Steelers' Beachum Not Worried About Contract
LATROBE (93-7 The FAN) - It's believed the next Steelers young player to sign a contract extension will be 26-year-old offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, who comes into this season on the final year of his contract, making $1.5 million.
"That stuff will take care of itself," Beachum said. "I'm here to play football. The business people will take care of the business things. I'll be a businessman after I'm done playing football. Right now, I'm playing football."
According to overthecap.com, Dallas' Tyron Smith makes the most of any left tackle at 12.2 million a season, followed by the Browns' Joe Thomas at $11.5 million.
Beachum was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2012. As it was, many thought second-round pick Mike Adams would take over for Max Starks. However, Beachum started all 16 games last year and has started 33 in his three-year career.
"He just has a business-like approach to everything that he does," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's a special guy, a hard working guy."
"I've come a long ways," Beachum said of his play and being in better shape. "I remember certain exercises that I wasn't able to do in the weight room, that now I'm able to do."
"I do take pride, you should take pride," Beachum said of his body change. "You should take pride in the way you look, you should take pride in the way you carry yourself, you should take pride in the things you do on the field. 'The Steelers Way' is a prideful mantra and I want to be able to live that."