Larry Foote wants to continue his career as a starting linebacker, so the Steelers will reportedly release him in order to help him achieve that goal. Pittsburgh wasn't able to find a trade partner, so sources indicate that they will release the veteran. Foote has one year left on his contract that was scheduled to pay him a salary of $2,885,000, and numerous reports claim that he is interested in playing for the Lions.

The Steelers met with free agent wide receiver Ashley Lelie on Monday, and the two sides could soon agree on a contract. "He had a great visit," agent Peter Schaffer said. "The Steelers and I are going to continue to have open dialogue. I think there's some mutual interest, and we're going to keep discussing it."

Hines Ward agreed and signed a four-year, $22 million contract extension with the Steelers that will allow him to stay with the franchise for the remainder of his career, according to a source. Ward was scheduled to be a free agent after the season. He is now signed through 2013.

If there is a Madden cover curse this season, it could affect two players for the first time, as Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu are this year's cover boys. With their long hair flowing out of their helmets, Fitzgerald and Polamalu represent a perfect symmetry as offensive and defensive stars that both played in last season's Super Bowl.

The Steelers have helped their cap situation by restructuring the contract of cornerback Ike Taylor. Pittsburgh's leading cornerback, Taylor, reduced his base salary of $3.5 million for 2009 to near the league minimum for his tenure, which is $620,000. The balance of his restructure was converted into a guaranteed signing bonus.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward says that he wants to retire as a member of the team. Pittsburgh is approaching the salary cap, which could make it hard for them to retain Ward and other valued veterans past this season. "I don't want to put on another uniform," said Ward. "I want to go down as one of the better wideouts to wear the black and gold. If the two parties can come together and agree to that, I'm all for it."

The Steelers have released running back Gary Russell, who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII. Russell made Pittsburgh as an undrafted rookie in 2007, and was the team's short-yardage back last season.

The defending-champion Steelers have more than 10 projected starters that are entering the final year of their contracts. Pittsburgh was believed to be close to the salary-cap limit of $127 million for 2009 even before they signed linebacker James Harrison to a lucrative extension.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who signed a lucrative extension with the team earlier this week, doesn't feel as though he's played his best football. "I don't feel like I've peaked," Harrison said. "There are things I look at on tape that I did last year that I feel I can do better as far as learning the defense." He signed a six-year, $51.175 million extension with the Super Bowl champions.

With Byron Leftwich out of the picture, the Steelers have agreed on a one-year, $895,000 deal with backup quarterback Charlie Batch. Batch, a native of Pittsburgh, is entering his 11th NFL season and his seventh with the Steelers.