bengals. This alone makes this the toughest division in the NFL. With the unfortunate injury to Suggs, the Bengals lacking significant experience, and the Cleveland Browns in rebuilding mode, this is now the time for Pittsburgh to seize the moment and take control of the division, and possibly the entire AFC.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

Rainey was a jack-of-all-trades with the Gators, tallying 3,948 all-purpose yards throughout his collegiate career. In addition to being a starter at tailback and slot receiver, Rainey also excelled on special teams by setting a Southeastern Conference and a school record with six blocked punts.

This draft pick should definitely help Pittsburgh’s running game, especially with last year’s rusher Rashard Mendenhall recovering from reconstructive surgery of a torn ACL. Rainey may not be a three-down back, but will be a great fit for third-down situations, not only in the backfield but lined up in the slot as well.

When asked by reporters from the Steelers official website what role he felt that he could fill for the team, Rainey said, “I can play running back. I can play slot. I can play special teams. Wherever they want me, because I’m a playmaker all around. I fell that I fit perfect with the offense.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley had this to say about Rainey:

“Chris is a guy that we’re real excited to bring into the mix.  I think he is a very versatile player that is obviously fast and explosive.  He can catch the ball, he can run with it and he can return it.  That’s a commodity and we’re really excited to bring him aboard and work with him and put him into the mix.”

The 5’8 ¾”, 180-pound back will more than likely lighten the load that was put on Pro Bowler Antonio Brown on special teams, and handle the punt return duties for Pittsburgh.

Although the Florida native will be far from home, he will be around at least one familiar face. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and Rainey were high school teammates at Lakeland High School in Lakeland, FL, as well as at Florida.

Pouncey isn’t the only player that Rainey knows with NFL experience. It just so happens that Rainey is the younger brother of former Carolina Panthers running back Rod Smart (also know as He Hate Me of the now defunct XFL).

The Steelers are getting better and better with every pick after the first five rounds of the draft. Some of the worries and doubts of Steeler Nation are starting to settle, and with very good reason. Pittsburgh’s front office has already assembled a draft class with a high level of talent and skill, and with the addition of experienced veterans and Pro Bowl caliber players, the Steelers should have one of the strongest teams in the league.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

The Steelers’ front office traded their sixth-round pick to the Washington Redskins, then traded the pick in the fourth round with the Redskins to move up to 109^th overall, and selected Ta’amu.

Ta’amu was an All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention in 2010 and 2011, and anchored the Huskies’ defensive line.

Some draft experts predicted earlier in the offseason that Ta’amu would be a second-round pick. I also thought that Ta’amu was going to be taken in the second round, and predicted that the Steelers would have been the ones to do so.

When asked by reporters from the Steelers’ official website about becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler, Ta’amu responded, “Good, I’m feeling good. I’m excited. I’m glad I’m playing in Pittsburgh, and get to play with somebody like Casey Hampton.”

Hearing that he is anxious to be teammates with Hampton is great, considering the fact that he will eventually replace him. Ta’amu is similarly built like Hampton, meaning that the 6’3”, 348-pound rookie will be a great fit for the Steelers’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

When asked what about Hampton’s playing style that the likes the most, the fourth-round draft pick said, “He’s up the middle, he holds his ground. It takes more than one blocker to play him, and I’m going to try and do the same thing when I get there.”

Pittsburgh has now addressed the offensive line, linebacker, and defensive tackle positions in the first four rounds of the draft. These were very critical spots that needed tending to. So far, the Steelers have chosen the best players possible at these positions. Ta’amu, guard David DeCastro, offensive tackle Mike Adams, and linebacker Sean Spence all have the potential to contribute early and often to Pittsburgh’s push for a championship this upcoming season.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

Spence, who comes from a school that has produced some of the NFL’s top linebackers (Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, Jon Beason, just to name a few), has had a stellar career at the “U.” Spence has recorded 318 tackles (11^th in school history) and is one of only six players in Miami’s history to record over 100 tackles in two different seasons.

In addition to his statistics, the 86^th overall pick was a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award in 2011, earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors and second-team honors in 2011 and 2010 respectively, and was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008.

Spence is a linebacker with the versatility to play outside and middle linebacker. This attribute will be of great benefit to the Steelers’ defense, especially with the release of veteran linebacker James Farrior this offseason.

Not only does this add much-needed depth to the Steelers linebacking corps, it also adds much-needed youth to an aging defensive unit. Pittsburgh has seven defensive players that are over the age of 30: free safety Ryan Clark, 32; right inside linebacker Larry Foote, 31; nose tackle Casey Hampton, 34, right outside linebacker James Harrison, 33; defensive end Brett Keisel, 33; strong safety Troy Polamalu, 31, and cornerback Ike Taylor, 31.

Coming into an organization with so much veteran leadership and experience should greatly benefit Sean Spence as a rookie. He’ll get to learn the position behind Pro Bowl caliber players, and could potentially step in at some point in the regular season and contribute.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

After drafting Stanford University guard David DeCastro with the 24^th overall pick, the Steelers stayed focused on the offensive line and selected Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams.

Despite missing five games last season due to a suspension, Adams still managed to be named to the 2011 second-team All Big Ten team, and to become one of the top offensive linemen in this year’s draft.

With Adams, a Pennsylvania native, DeCastro, and third-year Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey on the offensive line, the Steelers should have one of the best o-lines in the NFL for years to come.

For the 56^th overall pick, playing for the Steelers was a dream come true. This is what was posted on the Steelers’ official website after being drafted:

“It was something that was really hard to deal with,” said Adams about his reaction to being told he had been taken off the Steelers’ draft board. “That’s the team I wanted to go to from day one. Ever since I started imagining playing in the NFL, the Steelers have always been the team I wanted to go to.”

Not only does Adams have a chance to live his dream, he also has a chance to play a huge part in fulfilling the dreams of Steeler Nation and helping bring another Super Bowl championship to the Steel City.

Team president Art Rooney II, general manager Kevin Colbert, head coach Mike Tomlin, and the rest of the Steelers organization have made it known that they are committed to improving an offensive line that struggled in protecting their franchise quarterback. I feel that Pittsburgh is doing exactly what is needed to be done in order to once again be at the top of the AFC North, and become favorites for the Super Bowl.

Now it’s time to work on the defense!

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

This selection made it obvious that upgrading the offensive line was a major priority, and Pittsburgh made an excellent choice in doing so. The 6’4”, 316-pound DeCastro will add much needed protection for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as well as more running lanes for the Steelers’ ground attack.

A lot of people didn’t expect the 2011 unanimous All-America selection and two-time first-team Pac-12 selection to be on the draft board once the Steelers were on the clock. Personally, I though that DeCastro would have been gone much sooner, and that Pittsburgh would have selected Cordy Glenn out of the University of Georgia. However, a player of DeCastro’s level was something that general manager Kevin Colbert couldn’t ignore. Here’s what Colbert said to the Steelers’ official website after selecting DeCastro:

“Really, we didn’t think David would be there at No. 24,” said Colbert. “We valued him very high. As we said the other day, there were a few special players in this group that we thought would be easy to evaluate, and he was one of them.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin had mutual feelings about their first-round choice, and felt that he would be a perfect fit for the offense. Here’s Tomlin’s statement to Pittsburgh’s site:

“He played right guard in Stanford’s offense, and everything we would ask him to do you saw him do at Stanford, whether it was pulling or pass protection in the play-action game.”

DeCastro was one of only two players out of Stanford to be selected in the first round, joining fellow Cardinal Andrew Luck who went first overall to the Indianapolis Colts.

Current Pittsburgh Steelers players seem to be very happy with the arrival of their new teammate, and had welcoming words to their new rookie. Veteran safety Ryan Clark tweeted this message after Pittsburgh’s first-round selection:

“Well, there you go! We have out guy. From Luck to Lucky number 7! Protect Big man protect! Welcome Mr. Decastro”

The Steelers have many positions to cater to this offseason, but I really do believe that concentrating on the offensive line was a very smart move, and a much-needed move. Pittsburgh is now definitely headed in the right direction after very little activity earlier this offseason.

Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller