Alan Faneca -- Holding out? Click photo for larger image.

They're voluntary workouts and, while most of the Steelers have attended the first two days under new coach Mike Tomlin's direction, one missing player has drawn the most attention.

All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, an offensive co-captain, has not attended the workouts that began Monday and have drawn all but a few players. Under normal circumstances, it might not even be noted, but Faneca publicly questioned the Steelers' decision to bypass his line coach, Russ Grimm, for the job that Tomlin ultimately got.

Also, negotiations to extend Faneca's contract, which has one year left, have gone nowhere. All that, combined with the cryptic response by his agent yesterday, could add up to why Faneca has not yet attended, or even if he plans to.

Agent Rick Smith said yesterday that he would not comment about Faneca at any time, now or in the future, and that any comments would have to come from "Rooney or Kevin Colbert."

Faneca will earn $4,375,000 this year, including $1 million paid him this month in a roster bonus. But Faneca, who has made the past six Pro Bowls, no doubt has noticed the whopping contracts that other guards -- without his credentials -- have been getting recently.

Eric Steinbach left the Cincinnati Bengals to sign a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Derrick Dockery left the Washington Redskins for the Buffalo Bills for the same kind of deal, including $18.5 million guaranteed. Neither has made the Pro Bowl.

Tomlin said he talked to Faneca and was satisfied with his reason for not attending the workouts.

"Everyone that was not here called in and gave legitimate reasons why, but, at the same time, this is voluntary," Tomlin said. "It's about guys individually getting better. One thing that the guys do respect is when you do show up and you work together, you build a little chemistry and camaraderie. And that's what it's about. Everybody just wants to know that everybody else that has a stake in it is doing everything they can to get better."

NOTE -- The Steelers continued to look for depth at outside linebacker when they interviewed Rocky Boiman (6 feet 4, 245 pounds) at their training facility on the South Side yesterday. Boiman, who played at Notre Dame, is an unrestricted free agent from the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. He served mostly as a backup and special teams player in his only season with the Colts after having previously started for the Tennessee Titans, with whom he played from 2002 through 2005.