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Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Nearly a month after the Browns drafted quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round, Colt McCoy didn't complain about his likely fate and remained a team player.

"This is the card that's been dealt," said McCoy, who took the first snaps in team drills Tuesday. "I can just say that I'm working as hard as I can. You never know what to expect. One of my favorite quotes by the NAVY Seals is, 'The only easy day was yesterday.' That's just kind of how I have to live right now."

He said he has not asked to be traded because "they told me I had a chance to compete."

"I don't want this to be a situation where it's me vs. him or him vs. me," McCoy said. "I want it to be a situation of -- and I think we can all agree to this -- let's help our team the most. Let's make it about the Cleveland Browns being a great football team next year. And if that's the case, I'm all in."

Hensley's slant: Many are predicting that the Browns will still try to trade McCoy or ultimately release him before the season starts. Based on his comments, McCoy won't be a distraction as a backup. Last season would become an even bigger wasted year if the Browns parted ways with McCoy.

BENGALS: Andy Dalton didn't bristle at speculation that there are members within the organization concerned about his arm strength. “I’m comfortable with it. Everyone knows what they are going to get out of me,” Dalton told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t think it held us back last year and I don’t think it is going to hold me back in my career. Arm strength is one thing, there’s a lot to throwing. It’s timing, consistency and making sure everyone is on the same page. I’m going to keep working but I don’t think arm strength is an issue.” Hensley's slant: Dalton ranked third in the AFC North as far as arm strength last season but finished tied for eighth in the NFL with 10 completions over 40 yards. Sometimes your arm looks better when you're throwing to playmakers like A.J. Green.

RAVENS: Quarterback Joe Flacco is planning to attend the team's offseason workouts despite not having a new contract. Flacco is entering the final year of his deal and could have opted to skip the voluntary practices as a protest. “It’s always fun to get back to doing what you love,” Flacco told the team's official website. “It’s good for the young guys. I think every little bit helps.” Hensley's slant: The real test of Flacco's "love" for the game would come next offseason if he doesn't have a new deal and the Ravens decide to put the franchise tag on him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Flacco chose to miss some practices in early June this year. His first child is expected to be born around that time.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook said it's no big deal that wide receiver Mike Wallace is missing offseason workouts and expects the restricted free agent to attend training camp. "Don't believe those who say Wallace will be unhappy, moody, even disruptive if he has to play the season under the tender," Cook wrote. "He's not that much of a fool. He will be playing for big money in his next contract. He has to play well to get it. Teammate LaMarr Woodley should be his inspiration. He was in the same situation as Wallace in 2010, had a great season and signed a six-year, $61.5 million deal before last season." Hensley's slant: It would be beneficial for Wallace to be in Pittsburgh to learn Todd Haley's new offense, but it's not essential. It would be more important for Wallace to be here if the Steelers were changing quarterbacks instead of coordinators. Whenever he returns, whether it's the start of training camp or the middle of it, he will still have the same chemistry with Roethlisberger.

No one doubts Mike Wallace's speed on the field. But the key to his season is how quick he is off of it.

Wallace, the team's leading receiver, skipped the team's first practice of the offseason and has yet to sign his $2.7 restricted free-agent tender. He isn't expected to attend any of the offseason workouts and could miss the start of training camp to protest the lack of a long-term deal.

This wouldn't be a problem in most offseasons. This one is different for the Steelers because it's the first with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

According to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there is a 90 percent change from Bruce Arians' offense to this year's one. That's why it would be good -- although not necessary -- for Wallace to be in Pittsburgh to learn the new playbook.

My guess is it won't hurt Wallace too much. His favorite route is still the one where he runs straight down the field and beats the cornerback in a foot race. And it would be more important for Wallace to be here if the Steelers were changing quarterbacks instead of coordinators. Whenever he returns, whether it's the start of training camp or the middle of it, he will still have the same chemistry with Roethlisberger.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the current situation a little "short-term misery." Just don't expect it to be a long-term problem that extends to the regular season.

Here are some quick hits from the first day of offseason training activities in the division:

BENGALS: Brandon Tate lined up as the No. 2 wide receiver in the first day of OTAs, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. This shows that the Bengals have been impressed with Tate's training this offseason. He didn't have a catch last season, but I think he will have an impact beyond being a returner. He came from a totally different offense in New England and needed a full season to adjust. Tate will compete against Jordan Shipley, Andrew Hawkins, Ryan Whalen, Armon Binns and rookies Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones.

BROWNS: Colt McCoy took the first snaps in most drills, including team ones, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. But the favorite to win the job remains rookie first-round pick Brandon Weeden. The more interesting tidbit was how McCoy addressed a report that the Browns told him they wouldn't draft a quarterback in the first round. No "he said, she said," McCoy told reporters in his first comments since Cleveland drafted Weeden.

RAVENS: No media access for the opening of Baltimore's workout. I will be attending the open practice Wednesday.

STEELERS: As expected, wide receiver Mike Wallace didn't attend the workouts today. He has yet to sign his restricted free-agent tender. But there was a surprise. Safety Troy Polamalu, who usually skips these practices, was in attendance and plans to be at all the OTAs. "It's my time to be around the team a little more," Polamalu said.

The AFC North blog will take a look at the top five division players at a position each day this week. This is a projection for the 2012 season, so predicted progress and decline has been factored into the rankings. First up are the wide receivers.

1. A.J. Green, Bengals: You only had to watch one Bengals game this year and see Green's potential. He averaged 16.3 yards per catch and scored seven touchdowns as a rookie, and he's been working out with Larry Fitzgerald this offseason. What could hold Green back is the Bengals' lack of a proven No. 2 wide receiver, which allows defenses to focus their energy on the Pro Bowl receiver.

2. Mike Wallace, Steelers: He finished first among division wide receivers with 72 catches and 1,193 yards receiving, which shows he has outplayed his rookie contract. Still, in his last seven games, he averaged 46.4 yards and scored two touchdowns. Ben Roethlisberger's injuries likely factored into Wallace's slump, but it will be up to Wallace to prove that.

3. Antonio Brown, Steelers: Remember when there was a debate whether Brown or Emmanuel Sanders should start for Hines Ward last November? Not anymore. He's fast, elusive and fearless in making catches over the middle. Brown is the No. 2 receiver for the Steelers but he could be the top one on many other teams.

4. Torrey Smith, Ravens: The second-round pick from a year ago finished only behind Green and Julio Jones in receiving yards by a rookie last season. Smith has a chance to become the Ravens' top wide receiver this season. He clicked with Joe Flacco downfield, covering at least 25 yards on five of his seven touchdowns.

5. Anquan Boldin, Ravens: Boldin hasn't put up the numbers the Ravens envisioned when they traded for him. (His 57 receptions were his lowest in seven seasons.) Still, he remains the toughest receiver in the division and steps up in the big games (led Ravens in the playoffs with 10 catches for 174 yards). Some will argue that Cleveland's Greg Little should be on the list, but he has to show more consistent hands after averaging one drop for every five passes thrown his way.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Bengals linebacker Dontay Moch has been suspended four games for using a banned substance, pending an appeal, according to NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora.

Moch, a third-round pick in 2011, didn't play in a game as a rookie last year. After recovering from a broken foot in the preseason opener, he missed significant practice time with migraines.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment on the report to the Cincinnati Enquirer. After the news broke, Moch posted on Twitter: “Mistakes happens! Learn [and] move forward.”

Hensley's slant: The Bengals need more of a pass rush presence opposite Carlos Dunlap, but Moch's development is being repeatedly slowed down. If Moch loses his appeal, this will mark the third straight year that a Bengals player has been suspended for using a performance-enhancing substance. Defensive end Antwan was disciplined for four games in 2010 and guard Bobbie Williams received the same punishment last season.

BROWNS: This could be Josh Cribbs' final season with the Browns, according to the News-Herald in Northern Ohio. Because new NFL rules have diminished kickoff returners, Cribbs might have to take a pay cut from his 2012 salary ($1.4 million) if he wants to remain on the team, the paper reported. Also, in a legal update, Cribbs reached a plea agreement in his speeding case. He was charged for driving 103 mph in a 60-mph zone. The charge was reduced to driving 89 mph in a 60-mph zone, which put two points on his license and carried a $302 fine. Hensley's slant: Cribbs ranked fourth in the AFC in kickoff returns, led the Browns' wide receivers with four touchdowns and a 12.6-yard per catch average and topped the team in special teams tackles. It looks like the Browns are getting a good value out of Cribbs at $1.4 million, and a paycut should not be a requirement to stay. But the drafting of Travis Benjamin does threaten Cribbs' place as a returner and receiver.

RAVENS: There have been no internal discussions within the Ravens' front office to reduce Terrell Suggs' 2012 salary after he tore his Achilles away from team headquarters, according to the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore has the right to put Suggs on the Non-Football Injury list and not pay him for the games he will be sidelined. Based on his $4.9 million salary in 2012, the Ravens could save $2 million if Suggs missed seven games on the Non-Football Injury list. Hensley's slant: As I previously wrote, trying to take money away from Suggs would be a bad idea. Whether he was injured in a conditioning test or a basketball game, he was keeping in shape, which hasn't always been the case with Suggs. Plus, it wasn't like he was racing on a motorcycle or cliff diving.

STEELERS: Wide receiver Mike Wallace and the team's top two draft picks will be absent when the Steelers open their organized team activities Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Wallace has yet to sign his restricted free-agent tender of $2.7 million and won't be required to attend. Guard David DeCastro and offensive tackle Mike Adams, who were drafted in the first two rounds in April, will miss the offseason workouts until their schools have completed final exams, the Post-Gazette reported. Hensley's slant: Wallace likely won't return to the team until training camp. The Steelers could reduce his tender to $577,500 if the doesn't sign his tender before June 15, which is one day after the full-team minicamp ends. Pittsburgh, though, isn't expected to make such a move. Also, it is believed that DeCastro could attend the OTAs because he has already graduated Stanford.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Browns fans who attended Ozzie Newsome's speaking engagement in Cleveland on Monday don't consider the current Ravens general manager/former Browns tight end "a traitor," according to those interviewed by the Akron Beacon Journal.

Newsome enjoyed 13 seasons and a Hall of Fame career with the Browns. He didn't play for another team, but he left with owner Art Modell when the Browns relocated to Baltimore in 1996.

Newsome, who became the NFL's first African-American general manager, said he isn’t sure he would have received the same opportunity if he had remained in Cleveland when the Browns returned in 1999.

“I don’t know if that would have happened because a whole new administration came in with Carmen [Policy] and Dwight [Clark], a San Francisco crew,” Newsome told fans, according to the Beacon Journal. “I don’t know if I would have had a chance to be part of that. A lot of you would have wanted that to happen, but when Carmen came in, he had the keys to the car and he wanted to build the front office the way he wanted.”

Hensley's slant: Newsome is right. He probably wouldn't have ascended to the general manager's role as quickly if he chose to stay in Cleveland. But just think of how the fortunes of the two franchises would have changed if Newsome didn't leave with the Ravens and eventually worked his way up to being the Browns' top decision-maker. Baltimore probably wouldn't have won a Super Bowl in 2000, and Cleveland likely wouldn't be a perennial last-place team.

BENGALS: Jacob Bell acknowledged that his contract influenced his retirement, along with the risks of playing the sport. Bell, 31, who was a Bengals guard for a little over a month before announcing his retirement last week, signed with Cincinnati this offseason for $890,000 after being released by the Rams. Sports Illustrated's Peter King asked Bell if he would have retired under his previous $6 million contract with the Rams. "That's a very good question,'' he said. "And therein lies the problem. How can you say when you're being offered so much money, the kind of money that can secure your future, to play football? So of course it played a role." Hensley's slant: A majority of hardcore football fans didn't even know Bell was in the league despite making 100 starts. Now, his name will be remembered as the player who decided to quit the game because of health concerns. But, as Bell acknowledged, you should also remember that it would have been difficult for him to walk away from a $6 million paycheck no matter what the risks.

RAVENS: Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata told the team's official website that he stayed away from the game and workouts for a month after the Ravens' AFC championship loss at New England. “This year was probably the hardest, the worst I’ve felt at the end of the season,” Ngata said. “We went further and I think I played more snaps this year than other years. This past season took a lot out of me. And that loss just kind of sucked, so it took a little bit more.” Hensley's slant: The strange part of the article is that the team's website referred to Ngata undergoing a "procedure" after the season, but there are no details given to what was repaired or whether it will sideline him for offseason workouts. Ngata previously said he played with a thigh injury for the majority of the 2011 season and didn't play in the Pro Bowl because of the injury. He has been one of the most durable defensive tackles in the NFL, missing two games in six seasons.

STEELERS: No new news is still not good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said on Tuesday's "NFL Live" that "it may be awhile" before wide receiver Mike Wallace reports to Steelers headquarters, which essentially was Wallace's stance last month. Wallace has yet to sign his $2.7 million restricted free-agent tender. The Steelers could reduce that tender to $577,000 if he doesn't sign it by June 15. Hensley's slant: It would be a surprise to see Wallace show up for the offseason workouts. It would also be a surprise to see the Steelers reduce his tender. Pittsburgh would like to see its top receiver learning Todd Haley's new offensive scheme, but the Steelers also don't want to create a rift with a player they want to sign long-term. Wallace will probably report to the Steelers for the start of training camp.

Here are some highlights -- because there are never any lowlights -- for this week's AFC North chat. If you want more, click here for a full transcript.

Kris (Missouri): How devastating is the loss of Terrell Suggs? Ray [Lewis] and Ed Reed only have how many more shots at a title.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): When Suggs got hurt, most talked about how the Ravens would miss him in the pass rush. But Suggs was a really good run defender as well. I think people are underestimating his absence when it comes to stopping running backs.

Brian (Philadelphia): Assuming the Bengals follow up last season with a successful 2012 season, who do you think would be more likely to leave for a head coaching position: defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer or offensive coordinator Jay Gruden?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): I say Gruden. He has the name recognition plus he has the advantage of having developed a young QB on his resume. Whatever team is looking for a head coach is probably in a position to take a QB in the first round. That's why Gruden would be more enticing.

Jordan (Raleigh): What are Mike Wallace's options? Sign or sit out? Can he be dealt? Can teams even make trades at this point in the offseason?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Wallace can sit out as long as he wants if he doesn't sign the tender. He is technically not under contract until he signs it. Wallace has until June 15 to sign it or the Steelers can reduce his RFA tender after that point.

Bodman34 (Ada,OH Home of the Wilson Football Factory): Is there any reason the Browns shouldn't take a look at Terrell Owens and offer a minimum salary with incentives? He would be an instant upgrade at receiver, and if it didn't work out, not much invested.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Have you seen the effect of T.O. on the other teams he played for? Not happening.

Brad (Berkeley, CA): Maurkice Pouncey was the first Steelers rookie to start 13 or more games in like 30 years (he started all 16, I know). Will [David] DeCastro be the only Steelers rookie this year to do the same?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): DeCastro is battling two players who were originally undrafted rookies, Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster. It would be a major surprise if DeCastro doesn't start from the first day of camp.

Andre (Tallahassee, FL): Is John Harbaugh on the hot seat if Baltimore misses the playoffs? And will Joe Flacco be gone too?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Are you not aware that the Ravens and Flacco have made the playoffs for the past four seasons? If you think they would be on the hot seat after missing the playoffs for one year, you have crazy expectations.

Dillion (Ohio): Should the browns sign T.O to help show the younger reciver on the team how to catch the ball and he can catch the ball

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Again, has anyone else except me seen the negative effect of TO on teams?

Aaron (Bloomington IL): With Pittsburgh upgrading its offensive line, there appears to be few weaknesses remaining from the three teams pushing for the AFC North title. Which unit from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore do you see as having the greatest weakness this year?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Steelers: Cornerback. Bengals: Wide receiver. Baltimore: Left guard and outside linebacker (Suggs' absence).

Michael (Cincinnati): Can you ban people who think the Browns should sign TO?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Only [NFL commissioner Roger] Goodell has the power to ban people in football. Sorry.

This is the time of the offseason when the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers shine. They build the foundation for Super Bowl-contending teams by finding players in April and not in March.

When it comes to drafting Pro Bowl players, the Ravens and Steelers rank among the top four since 1996, according to the Ravens' public-relations department. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have each selected 15 Pro Bowl players during that span, tied for third-most in the league. Only the New England Patriots (17) and Green Bay Packers (16) have produced more.

The secret to the Ravens' and Steelers' drafting success is establishing a vision of what type of player fits their teams. That philosophy comes from the stability of the organizations. Ozzie Newsome has been the Ravens' chief decision-maker since the team relocated to Baltimore in 1996, and Kevin Colbert has been the Steelers' general manager since 2000. The teams each have had two head coaches (Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher for the Steelers, and John Harbaugh and Brian Billick for the Ravens) for the previous 13 seasons.

That type of cohesion builds a relationship to the point where the scouting department knows what players the coaches want. The front office has insight on what players succeed in their teams' offensive and defensive systems.

"I think that's one of the enjoyable things about Pittsburgh," Tomlin said at the Steelers' pre-draft press conference this week. "We don't get caught up in draft grades and the evaluation of the draft, and things of that nature like a lot of other things that could distract you. It's simply measured in terms of how we perform."

The Steelers have drafted four Pro Bowl players in the past five years: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (2007), wide receiver Mike Wallace (2009), center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) and receiver-returner Antonio Brown (2010).

Last season, seven of the Ravens' eight Pro Bowl players were drafted by the team: inside linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, running back Ray Rice and guards Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda.

This type of consistent success is more amazing when you consider the level of difficulty. The Steelers and Ravens are finding these Pro Bowl players despite annually picking toward the bottom of each round.

These division rivals don't like each other, but they tend to like the same type of player. The Ravens and Steelers target tough, physical and competitive players.

“His motor in the fourth quarter is really, really important,” Ravens director of player of personnel Eric DeCosta said. “A lot of the guys who impress me are the guys who are getting their butts kicked in the fourth quarter, losing by 20, 25 points, and he’s still making plays or trying to make plays."

DeCosta added, "How does a guy tackle? If it’s a cornerback, does he face up and use his facemask? Does he bring you down? Does he miss a lot of tackles? If he’s a running back, does he run through contact? Does he lower his pads and try to break tackles? You get a sense. When you talk to people, you get a sense. Then when you interview a guy, you get a sense for his toughness.”

The true measure of draft success isn't the number of Pro Bowl players produced. There is a higher standard.

"Super Bowl championships," Colbert said. "That's it. There is no scorecard. Never will be, never has been."

Steelers officials said wide receiver Mike Wallace won't affect the team's draft plans.

Wallace, a restricted free agent, told some within the Steelers organization that he does not plan to sign his first-round tender "until he has to," a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. This means that Wallace could wind up holding out for some or all of training camp.

"We're not worried about the reports," coach Mike Tomlin said at Monday's pre-draft press conference. "He's still here. We will deal with it day-to-day."

General manager Kevin Colbert reiterated that Wallace remains in the team's future plans.

"Our intension has always been to sign Mike to a long-term contract," Colbert said. "We want Mike for the long haul, and he knows that. Hopefully, we'll get that done."

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden believes the Cleveland Browns are interested in drafting him.

"You never how it's going to go, but I feel really good about how everything's gone with the Browns throughout this whole process," Weeden told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It would be exciting if I ended up there."

The Browns have been linked to Weeden in the second round, and some have speculated that Cleveland could use its second first-round pick on the 28-year-old quarterback. Weeden sees himself as an immediate starter, which could lead to a competition with Colt McCoy.

"I know Colt had a good year last year, and he's a good football player," Weeden said. "But I'm a competitor, and I want to play as soon as possible. I'd be excited about the opportunity to come in and compete with him and see how things pan out."

Hensley's slant: The Browns have a big decision when it comes to their second and third picks in the draft. They will have the opportunity to either add another offensive weapon for McCoy or bring in someone who will compete for McCoy's job. The Browns have not hid the fact that they're looking to upgrade the quarterback position.

BENGALS: Cincinnati could use its second first-round pick on a wide receiver. Cris Collinsworth, a former Bengals wide receiver and current NFL analyst, suggests Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill. "What he doesn’t do well, you can fix," Collinsworth told the team's official website. "You put him opposite A.J. [Green], what are you going to do? You're going to have to play seven against the run. You're not playing one of those guys without safety help. I wouldn't." Hensley's slant: The Bengals can go a lot of different ways with that 21st overall pick and wide receiver is definitely an option. I think Baylor's Kendall Wright could be a better complement to Green. Wright is smaller than Hill, but he has great speed and can make more difficult catches.

RAVENS: General manager Ozzie Newsome thinks it would be difficult to pass on an Alabama player in the first round. “I don’t want to tip my hand, but they are good players,” Newsome, a former Alabama player himself, told the team's official website. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch them for three or four years. If one’s there, it could make our decision tough.” The Alabama players who are considered first-round prospects are: running back Trent Richardson, safety Mark Barron, defensive end-outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, inside linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. Hensley's slant: The three players presumably on the Ravens' radar are Upshaw, Hightower and Barron. Upshaw would take the starting spot left by Jarret Johnson, Hightower would be the heir to Ray Lewis and Barron would eventually take Ed Reed's leadership role in the secondary.

STEELERS: In case you missed it over the weekend, Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is mulling a holdout. After Friday's deadline came and went without Wallace getting an offer sheet from another team, the restricted free agent told some within the Steelers organization that he does not plan to sign his first-round tender "until he has to," a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. This means that Wallace could wind up holding out for some or all of training camp. Hensley's slant: Wallace would only be hurting himself by dragging this out beyond June 15 (when the Steelers can cut the tender to $577,500 if he doesn't sign). If his protest goes beyond that, it still doesn't hurt his chances of staying with the Steelers long term.

It's clear that restricted free agent Mike Wallace is not happy with the Pittsburgh Steelers right now. He is prepared to sit out offseason drills and at least the start of training camp, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Does this hurt the Steelers' chances of keeping him long term? Not at all. Players get upset about their contract status all the time and skip workouts on a regular basis to show their dissatisfaction with their current situation.

Just remember the recent predicament with guard Logan Mankins, who was unhappy and wanted out of New England because he didn't want to play as a restricted free agent. How did that get resolved? Mankins signed a six-year contract last summer that included a $20 million signing bonus.

It was a similar ugly standoff last year between the Tennessee Titans and running back Chris Johnson. In the end, the sides were shaking hands on four-year, $53.5 million contract extension that included $30 million guaranteed.

Wallace wants a long-term deal instead of a $2.7 million first-round tender. He has outplayed his contract, and the Steelers have repeatedly said they want to sign him to a multiyear deal. This problem probably won't get resolved this year, but Wallace would only be hurting himself by dragging this out beyond June 15 (when the Steelers can cut the tender to $577,500 if he doesn't sign).

The Steelers don't a have long history of re-signing their wide receivers in free agency -- only Hines Ward has been retained -- but there's also no reason to doubt the team's desire to keep him. Pittsburgh has rewarded Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons with extensions.

Plus, Wallace is a key part of the Steelers' deep passing game. His receiving yards (3,206) and touchdowns (24) both rank as the second most by an NFL receiver in his first three seasons. And, even when Wallace isn't catching the ball, the threat of him running deep opens up the underneath for wide receiver Antonio Brown and tight end Heath Miller.

So, Wallace is ticked off by his contract status, and the Steelers aren't going to like him missing workouts in a year with a new offensive coordinator. But NFL history shows that a multiyear contract can turn a temporarily bad situation into a happy long-term one.

It's past 4 p.m. on Friday. You know what that means? It means more than the start of happy hour. It's time for the Steelers to breathe a sigh of relief.

No team signed restricted free-agent Mike Wallace by the deadline, according to ESPN's Andrew Brandt. So, Wallace remains with the Steelers this season.

Congratulations, Pittsburgh. The Steelers' front office took a risk by not putting the franchise tag on Wallace and won $7 million with that gamble. If you want to be specific, the Steelers netted $6.8 million by putting a first-round tender on Wallace ($2.7 million) instead of the tag ($9.5 million).

Wallace hasn't reported to offseason workouts because he has yet to sign the tender. He has until June 15 to sign it before the Steelers can get cut the tender to $577,500 -- a loss of $2.1 million. But that's not going to happen. The Steelers aren't going to save any more millions of dollars with Wallace this year.

The deadline for a team to sign restricted free agent Mike Wallace to an offer sheet is 4 p.m. ET today. All indications point to Wallace remaining with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2013 season.

I gave my take on why no team has gone after Wallace, a Pro Bowl wide receiver who finished 11th in receiving yards with 1,193 last season. In the video above, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter offers his reasoning on why Wallace hasn't been offered a contract by any other team.

No team is expected to make a run at Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace before Friday's deadline, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The lack of interest shouldn't be a reflection on Wallace, who is one of the top young wide receivers in the NFL. Factors just never fell into place for him.

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers would've pursued Wallace if they didn't fill their needs at wide receiver in free agency. The Patriots signed Brandon Lloyd, and the 49ers added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. If the Patriots or 49ers struck out in unrestricted free agency, they would have been willing to part ways with a late first-round pick to get Wallace and his jaw-dropping speed.

What also worked against Wallace was the draft. Wide receiver is one of the deepest positions this year, so teams such as the Jaguars and the Bengals weren't pressured to go after a top wide receiver in free agency.

Wallace is ultimately the loser in this situation because he didn't get the big-money, long-term deal that he wanted. He is protesting this by not attending the start of the Steelers' voluntary offseason workouts. Wallace will play under his $2.7 million restricted free-agent tender, which he will have to sign before June 15 (or the team can reduce his salary to $577,500).

The winner in this situation is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They took a risk by placing a first-round tender on Wallace instead of the franchise tag (which would have required two first-round picks to sign him). But the gamble paid off for the Steelers, who have a history of making the right moves in the offseason.

Now that the Steelers know they are going to have Wallace this season; the next issue is whether they will have him in 2013. Everyone in the organization -- from Art Rooney II to Ben Roethlisberger -- has expressed their desire to keep Wallace.

Retaining Wallace won't come as cheaply as this year. He deserves a contract that exceeds the one given to DeSean Jackson (five years, maximum value of $51 million, including $15 million guaranteed) and comes close to the one signed this year by Vincent Jackson (five-year, $55.5 million deal that includes $26 million guaranteed). The Steelers could use the franchise tag on Wallace, but they probably won't do so because they frowned on doing that this year.

This offseason didn't go as planned for Wallace. But whether it's the Steelers or another team looking for a deep threat, he should get rewarded next year.

A handful of teams are interested in trading for Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace, a league source told Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

There's one snag to this happening -- the Steelers shouldn't be interested in trading Wallace. There's no logical reason for the Steelers to do this. Wallace isn't happy that he is playing under his restricted free-agent tender, and the Steelers won't be happy if Wallace decides to skip offseason workouts because of that. But all signs point to Wallace catching long passes from Ben Roethlisberger this season.

First of all, the Steelers can't expect to get a first-round pick for Wallace on draft day because that's the price to acquire him right now as a restricted free agent. If any team is willing to part with a first-rounder, it will sign Wallace to an offer sheet before the April 20 deadline.

Another nugget of information to remember when trying to validate this trade rumor: The Steelers know they will get a compensatory third-round pick for Wallace if he leaves as a free agent after this season. While no one really knows the league formula for handing out compensatory picks, the Cincinnati Bengals received a third-round compensatory pick for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2009. Enough said.

The only remaining scenario is a team offering a second-round pick (and perhaps a package that includes a second-rounder and multiple later-round picks) for Wallace. But this deal shouldn't interest the Steelers either. Why get only a second-round pick for a No. 1 wide receiver? He's an integral part of the Steelers making another Super Bowl run this year, and Pittsburgh still has 10 months to get Wallace signed to a long-term deal. And, if the Steelers fail to sign Wallace, they still get a third-rounder for him.

Trading their top wide receiver wouldn't be unprecedented for the Steelers. Pittsburgh traded Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick 10 days before the 2010 draft. But Holmes and Wallace are two receivers who represent two different issues. Holmes was facing a four-game suspension at the time after a series of off-the-field incidents. Wallace is coming off a Pro Bowl season and has produced the second-most receiving yards ever (3,206) in a player's first three seasons in the NFL.

So, there's no surprise that there's a handful of teams interested in trading for Wallace. It would just be shocking to see the Steelers actually trading him.