Aug 3, 2013 5 min read

LATROBE – Emmanuel Sanders could be pouting. Heck, he could have taken a page from Mike Wallace’s book a year ago and decided to skip some training camp practices in an effort to get a contract extension.

Sanders, however, is doing neither at the Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College.

The fourth-year Steelers receiver has been too excited about the opportunity that awaited him in training camp to be worried about his contract status or next season.

“I don’t think about the contract,” said the 26-year-old Sanders. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be a starting wide receiver in this league. Two foot surgeries and a knee surgery held me back for so long that it feels good to report to camp and be healthy. Not only that, but to be a starter; I’m more than prepared. I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this moment. I’m not worried about next year. If I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not, I’m not. This is the one year that I’ve got, and I want to win a Super Bowl.”

It’s a refreshing attitude after Wallace’s prolonged holdout in 2012 during which the Steelers’ star receiver skipped training camp and most of the preseason trying to get a new deal with the team. Because of the holdout, Wallace never truly completely grasped new offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s offense and seemed distracted at times.

Sanders won’t say that he learned from that experience. But he was obviously watching and taking notes.

Even though he still isn’t signed beyond this season and the Steelers aren’t actively working on a new deal – unsure what the market is for a receiver who has an injury history and has never been a full-time starter. Sanders is fine with that.

“I won’t hold back because that’s not who I am,” Sanders said. “I’m not going to shy away from anything or try to cheat my teammates because of my selfishness. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m going to go out, give 100 percent. If it all works out, as far as next year, if I’m somewhere else or here, that’s where God wants me to be.”

For a while during the offseason, he wasn’t sure what uniform he’d be putting on this season.

A restricted free agent, Sanders signed an offer sheet from the New England Patriots, giving the Steelers a week to match the one-year, $2.5-million deal rather than the $1.323 million they were scheduled to pay him.

Had the Steelers, who were up against the salary cap, not chosen to match the deal, they would have received New England’s third-round draft pick as compensation. At the end of the sixth day, Sanders got a call from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

“The Steelers waited until the last moment, so I did think I was going to be a New England Patriot,” Sanders said. “When Mike Tomlin called me, I was ecstatic. Me and Antonio (Brown), when we got here, we said that we wanted to win a Super Bowl here. We came close in 2010, but it didn’t happen. I feel like I have something to accomplish here. The rest of it will work itself out.”

Having already lost Wallace and unsure of tight end Heath Miller’s comeback from a knee injury suffered late last season, the Steelers couldn’t afford to open 2013 without three of their top four receiving threats.

Sanders, who had been slowed by foot and knee injuries in his first two seasons, finally played in all 16 games last season, setting career-highs for catches (44) and yards (626). Both totals ranked fourth on the team, and Sanders figures to increase both in 2013 starting opposite Brown.

The Steelers remain hopeful Miller will return sooner rather than later from his torn ACL and MCL, but in the meantime, opponents figure to double Brown in an attempt to slow Pittsburgh’s offense.

“Maybe,” Brown said. “That’s why it’s a team game. The other 10 guys on the field have got to do their job. We’ve got to work together as a team.”

That’s why Sanders fits in. While Brown will be playing Wallace’s ‘X’ receiver position, Sanders has slid into the role formerly held by Hines Ward at the ‘Z.’ He’s embraced the role.

“I like it. You have to be physical in the run game,” Sanders said. “As far as the pass plays, you get your fair amount of balls. We all know when the season starts, Antonio is probably going to be getting a lot of attention. I’m really looking forward to seeing a single corner on me. It’s going to be a good year.”

Odds and end zones

The Steelers placed rookie guard Nik Embernate on the waived/injured list and signed veteran offensive tackle D’Anthony Batiste, who has played with six NFL teams, most recently with Arizona. … The Steelers will wear their 1934 striped throwbacks Nov. 17 against Detroit. … A myriad of players missed practice with minor injuries Saturday, including linebackers Jason Worilds, Jarvis Jones, Adrian Robinson, running back Le’Veon Bell, tight end Matt Spaeth and nose tackle Steve McLendon. … Linebacker Lawrence Timmons missed practice due to a death in his family, while defensive end Brett Keisel was given a second veteran’s day off in a row. … The Steelers will practice at 3 p.m. today. It is open to the public.