Emmanuel Sanders isn't going anywhere.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have matched the one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet Sanders signed with the New England Patriots last week. The wide receiver's agent, Jordan Woy, announced the news Sunday on Twitter.
The Steelers later confirmed the announcement, and Sanders tweeted that he'll be back on the Steelers:
A Steelers source told NFL.com's Albert Breer that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger intimated to coach Mike Tomlin that it would be difficult to go into the 2013 season having lost two of his top three receivers, and with tight end Heath Miller coming off anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The Steelers decided they needed to do right by the quarterback.
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The decision to retain Sanders saves the the Steelers from entering a new season without two of their best playmakers on offense. Mike Wallace left the team last month in free agency to join the Miami Dolphins. Sanders is expected to move from the slot to take over for Wallace on the outside.
As for the Patriots, they remain in need of depth at wideout. Expect coach Bill Belichick to target the position in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
