Pursuit of veteran wideout has no bearing on Limas Sweed

The pursuit of free agent wide receiver Ashley Lelie has no bearing on the progress of 2008 second round pick Limas Sweed.

The pursuit of Lelie is to bring him in as a 4th receiver and act as a possible fall back plan if Sweed doesn’t progress into the #3 receiver that the Steelers think he will.

2009 3rd round pick Mike Wallace will contribute on special teams but he needs a lot of work on his route running as he makes the jump to the NFL.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, the Steelers have yet to make an official offer to Lelie but Lelie’s representatives expect an offer to be made by mid-week.

As expected the Steelers will release or trade linebacker Larry Foote within the next week. Mike Tomlin wanted to keep Foote but financial reasons played a factor in this move as the Steelers have a need to create more cap space and the emergence of Lawrence Timmons also led to decision to cut ties with Foote.

Larry Foote also pushed the issue all off-season expressing a strong desire to get out of Pittsburgh so he could start elsewhere. The Steelers have been actively shopping Foote for weeks.

Another reason why the Steelers are comfortable parting ways with Foote is because of 2004 third round draft

Keyaron Fox. Fox signed with the Steelers last season and was an immediate impact player on special teams. Fox does have a high pedigree, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of 2004 draft.

The staff believes Fox can fill the role of backup linebacker and rewarded him with a two year deal this off-season.

Regarding Foote, the Steelers have been in talks with the Detroit Lions, unknown NFC team. A trade remains unlikely.

There has not been more buzz about a 5th round pick by the Steelers than there is right now of UNLV running back Frank Summers. —-Frank Summers Highlights

No contract talks have started between the Steelers and Heath Miller according to his agent Tom Condon. Condon does expect the Steelers to initiate talks within the next four weeks.

Miller is highly open to signing a long-term deal and wants to be paid like a top 5 tight end.