Emmanuel Sanders offer sheet matched by Steelers, agent says

The Pittsburgh Steelers have matched the offer sheet given to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, his agent said on Twitter Sunday night.

Sanders, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet with the New England Patriots on Wednesday, and it was unclear if the salary-cap troubled Steelers would match the offer to keep the promising young receiver in Pittsburgh. Jordan Woy, Sanders' agent, confirmed that the Steelers had decided to match the offer on Sunday.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lobbied hard to keep Sanders in Pittsburgh, making the case to head coach Mike Tomlin and others in the organization. In his third NFL season last year, the 26-year-old Sanders had 44 receptions for 626 yards and one touchdown.