The agent for Ike Taylor met with Steelers negotiator Omar Khan yesterday afternoon at the team's headquarters to discuss a long-term contract for the cornerback.

Agent Scott Smith, along with Taylor's uncle, expects to stay in Pittsburgh through the weekend to try to come to terms with the club.

Taylor, as a restricted free agent, can sign with another team, but the Steelers would have one week to match the deal or let him go and receive a first-round draft choice in return.

That is an unlikely scenario, and teams have only until April 21 to sign restricted free agents.

If Taylor does not sign a long-term deal, he would receive $1.7 million for 2006 and become an unrestricted free agent if he does not sign before March.

Key job for Dan Rooney

Dan Rooney will serve as co-chairman of the eight-member committee appointed by Paul Tagliabue to search for his successor as NFL commissioner. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is the other co-chairman of the committee that also includes owners Al Davis, Lamar Hunt, Woody Johnson, Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft and Mike McCaskey.

Quick hits

Jerome Bettis will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Detroit Tigers' home opener against the Chicago White Sox Monday afternoon. ... The NFL will announce its full schedule of games for 2006 this afternoon.