The Mike Wallace watch stretches on in Pittsburgh, but inside the Steelers' locker room, the wide receiver's teammates believe he's about to show his face.
That's according to plan. Wallace is expected to rejoin the team before the start of the season after skipping OTAs, minicamp and all of training camp through this week. Wallace wants a long-term deal; the Steelers want him to sign his $2.742 million tender.
The Steelers historically don't negotiate with holdouts, which contributes to the theory Wallace eventually will cave.
"There's a little buzz around the team that he'll be coming back pretty soon," receiver Emmanuel Sanderstold the Beaver County Times. "I don't know the exact date, but it's looking pretty good."
It's unlikely to happen before the Steelers returns to team headquarters in Pittsburgh next week. That would give him at least a few weeks to learn Todd Haley's new offense. The Steelers have been advertised as building a run-first offense, but don't believe it. Yes, they'll pound the ball, but Haley loved the pass in Arizona and has one of the game's premier quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger.
This is a different team if Wallace stays away, but the Steelers aren't about to trade him. It's one of the offseason's final, lingering contract dramas. One that might be nearing an end.
