The Pittsburgh Steelers have matched the offer sheet given to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, his agent said on Twitter Sunday night.

Sanders, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet with the New England Patriots on Wednesday, and it was unclear if the salary-cap troubled Steelers would match the offer to keep the promising young receiver in Pittsburgh. Jordan Woy, Sanders’ agent, confirmed that the Steelers had decided to match the offer on Sunday.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lobbied hard to keep Sanders in Pittsburgh, making the case to head coach Mike Tomlin and others in the organization. In his third NFL season last year, the 26-year-old Sanders had 44 receptions for 626 yards and one touchdown.

Pitt has matched the RFA offer sheet on Emmanuel Sanders. First RFA to get offer in 3 years

— Jordan Woy (@JordanWoy) April 14, 2013

Emmanuel Sanders was fined for faking injury in a game against the Bengals this season. (Joe Robbins, Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders were fined a combined $50,000 for Sanders’ actions in his team’s 24-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in week seven, according to CBS Sports. Sanders will pay $15,000 of the fine, while the Steelers will pay the remaining $35,000 to the league.

The Steelers were in the midst of an an offensive drive in the fourth quarter of that game when Sanders fell to the ground, claiming he was suffering from cramps. However, the fact that Sanders seemed to be fully healthy on the previous play and the suddenness of his reaction aroused suspicion. By faking an injury, Sanders could stop the game clock without costing the Steelers a timeout.

The NFL interviewed Sanders last week and handed down its discipline today. The fine is another in a series of hefty punishments doled out by the NFL this season. View the others in this SI photo gallery.