Mendenhall, Sweed sign contracts

Yesterday, the Steelers reached contract agreements with first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall and second-rounder Limas Sweed. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mendenhall's contract is $12.55 million over five years, including $6.83 million in bonuses and guarantees of $7.125 million. Sweed received a four-year deal (typical for one of the Steelers' second-round picks), a less-than-ideal number of years, as it arguably facilitates the player leaving via free agency after four seasons (see Kendrell Bell, Antwaan Randle El and Chad Brown, for example).