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It seems all but certain, after the 2013 preseason slate of games have come to an end, there will be no new contracts for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders or defensive end Ziggy Hood.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told KDKA-TV during the pregame broadcast of the Steelers' 25-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers Thursday there are no contracts currently being negotiated.
The Steelers do not typically negotiate contracts during the regular season - although the team inked safety Troy Polamalu to an extension the day before the Steelers opened the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens.
A labor dispute interrupted the normal flow of business that year, so perhaps a temporary exception was granted. Standard operating procedure, though, would suggest Hood and Sanders will play this season on their current deals.
That really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Sanders has shown outstanding ability, but injury concerns hold him back. There was some thought to trying to get Sanders to sign a shorter, lower dollar deal in lieu of his restricted free agency tender, but he signed a one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet with the Patriots. The Steelers matched that offer, and have him through the 2013 season.
Hood has been fairly pedestrian since the Steelers chose him in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. A defensive tackle at the University of Missouri, Hood has played extensively but hasn't been outstanding. The final year of his contract is scheduled to make around $3 million in 2013 on his base salary and roster bonus, and likely cannot expect to get that much on the open market.
More from Behind the Steel Curtain:
- Steelers vs. Panthers Postgame News and Updates
- Steelers roster cuts will be announced Saturday
- Dennis Dixon, Adrian Robinson cut by Eagles
- Keeping six running backs, Felix Jones in particular, adds special teams depth
- Little has changed in running backs group
- Final 53 man roster predictions
- Colbert: No contracts being negotiated
- 5 things we learned this preseason
- Chris Carter named Steelers Digest Player of the Week
- Steelers fans reactions to loss to Carolina
- Winners and Losers from Steelers loss to Panthers
- Steelers lose 25-10 to Panthers in preseason finale
- Will Johnson injury update
- Steelers vs. Panthers: Linebackers are what to watch