[markshome23]

They can afford to pay him , they dont have Burress anymore.

[Soadiassy]

From DraftSharks.com

The Steelers reportedly offered WR Hines Ward a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in their history – and he turned it down. A source also told the Post-Gazette the offer “also would put Ward among a tier of receivers just below several of the highest paid in the league.” The signing bonus is reportedly $9 million (just above Ben Roethlisberger’s deal) but no other contract details, including length and total, were revealed. Ward’s agents reportedly countered for a signing bonus of more than $10 million, a figure that several receivers have collected in total guaranteed payments. Ward has one year left at $1,668,750 on a contract he signed in the summer of 2001. The Steelers’ front office is not one to screw this up, at least not when everyone’s sitting at the table. Ward will be in training camp on Sunday and he will get his money more front-loaded to his liking.