Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, quarterback Drew Bledsoe and running back Tiki Barber are among the first-year candidates eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In addition to those three, Bill Parcells, Marty Schottenheimer, Keyshawn Johnson, Stephen Davis, Rod Smith, Will Shields, Troy Vincent and Mike Vanderjagt are also eligible. Parcells and Schottenheimer previously were eligible under different requirements. In 2008, the Hall of Fame made it mandatory for coaches, like players, to be retired five consecutive seasons. Before that, coaches were eligible immediately upon retirement, allowing Parcells to be a nominee in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Schottenheimer in 2000.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is looking to fortify the team's offensive line. Three of the team's starters on the line were helped off the field during Sunday night's win over the Colts. Tomlin said the Steelers are "open to looking to maybe bring someone in" this week. He stressed the team is looking for depth, not someone to show up on Wednesday and be ready to play in Sunday's game at Houston. "It would just be for practice purposes only," Tomlin said.

Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is sticking by his goal of amassing 2,000 yards this season. "Ha!" Wallace said after Sunday night's game against the Colts. "Doesn't seem like a joke anymore, does it?" Wallace has the second-most yards (377) in the NFL, which puts him on pace for 2,011 this season. "You know, this is just the start, man," Wallace said. "We're only three games into the season. Long way to go."

Ben Roethlisberger survived a scare to his lower right leg in Sunday's game when Raheem Brock fell into it, forcing it to cave in during the first half of the Steelers' win over Seattle. "Anytime your knee gets rolled up it's very scary,'' Roethlisberger said. "But the good thing was I didn't feel anything pop. And the doctors examined it and moved the knee around and everything was stable.''

Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu has been fined $15,000 for a horse-collar tackle on Ravens running back Ray Rice during Sunday's season opener, according to an ESPN.com report on Friday.

Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh. Coach Pete Carroll said after practice Friday that Rice won't make it back in time for Sunday but is encouraged he'll be available for the team's home opener next week.

The Steelers have called about free-agent offensive tackle Flozell Adams, according to the player's agent, but nothing is imminent. Adams was the only offensive lineman to start every game for the Steelers in 2010. Pittsburgh could be in the market for an offensive lineman. Starting right tackle Willie Colon will miss the season with a torn triceps tendon, according to sources.

Troy Polamalu has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Steelers that will run through the 2014 season. "I am happy to say that I will retire a Pittsburgh Steeler!" Polamalu posted on Twitter. Terms of the deal were not initially known.

The Steelers and representatives for Troy Polamalu are working hard to reach an agreement on a contract extension before Sunday. Polamalu has one year and $6.4 million left on his contract. Pittsburgh has a longstanding, team-imposed cutoff of the start of the regular season in which to have contracts done.

The Steelers haven't yet decided whether to dress No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon for Sunday's opener against the Ravens. If the Steelers choose to sit Dixon, their emergency quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch will be receiver Hines Ward. "I am just taking snaps just in case," said Ward, who last played quarterback in college. "We don't have an option right now. I can hand the ball off, but if it comes down to me, we are really in bad shape."