Mike Wallace remains a training camp no-show for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger believes his best receiver will eventually return to the fold.
Lombardi: 32 teams, 32 questions
With training camps beginning across the league, Michael Lombardi has pressing questions for all 32 franchises. **More ...**
"I don't know what's going on with his agent or what they're telling each other, but he wants to be here," Roethlisberger told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. "I believe he will be here and I think he'll be here soon."
Roethlisberger -- who revealed that he's dealing with a "little torn rotator cuff" in his throwing arm -- has taken a "proactive" approach with Wallace, calling the wideout to let him know that "we love him, he's a great teammate, he's a great friend." Big Ben even told Steelers president Art Rooney he'd fly to Louisiana to talk with Wallace face-to-face, but Rooney didn't follow up on that offer.
Wallace's one-year, $2.742 million contract tender hangs in the air unsigned. We've heard trade whispers surrounding the three-year veteran, but don't look for Wallace to be shipped out any time soon. The Steelers are coming to grips with the reality that he might not be around long-term, but Wallace could mean the difference between first and second place in the AFC North in 2012. For that reason alone, the Steelers aren't about to let him walk.