Lions postpone talks with Suh | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Allen Park, Mich. • The Detroit Lions are postponing contract talks with All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh until after the season.

Suh is entering the final season of his contract, and team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew said before practice Monday that negotiations are being tabled. Lewand and Mayhew both expressed optimism that a deal can eventually be reached.

If the two sides can'tagree after the season, the Lions could still keep Suh by using their franchise tag on him.

Suh was drafted in 2010 by the Lions with the second overall pick, and he has 27½ sacks in his four pro seasons.

Thomas still absent from Broncos camp

Denver Broncos star Demaryius Thomas is missing his seventh workout of training camp.

Coach John Fox had said Sunday he hoped to have Thomas back at practice Monday morning, but the wide receiver was apparently still making his way back from Georgia following the death of his grandmother.

Thomas caught a team-best 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. He also set a Super Bowl record with 13 receptions.

His agent and the Broncos have exchanged proposals on a long-term contract. General manager John Elway said he didn't walk talks to drag on past the first week of August.

DeMarcus Ware, who bruised a leg Sunday, was among the nicked-up players held out of Monday morning's practice.

Steelers considering contract extensions

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going shopping.

General manager Kevin Colbert said Monday the team hopes to use some of its remaining room under the salary cap to lock down a potential free agent before the regular season begins.

The Steelers have four starters entering the final year of their deals, including outside linebacker Jason Worilds and cornerback Cortez Allen.

Colbert declined to specify how far under the $130 million cap the Steelers are, but said it is less than $6.5 million. While it's not enough to hammer out a new contract for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Colbert is adamant the team will make sure Roethlisberger — who has two years left on his deal — remains in Pittsburgh for the entirety of his career.

Cardinals find gem in 6th-round pick

In one season, Andre Ellington has gone from sixth-round draft pick to dynamic featured back for the Arizona Cardinals.

Team after team passed on him until Arizona made him the 187th player chosen in that draft. Ellington wasn't even the first running back the Cardinals selected. Stanford's Stepfan Taylor was picked by Arizona in the fifth round.

Ellington, elusive and exceedingly quick, turned out to be a hidden gem.

After amassing a combined 1,023 yards rushing and receiving as a rookie, Ellington's role for the Cardinals has expanded and big things are expected of him.

As long as the 5-foot-9, 199-pound former Clemson standout can withstand the added punishment a higher profile will bring,