Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

[Dee Dub]

By Adam Schefter
ESPN

The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to tender, not franchise, restricted free agent Mike Wallace, according to a source close to the wide receiver.

This means another team could try to sign Wallace to an offer sheet that the Steelers would have the right to match -- or get a first-round pick in return.

The highest qualifying offer for Wallace is about $2.75 million, nearly matching the amount that Pittsburgh is now under the salary cap. To franchise Wallace would cost Pittsburgh $9.5 million, which it currently does not have the salary-cap space to absorb.

At the scouting combine last week, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert sounded determined to keep Wallace.

"Having a great player like Mike Wallace is not a dilemma," Colbert said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure that Mike Wallace remains a Pittsburgh Steeler and I think that's Mike's belief as well. Usually when you have two parties that share the same goal, it's easier to achieve that goal."

Wallace, however, acknowledged last week that he might not be playing for Pittsburgh this season.

"(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 told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "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 had 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2011 and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. The 25-year old has led the Steelers in receiving touchdowns the past two seasons after tying for the team lead in his rookie season.

The Steelers drafted Wallace in the third round (84th overall) in 2009 out of Mississippi.

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7633206/pittsburgh-steelers-franchise-wr-mike-wallace-source-says"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/76332 ... ource-says[/url]

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

Bouchette said he doesn't think they will either on Sirius this morning.

[Steelhere10]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

A source always say something. Wallace will be signed before long. There is no way that the Steelers enter the season with only two wr under contract.

[Oviedo]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

It was always an option. We don't have the ability to hear the talks going on right now between agent & team. They know where the are and what the intensions are. Just remember what Colbert said. They want Wallace & Wallace wants to be here. Wallace has to sign an offer sheet for the rule to apply. Nothing says he can't test the market and get a figure from another team to guage the Steelers. For all we know they are close and the will get him signed before or right after. The hush hush feelers were out at the combine and both sides got info they need. I wish they would franchise to protect themselves but the know the threat better than I do so I will roll with it.

[steelblood]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

It was always an option. We don't have the ability to hear the talks going on right now between agent & team. They know where the are and what the intensions are. Just remember what Colbert said. They want Wallace & Wallace wants to be here. Wallace has to sign an offer sheet for the rule to apply. Nothing says he can't test the market and get a figure from another team to guage the Steelers. For all we know they are close and the will get him signed before or right after. The hush hush feelers were out at the combine and both sides got info they need. I wish they would franchise to protect themselves but the know the threat better than I do so I will roll with it.

One advantage of not franchising

More negotiating leverage-If the Steelers franchise Mike Wallace he is guaranteed nearly 10 million dollars for next season. If he got this tag, he'd have less incentive to sign a long term deal. He could always play the tag out, make good money and be a UFA next season. The Steelers would need to start with 18-20 million guaranteed just to have a conversation about the contract. It is a risk to assign the high RFA tender, but it would also be a risk to assign the franchise tag as we'd have significantly decreased leverage for a long term contract.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

It was always an option. We don't have the ability to hear the talks going on right now between agent & team. They know where the are and what the intensions are. Just remember what Colbert said. They want Wallace & Wallace wants to be here. Wallace has to sign an offer sheet for the rule to apply. Nothing says he can't test the market and get a figure from another team to guage the Steelers. For all we know they are close and the will get him signed before or right after. The hush hush feelers were out at the combine and both sides got info they need. I wish they would franchise to protect themselves but the know the threat better than I do so I will roll with it.

One advantage of not franchising
More negotiating leverage-If the Steelers franchise Mike Wallace he is guaranteed nearly 10 million dollars for next season. If he got this tag, he'd have less incentive to sign a long term deal. He could always play the tag out, make good money and be a UFA next season. The Steelers would need to start with 18-20 million guaranteed just to have a conversation about the contract. It is a risk to assign the high RFA tender, but it would also be a risk to assign the franchise tag as we'd have significantly decreased leverage for a long term contract.

Steelers wouldn't franchise him unless they felt they could get a long term deal done. Similiar to the Starks tagging. The new CBA is Top 5 of last 5 years so the 9.5 is a bargain if you need to let him play it out. The tag is actually leverage for the team. They can tag him again with the increase. Nobody wants to play on a 1 year contract. Money is game checks..Nothing up front. The injury factor is always present. If they don't feel the need to tag him I feel they are confident he isn't going anywhere.

[Oviedo]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

It was always an option. We don't have the ability to hear the talks going on right now between agent & team. They know where the are and what the intensions are. Just remember what Colbert said. They want Wallace & Wallace wants to be here. Wallace has to sign an offer sheet for the rule to apply. Nothing says he can't test the market and get a figure from another team to guage the Steelers. For all we know they are close and the will get him signed before or right after. The hush hush feelers were out at the combine and both sides got info they need. I wish they would franchise to protect themselves but the know the threat better than I do so I will roll with it.

One advantage of not franchising

More negotiating leverage-If the Steelers franchise Mike Wallace he is guaranteed nearly 10 million dollars for next season. If he got this tag, he'd have less incentive to sign a long term deal. He could always play the tag out, make good money and be a UFA next season. The Steelers would need to start with 18-20 million guaranteed just to have a conversation about the contract. It is a risk to assign the high RFA tender, but it would also be a risk to assign the franchise tag as we'd have significantly decreased leverage for a long term contract.

It will be hard to sign Wallace to a long term deal unless the shoo Foote, Farrior and Smith out the door first.

[Steelers>NFL]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I feel 2 first round picks coming in the draft come April.

plus signing Cotchery.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

It was always an option. We don't have the ability to hear the talks going on right now between agent & team. They know where the are and what the intensions are. Just remember what Colbert said. They want Wallace & Wallace wants to be here. Wallace has to sign an offer sheet for the rule to apply. Nothing says he can't test the market and get a figure from another team to guage the Steelers. For all we know they are close and the will get him signed before or right after. The hush hush feelers were out at the combine and both sides got info they need. I wish they would franchise to protect themselves but the know the threat better than I do so I will roll with it.

One advantage of not franchising

More negotiating leverage-If the Steelers franchise Mike Wallace he is guaranteed nearly 10 million dollars for next season. If he got this tag, he'd have less incentive to sign a long term deal. He could always play the tag out, make good money and be a UFA next season. The Steelers would need to start with 18-20 million guaranteed just to have a conversation about the contract. It is a risk to assign the high RFA tender, but it would also be a risk to assign the franchise tag as we'd have significantly decreased leverage for a long term contract.

It will be hard to sign Wallace to a long term deal unless the shoo Foote, Farrior and Smith out the door first.

Smith, Farrior, and one of Scott or Allen. I also feel Kemo & Hampton will come after June 1st. I have a different take on Hampton. I believe they are saying he is coming back so they don't show their hand. He either will have to take a significant pay cut or released with an injury settlement. I do not believe a man of his age & weight given his time table regardless of his position will be ready for the beginnning of the season. The legs and back of a DT/NT play a significant role in his ability to hold up at the point of attack. I don't feel he will be the same player he was last year by season start and that player was in decline to begin with. Just my take.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

I thought it was a foregone conclusion that they weren't going to "franchise" Wallace. Why is this news...again?

The same reason why...........

Haley will bring a different approach to the Steelers offense

Mendenhall's ACL might not be ready in time for camp

The Steelers would like to make a deeper run into the playoffs next year

Several players indicate that they would be willing to restructure their contracts

Farrior, Foote, Hampton, Smith, Kemoeatu are all considerations for cutting

.................................are all news

Because we are starving Steelers fans and any tidbit of non-information becomes a story at this time of year.

[flippy]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

The more I think about this, the more I worry we might end up regretting this.

Wallace is an emerging beast. He's 25. And he's way better than anyone you're likely going to get at the end of the first round. And there are teams that need a WR.

At the same time, I put really minimal value in the WR position. We'll find another. No problem.

But I have this weird feeling, if he lands in NE for example, we've officially created a Tecmo Bowl offense. It doesn't even matter if NE can play D at that point. I do not see how you could possibly stop Wallace, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker with Brady throwing to them.

There's a lot of teams later in the draft that would be major matchup problems if they got Wallace. In SF, it would be tough to stop Wallace, Davis, and Gore. In Houston you'd have Johsnon, Foster, and Wallace.

Heck, we're practically on the path to having 32 QBs throw for 5000 yards. Why not make it easy for one of these teams to throw for 6000.

The one saving grace may be that these teams aren't the type of teams that would likely overspend on another WR.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

The more I think about this, the more I worry we might end up regretting this.

Wallace is an emerging beast. He's 25. And he's way better than anyone you're likely going to get at the end of the first round. And there are teams that need a WR.

At the same time, I put really minimal value in the WR position. We'll find another. No problem.

But I have this weird feeling, if he lands in NE for example, we've officially created a Tecmo Bowl offense. It doesn't even matter if NE can play D at that point. I do not see how you could possibly stop Wallace, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker with Brady throwing to them.

There's a lot of teams later in the draft that would be major matchup problems if they got Wallace. In SF, it would be tough to stop Wallace, Davis, and Gore. In Houston you'd have Johsnon, Foster, and Wallace.

Heck, we're practically on the path to having 32 QBs throw for 5000 yards. Why not make it easy for one of these teams to throw for 6000.

The one saving grace may be that these teams aren't the type of teams that would likely overspend on another WR.

Good post and a tough decision indeed. At this point in the game, I am leaning toward the 2 number 1 draft picks, trading down one of them and garnering as many picks 2-4 rounds as possible.

I could be wrong.

C-town

[squidkid]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

The more I think about this, the more I worry we might end up regretting this.

Wallace is an emerging beast. He's 25. And he's way better than anyone you're likely going to get at the end of the first round. And there are teams that need a WR.

At the same time, I put really minimal value in the WR position. We'll find another. No problem.

But I have this weird feeling, if he lands in NE for example, we've officially created a Tecmo Bowl offense. It doesn't even matter if NE can play D at that point. I do not see how you could possibly stop Wallace, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker with Brady throwing to them.

There's a lot of teams later in the draft that would be major matchup problems if they got Wallace. In SF, it would be tough to stop Wallace, Davis, and Gore. In Houston you'd have Johsnon, Foster, and Wallace.

Heck, we're practically on the path to having 32 QBs throw for 5000 yards. Why not make it easy for one of these teams to throw for 6000.

The one saving grace may be that these teams aren't the type of teams that would likely overspend on another WR.

devil's advocate, but with wallace, brown, cotchery, miller and mendy with ben throwing to them also would seem to be unstoppable................and we sure were stopped often

[flippy]

Re: Source: Steelers wont franchise WR Wallace

The more I think about this, the more I worry we might end up regretting this.

Wallace is an emerging beast. He's 25. And he's way better than anyone you're likely going to get at the end of the first round. And there are teams that need a WR.

At the same time, I put really minimal value in the WR position. We'll find another. No problem.

But I have this weird feeling, if he lands in NE for example, we've officially created a Tecmo Bowl offense. It doesn't even matter if NE can play D at that point. I do not see how you could possibly stop Wallace, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker with Brady throwing to them.

There's a lot of teams later in the draft that would be major matchup problems if they got Wallace. In SF, it would be tough to stop Wallace, Davis, and Gore. In Houston you'd have Johsnon, Foster, and Wallace.

Heck, we're practically on the path to having 32 QBs throw for 5000 yards. Why not make it easy for one of these teams to throw for 6000.

The one saving grace may be that these teams aren't the type of teams that would likely overspend on another WR.

devil's advocate, but with wallace, brown, cotchery, miller and mendy with ben throwing to them also would seem to be unstoppable................and we sure were stopped often

Ben's never gonna play like Brady, or Brees or Rodgers or any of those other QBs with the high calibre offenses. He's a different animal with a different skill set.

Play calling and his Oline haven't helped him either.