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Report: Big Ben lobbying to keep Emmanuel Sanders

Published: Apr 12, 2013 at 12:55 PM

Ben Roethlisberger has every right to be nervous.

It wasn't long ago that Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders were calling themselves the "Young Money Crew." Now they're getting money from other teams.

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Wallace took a five-year, $60 million contract from the Miami Dolphins, and Sanders recently signed a one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet from the New England Patriots. The Pittsburgh Steelers have until Sunday to match the offer or take a third-round draft pick from the Patriots.

Big Ben has lobbied coach Mike Tomlin and others within the Steelers' organization to keep Sanders in black and gold, CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported Friday. Wallace and Sanders combined for 108 catches and 1,462 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Sanders had career highs in receptions and yards in 2012, and he just turned 26.

La Canfora added that the Steelers' final decision likely will be made by ownership. Roethlisberger might want to take the Rooneys to dinner Saturday night because he's quickly running out of weapons.

UPDATE: A source told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport on Saturday that the Steelers' decision probably will not be made until Sunday. The Steelers must match the Patriots' offer by 11:59.59 p.m. ET on Sunday if they want to keep Sanders.

Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.

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