Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders Has Alot To Prove

Emmanuel Sanders Can Prove he is a Capable
#2 WR on MNF vs the Chiefs

I'm sure all of SteelerNation saw how the NFL fined not only the Steelers organization 30k, but also WR Emmanuel Sanders 15k for supposedly faking an injury on Sunday Night Football vs the Cincinnati Bengals.  Before I go any further, I might as well give you my thoughts on the play and the fine.  I think its complete B.S.  For one simple reason...how is the NFL brass going to gauge whether or not Sanders was faking and INJURY or not.  They are not there on the sideline as the training staff talked with him.  They are not inside his head and knowing whether or not he developed a sudden cramp.  With all of that said, I do think Sanders faked the injury, but if I were Mike Tomlin I'd tell him to do it again...maybe just a little better acting job.  That "fake" injury helped save a timeout for the Steelers and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to get himself together after being visibly shaken after the play.  However, after all is said and done, Emmanuel Sanders has a chance to have the last word.  Let me explain...

Since being a little lighter in the wallet, Emmanuel Sanders if faced with a very real opportunity this Monday Night, and it has nothing to do with fake injuries.  What it does have to deal with is the fact that he is moving from the #3 WR position to the #2 with Antonio Brown out with an ankle injury.  Why is this such a big deal?  Lets look at the WR situation from an outsiders / organizational standpoint.  #1 WR Mike Wallace was disgruntled this offseason and skipped training camp.  The odds of Wallace and the Steelers agreeing to a deal that wouldn't send them soaring over the salary cap are not good.  Assuming the Steelers DON'T keep Wallace, they signed #2 WR Antonio Brown to a big contract extension during training camp that will make him a Steeler for a long time.  #4 WR Jerricho Cotchery (a dude that I love watching play...I wish he played more because he reminds me of a younger Hines Ward) signed a 2 year contract with the Steelers going into this season.  He will be back next season at the least.  Then there is #3 WR Emmanuel Sanders.  He is in the final year of his rookie contract, and has alot to prove.  The Steelers are going to have to lose a WR, and even though everyone think its going to be Wallace, there is a chance its Sanders that draws the short stick and is left to test free agency. 

Is Emmanuel Sanders the next Nate Washington?  A guy who runs good routes, has above average speed, and good hands, but isn't a #1 WR?  Will the Steelers allow Wallace to test free agency knowing that if they re-sign Sanders he will be alot cheaper and the duo of Brown and Wallace could be very formidable?  The latter of those two questions is the question that Emmanuel Sanders can answer on Monday Night Football when he lines up at WR on almost 90% of the Steelers offensive snaps.  I wrote this in training camp on the site when Mike Wallace was holding out, and I still believe it...the Steelers would be just fine with Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery.  Mike Wallace is going to demand a contract that the Steelers just can't afford.  After watching the Steelers first 8 games, is it still crucial that the Steelers keep Mike Wallace with his deep threat ability?  I don't think so, as long as Todd Haley is the offensive coordinator.  Haley's "dink and dunk" offense is not the Bruce Arians "go deep" offense.  Its a catch and run offense, and those are two things areas where Sanders and Brown excel.

Regardless of your thoughts on the Mike Wallace contract situation, young WR Emmanuel Sanders has a good chance to prove that he is a very capable #2 WR on Monday Night Football.  If he performs well, it could go a long way in the mind of the Steelers "brass" and that could lead to "young money" getting more money.  Enough money that the 15k he just had to send to the league office could feel like a drop in the bucket.  I, for one, am seeing big things for Mr. Sanders on Monday Night Football....along with the rest of the Steelers team.  Go Steelers!