The Facts:
GM Kevin Colbert acknowledged what had become apparent in recent weeks: Sanders won’t be among the in-house free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers try to sign before March 11. “Emmanuel came back and had a nice year for us, and we were happy to have him,” Colbert said in Indianapolis, “and where he goes in free agency and what his market is we don’t know at this point, but he certainly performed for us last year, and we’ll see where it is in the future.”
Reported by ESPN.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Sanders signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract last year with the New England Patriots, but the Steelers retained his services by matching the offer instead of taking a third-round pick in last year’s draft as compensation. Sanders started last season opposite Pro Bowler Antonio Brown and established career-highs in catches (67), receiving yards (670), and touchdown receptions (six). Sanders’ future, as those comments suggest, looks increasingly like it will play out somewhere other than in Pittsburgh. He is likely to command the kind of contract the Steelers are unwilling to match with second-year man Markus Wheaton waiting behind Sanders, and with this year's draft so deep at wide receiver.
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