Last month there had been some optimism inside the Steelers organization that running back Rashard Mendenhall would be ready by August but that optimism has faded. GM Kevin Colbert tells Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review there’s a good chance Mendenhall won’t be ready for start of the 2012 season and Mendenhall is likely to begin the season on the pup list.

Barring a high draft pick on a running back, the Steelers project to go into the season with Isaac Redman as their No. 1 running back and the likes of young players Baron Batch, Jonathan Dwyer and John Clay battling for backup spots. Batch is a much different back from Redman, Dwyer and Clay due to his ability to catch out of the backfield and elusiveness in the open field.
Mewelde Moore is scheduled to be a free agent and Pittsburgh won’t make an attempt to resign Moore before March 13th. Pittsburgh expects to be quiet in free agency.

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