The Latest Steelers Camp Rumblings

-- One reason the Steelers have no clue for when Mike Wallace is going to show up is because his agent Bus Cook had been advocating for Wallace to report to camp last Wednesday and still is, but Wallace has gone against Cook's advice to report, individuals close to Cook are saying. Maybe Wallace will come to his senses and report this week or maybe it will be at least a few weeks down the road. The Steelers just don't know at this point.

-- The Steelers final offer to Wallace before they took it off the table was more but similar to Antonio Brown's 5 year - $42.5 million deal. The final offer to Wallace, according to sources, was somewhat of a backloaded deal with the overall value of the deal closer to $45 million over 5 years, than the rumored $50 million over 5 years some have speculated. Guaranteed money remains a big issue as Wallace is seeking at least $23 to $25 million in the first two years of the deal. He's never going to see that type of deal from the Steelers.

-- Unless a team were to approach the Steelers about trading for Wallace and willing to offer a first or second round pick, the Steelers envision Wallace playing out the 2012 season on his $2.72 million tender, unless his demands come down into DeSean Jackson territory (5 yrs - $45 million, $15 million guaranteed). The Steelers number they have in place for Wallace is just North of the Jackson contract and they won't be going off their number.

-- One view around the league is that the Steelers might see the Wallace situation as the best case scenario being the process of getting the most out of him for one more season than letting him walk next off-season via free agency, assuming his demands don't come down. Wallace turns 26 on Wednesday and some feel it's only a matter of time before that 4.2, 4.3 speed becomes 4.4, 4.5 speed and when it does, Wallace is no longer such a dynamic receiver because he isn't a good enough all around receiver nor has great size at 6-foot-0 for when that blazing speed goes. The Steelers are an organization that feels receivers are the easiest position to replace.

-- The Steelers are very high on Cortez Allen's ability inside in the nickel, so expect him to have a lockdown on that spot even if he were to leap Keenan Lewis as the No. 2 starting cornerback. Lewis doesn't play the slot well, so one scenario to watch if Allen were to win the starting cornerback job opposite Ike Taylor, is him going inside when the team uses 5 or more defensive backs, similar to how they used William Gay last season. The coaching staff loves Allen's abilities to match up against big pass catching tight ends.