Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

[steelerkeylargo]

said he is not sure he will be back. said he doesn't know how he fits into the offense under Haley. said BA loved to take shots with his speed. He is open to playing for the Patriots....thinks he can put them over the top.

[phillyesq]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

said he is not sure he will be back. said he doesn't know how he fits into the offense under Haley. said BA loved to take shots with his speed. He is open to playing for the Patriots....thinks he can put them over the top.

Thanks for posting.

At this point, it makes sense for Wallace to posture that he is open to leaving. He has potentially $7 million dollars at stake in getting the Steelers to believe that he may leave and that there will be a market for his services.

[SteelBucks]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

Wallace discusses contract talks with Steelers
By Mark Kaboly, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, February 22, 2012


Restricted free agent Mike Wallace and the Steelers are working hard to get a deal done before the start of free agency, but the receiver admits that he very well could be with another team next year.

In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio this afternoon, Wallace said that he would love to stay with the Steelers, but knows that might not be in the best interests of both parties involved.

"(Pittsburgh is) where I would like to be, but we all know that it is a business and you have certain things you have to handle," Wallace said. "So if I have to go elsewhere, you know Pittsburgh will always be in my heart, but I have to do what I have to do."

Wallace said that the Steelers and his agent, Bus Cook, have been in working on a contract extension.

"Yeah, we are talking, but I don`t know how far they are going to get right now because of the situation," Wallace said. "I know that they are working hard trying to take care of it, but I don`t know. We`ll see."

Wallace is a restricted free agent and the Steelers have until March 5 to place the franchise tag on him worth more than $9 million for 2012.

With the Steelers currently at least $5 million over the projected salary cap, it is unlikely they will be able to free up enough money in time to use the franchise tag.

As a restricted free agent, the Steelers could also place a high tender on Wallace, but other teams could offer him a contract that the Steelers might not be able to match because of their current salary cap situation. The Steelers would receive a first-round draft pick if Wallace is signed by another team.

Free agency starts March 13.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

said he doesn't know how he fits into the offense under Haley. said BA loved to take shots with his speed.

We all know that Haley never bothered to throw the ball deep while with Arizona.

[Steelgal]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

I think I've accepted the fact that it's likely Wallace won't be back next. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it, but that's just how I see it playing out. I hope they slap the highest tender on him, so atleast if he does go, we'll have 2 first rounders. But would they be for this year's draft or next??

[SteelBucks]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

I think I've accepted the fact that it's likely Wallace won't be back next. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it, but that's just how I see it playing out. I hope they slap the highest tender on him, so atleast if he does go, we'll have 2 first rounders. But would they be for this year's draft or next??

This year.

[squidkid]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

i'm actually excited about wallace leaving and getting another first rounder.

[Steelers>NFL]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

i'm actually excited about wallace leaving and getting another first rounder.

I think I'd rather have 2 first round picks this year and no Mike Wallace. This will help the team more in the long run.

[steelblood]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

I think I've accepted the fact that it's likely Wallace won't be back next. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it, but that's just how I see it playing out. I hope they slap the highest tender on him, so atleast if he does go, we'll have 2 first rounders. But would they be for this year's draft or next??

This year.

The 2 first rounders is only if we put the non-exclusive franchise tag on him and he signs elsewhere and we do not match. This is very unlikely as it will cost us like 9 million dollars.

The high RFA tender for about 3 million will get us only 1 first rounder if he signs an offer sheet elsewhere that we cannot match. This is the most likely scenario.

[flippy]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

Did he really say he wants to play for the Pats?

Ewwww!

I'm ok if he goes. WRs aren't worth the money teams pay for them unfortunately. I love me some Mike Wallace. But the economics for his position don't make complete sense.

That said, if he goes, I want a star player at another position to replace him. I only would let him go if it makes the team better. Can they reinvest those dollars into improving the D and OLine?

Always remember, we won a SuperBowl with Ward, ARE, and Ced as our top 3 WRs.

[SteelBucks]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

Personally, I think he's staying. It's real easy to spend other teams money but the economics don't make a whole lot of sense. Assuming the Steelers tender Wallace, teams will value his worth and make an offer that they know the Steelers won't match. That's all fine and dandy but they're not going to break their own bank for a receiver who's sole attribute is speed. If the money isn't bad enough, teams will also have to give up their first round pick. That in itself is a high price to pay.

Maybe I'm underestimating Wallace's value but his production in the second half of the season should make teams pause before making an outrageous offer.

But then again, what do I know?

[NW Steeler]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

I think he gets the first round tender and someone else signs him.

[Dee Dub]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

The thing that gets me about all of this (and the media has implied this as well), is any idea that a WR is going to put the Pats over the top. I sure hope they do something like this. Please keep ignoring you defense New England.

They had probably the greatest top end WR the game has ever known in Randy Moss and what that get''em?

[chiken]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

The thing that gets me about all of this (and the media has implied this as well), is any idea that a WR is going to put the Pats over the top. I sure hope they do something like this. Please keep ignoring you defense New England.

They had probably the greatest top end WR the game has ever known in Randy Moss and what that get''em?

The PAts Defense held up very good against an highpower Giants team. They applied plenty of pressure to Eli, controlled the running game and did just enough against the receivers.. The lack of any real Threat on the outside killed them this year. That defense of theirs is very young and got to be pretty good late in the season.

[D Rock]

Re: Mike Wallace interviewed on NFL Radio

Here is a list of reasons why I don't expect any team to give up a first round draft pick to get Mike Wallace from the Steelers:

Dwayne Bowe
Vincent Jackson
Wes Welker
Stevie Johnson
Brandon Lloyd
Marques Colston
Reggie Wayne
Mario Manningham
Laurent Robinson
Robert Meachem
Braylon Edwards
and maybe Desean Jackson


All free agents. Maybe none are better than Wallace, but they also don't require a 1st round pick to obtain.