Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Most Underpaid Players for the 2011 Regular Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a veteran-laden team coming off their third appearance in a Super Bowl over the past decade.

The team has been led throughout those three Super Bowls by players with big reputations such as Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward. As such, they are also some of the team's highest paid players.

However, what was key to the team's most recent Super Bowl was the younger guys that didn't make the big bucks in 2010 and won't this coming year either.

Rashard Mendenhall

Salary for 2011: $612,500

Rashard Mendenhall is arguably a top 10 running back in this league. Entering the second to last year of his rookie deal, he is still not even making six figures per season.

Mendenhall may have recently lost a sponsorship deal with Champion but don't expect any holdout here.

His contract will likely be reworked after this season in order to prevent him from hitting free agency next year. The potential loss of Mewelde Moore and the unproven backs that sit behind him will make Mendenhall's value to the team rise.

The former Illinois back could be in for a huge year next season as the Steelers should be playing with a stronger offensive line opposed to last year.

Mike Wallace

Salary for 2011: $480,000

Wallace is entering the final year of his rookie contract but has outplayed his deal to this point. The third-round pick is the team's best receiver already after only two seasons in the league.

Receivers often breakout in their third seasons in the league, so big things could be expected from Wallace next year.

The Steelers have really benefited financially from Kevin Colbert's strong showings in recent drafts making players like Wallace an excellent value to the team.

Lawrence Timmons

Salary for 2011: $650,000

Lawrence Timmons really emerged last season and was arguably the team's best linebacker. He erased any doubts that fans had about him after his first season starting with consistent performances throughout the trip to the Super Bowl.

Like Wallace and Mendenhall, Timmons is coming to the end of his rookie contract. He is entering his final year this coming season.

The team is going to have a logjam of players to re-sign soon as both he and LaMarr Woodley will be needing long-term deals.

Emmanuel Sanders

Salary for 2011: $405,000

Emmanuel Sanders had a very impressive rookie campaign once he entered the starting lineup. Sanders eventually became a key cornerstone for the team's game plan in the Super Bowl but left the game early because of injury.

Nonetheless, this speaks to how highly in regard the coaching staff holds Sanders. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive backs because of his great size, speed and agility coupled with his magnificently soft hands.

Sanders could even supplant Hines Ward as the team's starter next season alongside Wallace. Not too shabby for a guy costing less than half a million dollars.

James Farrior

Salary for 2011: $2,825,000

James Farrior may not exactly be coming cheap as he is coming to the end of his career, but his leadership alone makes him a bargain.

Farrior's contribution to this team overall is worth twice what the team is paying him.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby   @Cianaf

Are you a big sports fan? Then make sure to check out Chicago Sports Authority, which is the website that hosts The Magazine that I write for.

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.