NFL.com has a slew of mock drafts from several writers employed by the site, and while several predict the Steelers will take Georgia combo lineman Cordy Glenn with the 24th overall pick, Alabama S Mark Barron and Virginia CB Chase Minnifield came up in two of them.

Barron, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound safety, looks like a strong run defender, but today's safeties will really be looked upon more for pass defense. Considering the onslaught of nimble and huge tight ends, bringing in a safety-sized defensive back to play the nickel position is becoming more en vogue.

Bucky Brooks has the Steelers taking Barron, who, physically, looks like the kind of player who could grow into that kind of a role, but many other mocks have him off the board by the time the Steelers are on the clock.

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The timing of re-emerging speculation about the future of Steelers WR Hines Ward is curious, to say the least.

NFL Network reporter Jason La Canfora recently told the network's "NFL Total Access" show that Ward will not be back in Pittsburgh next season, according to his sources.

Ward won't be back for the $4 million he's currently owed for 2012, that much is true. However, Ward has said that he'd be amenable to a pay cut, and while he'd be "devastated" if he didn't play in Pittsburgh, he still wants to play football.

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Unrestricted free agency is a bonanza for fans. With speculation and rumors flying every day up to and through the period in which players can sign with new teams, it offers excitement and hope to fans of all teams.

The Steelers don't really buy into that. Literally and figuratively. It's not an organization that will spend much on other team's players, but they do make it a point to re-sign their own guys.

In that way, the Steelers' free agency period is usually conducted before unrestricted free agents are allowed to sign with other teams. Their efforts are put into re-signing their own players, and this year won't be any different.

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This is the second part of a series on the Steelers' salary cap issues, and the moves we can expect them to either contemplate or make before March 13 - the start of the league's 2012 year - and after it. Previously, we explored candidates whom will be asked to take a pay cut, which players will have their salaries restructured and what we can expect in Restricted Free Agency.

Poison Pills

In relation to NFL contracts, the term "Poison Pill" means a clause in a qualifying offer from another team that would make it extremely difficult for the original team to match. For example, let's say the Minnesota Vikings offer Wallace a 5-year, $50 million contract, but 100 percent of contract is guaranteed if Wallace is on the roster for five games in which the team plays at Heinz Field in 2012.

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I realize the Pro Bowl is old news by now, if that isn't an oxymoron. But the problem with things that happen on an infrequent basis and have proven to be unsatisfactory is that everybody complains at the time, but nobody does anything about it until the next one is imminent and it is too late to do anything differently. So I believe the time to explore ideas about how to fix the Pro Bowl is now.

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With the releases of CB Bryant McFadden and WR Arnaz Battle, the Steelers are taking their first steps toward getting their top 51 players under the salary cap by the start of the 2012 league season - March 13.

Other moves will certainly be coming, but there are several options the team could pursue by that date.

In part I of this two part series, we'll dive into the looming cuts expected within the roster, and some projections for restricted free agency.

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The New York Giants 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday marked the third straight victory by an NFC team in the Super Bowl.

For many years, the AFC was considered the more elite of the two NFL conferences, and for good reason. From 1997-2008, the Super Bowl champion came out of the AFC nine times, and in most seasons, the AFC Championship game was considered the defacto "Super Bowl," as the winner of that game was almost always the significant favorite when it met the NFC representative in the Big Game.

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Bryant McFadden's up-and-down career with the Steelers ended Wednesday, with NFL writer Adam Caplan reported his release after six seasons with the team - and one with Arizona.

It's not a surprise. McFadden had a hamstring injury early in 2011 and eventually lost his position to William Gay, as well as the nickel role to Keenan Lewis.

NFL Films won't likely be airing a documentary on McFadden's Hall of Fame career. The Steelers will probably give out the No. 20 at some point in the near future as well.

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