Mike Wallace isnt going anywhere

[Slapstick]

They paid them on draft contracts. They never gave huge post draft deals to two receivers on this team. Never been done. It is outside of their core philosophy. Won't happen this time either. If they choose Wallace or Brown, one or the other is going to be gone eventually. They won't both receive huge 2nd contracts from Steelers.

It's a different league now, with more emphasis on passing...

I think the Steelers will adapt...

[Dee Dub]

I understand your line of thinking....But when have the Steelers ever had two WRs of this caliber they actually wanted to hold on to? The '01 & '02 Burress would have stuck around. Burress "unplayed" himself out of town in '03 & '04. Santonio Holmes...He smoked his way out. Your argument is true on the position..But the charcter / production had alot to do with it. I think the whole argument is more about how many times have the Steelers left a productive player walk away that they invested a pick in? Then the second part of the equation would be if financially it was possible. I think it comes down to that, not what they have done in the past. They want both...But can they afford it?

JPN, great post! You hit the nail right on the head here. You can bet had the Steelers wanted Burress or Holmes they would have kept them and resigned them to long term contracts. The reason those two weren't signed had nothing to do with money.

And the part about.."They want both (Wallace and Brown)..But can they afford it"? Well we have seen that if they want certain players they find a way to make it happen by way of re-structures or cuts elsewhere.

[BigRob]

They want both...But can they afford it?

This definition isn't what fans think the Steelers can afford, but what the Rooney's think they can afford for the team. People need to remember that the Steelers have a lot of net worth, but they are not nearly as liquid as some of the other teams.

They will not have the outlay in cash that other teams like the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, etc.. have. That is the other reason why I don't think they will sign two Wide Receiver's to mega deals. Just won't happen. Too much cash outlay and their philosophy won't radically change all of the sudden.

This is of course based on the idea that Wallace and Brown will both command huge contracts.

[Crash]

The Steelers/Rooney's are LOADED. They can compete with any team in the league. Their lease is also ridiculously in their favor as well.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

I still am having trouble understanding why brown commands a "huge contract" and a "mega deal".

he had a really nice second half to the season. Some of you guys are really over estimating his value as of this moment.

I see no trouble signing both.

[BigRob]

That has always been your opinion Crash. This has been discussed by journalist for a long time. They don't have the cash flow in the same vein that Dan Snyder, Stephen Ross, and other true billionaire owner's have for lots of cash outlay.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

This definition isn't what fans think the Steelers can afford, but what the Rooney's think they can afford for the team. People need to remember that the Steelers have a lot of net worth, but they are not nearly as liquid as some of the other teams.

They will not have the outlay in cash that other teams like the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, etc.. have. That is the other reason why I don't think they will sign two Wide Receiver's to mega deals. Just won't happen. Too much cash outlay and their philosophy won't radically change all of the sudden.

This is of course based on the idea that Wallace and Brown will both command huge contracts.

I think maybe before you say "People need to remember that the Steelers have a lot of net worth, but they are not nearly as liquid as some of the other teams." You should consider how many zeroes the Rooney's check book had when they restructured all those deals. A restructure is opening the check book and paying them cash...Real cash. Also consider the most recent deals...Timmons and Woodley didn't sign for peanuts. Don't confuse lack of activity year in and year out on outside free agents with the Steelers not having your "cash outlay". The Steelers don't pay mega deals to outside FA...The Steelers pay their own.

[BigRob]

I think maybe before you say "People need to remember that the Steelers have a lot of net worth, but they are not nearly as liquid as some of the other teams."

This was discussed when the Steelers had to sell percentages to buy-out their gambling brothers. They don't have the liquid cash on hand that other owners and franchises do. I will have to try to find some old articles.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

This was discussed when the Steelers had to sell percentages to buy-out their gambling brothers. They don't have the liquid cash on hand that other owners and franchises do. I will have to try to find some old articles.

I understand what you are saying BigRob. The pockets of the Rooneys aren't as deep as Snyder, Jones,etc. The financial stability of the Steelers would aid them if they ever needed help. To your point I would agree. The Steelers signing bonus structure tends to be less than those other owners. But some recent deals and retructures have shown they have sufficient operating capital to handle business. Let's just hope the well doesn't go dry.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I still am having trouble understanding why brown commands a "huge contract" and a "mega deal".

he had a really nice second half to the season. Some of you guys are really over estimating his value as of this moment.

I see no trouble signing both.

You are right...Antonio Brown isn't quite up to "mega-deal" proportions just yet.

Compare Antonio's numbers last year (69-1108-16.1-2) to another similar receiver (74-1023-13.8-7).

The other receiver had 5 more overall catches (as well as the all-important 5 more touchdowns catches), although Brown had 85 more receiving yards overall.

The mystery receiver? Nate Washington (which is interesting that Brown had 2.3 more YPC than Washington, since Antonio is thought of as a possession-type receiver, while Nate is thought of as a deep threat receiver).

[Dee Dub]

That has always been your opinion Crash. This has been discussed by journalist for a long time. They don't have the cash flow in the same vein that Dan Snyder, Stephen Ross, and other true billionaire owner's have for lots of cash outlay.

Regardless, every year what ever the cap number/ceiling is, they spend right up to it. And that is all any team need to be concerned with. Their net worth compared to others teams means very little when it comes the the salary cap. That is the beauty of a salary cap.

[Dee Dub]

I still am having trouble understanding why brown commands a "huge contract" and a "mega deal".

he had a really nice second half to the season. Some of you guys are really over estimating his value as of this moment.

I see no trouble signing both.

Cha-ching!! Agree with you 100% Eddie. And not too mention Antonio Brown is a Restricted Free Agent next off-season. Can you say 2.7 million tender?

[hawaiiansteel]

[URL="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill"]The Steel Mill[/URL] [URL="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/feed/"][/URL]

News and updates about the Pittsburgh Steelers

[URL="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2012/03/14/good-news-bad-news-about-wallace/"]Good news, bad news about Wallace[/URL]

March 14th, 2012


If you are a Steelers fan, the first day of free agency was good … no, make that great.

Six teams signed free agent receivers with another signing the night before.

And no, not one of them was named Mike Wallace.

Wallace is a restricted free agent and popular belief had a half dozen teams beating down agent Bus Cook’s door at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday to beg for Wallace’s services.

It didn’t happen, and it is almost assured (not guaranteed) that Wallace will not receive a qualifying offer on the restricted free agent market.

A first-round pick to go along with a hefty front-loaded contract is just too expensive even for a team with a lot of cap space.

Wallace will have no choice but to sign the first-round tender the Steelers offered him and play for $2.742 million this year.

But, of course, there is also bad news.

Although Wallace will likely be a Steeler this year, after that has become very cloudy, especially after what transpired on the first day of free agency.

* Vincent Jackson, 29, signed a 5-year, $55.5 million deal ($26 million guaranteed)
* Pierre Garcon, 25, signed a 5-year, $42.5 million deal ($21.5 million guaranteed)
* Marques Colston, 28, signed a 5-year, $40 million deal ($19 million guaranteed)
* Robert Meachem, 27, signed a 4-year, $25.9 million deal ($14 million guaranteed)
* Reggie Wayne, 33, signed a 3-year, $17.5 million deal.
* Josh Morgan, 26, signed a 2-year, $12 million deal.

Add those to Stevie Johnson’s 5-year, $36.25 million deal a few weeks back and Randy Moss’ 1-year, $4 million deal Monday night, and the price of a wide receiver in this league quickly got out of control.

Then word came down that Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson signed an extension worth $132 million over seven years with $60 million guarenteed and Wallace’s value went up yet another level.

It is a price that the Steelers might not be willing or able to offer Wallace.

You would figure that Wallace would be asking very close to what Jackson got out of Tampa Bay.

Something like 5-years for somewhere in the $50-million range probably would lock Wallace up long-term right now.
Wait until next year when the salary cap is expected to rise significantly and, with another 70-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown season out of Wallace, the money Jackson got could look like chump change.

The Steelers aren’t going to be able sign Wallace to long-term deal this summer. They just don’t have the money, unless they dump a high-priced veteran (Casey Hampton?)

Now, they could have the money a year from now, but it would be too late by then. Free agency would be upon Wallace who would cash in.

Sure it is about money, but it is also about value when it comes to the Steelers.

The Steelers just don’t place high values on their receivers. They never have.

Just over the past few years alone, they let No. 1 picks Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes leave.

They feel they can get top-notch receivers anywhere from the draft to off the street.

Look at the receivers who got big deals already this year – Colston (7th rounder), Johnson (7th rounder), Garcon (6th rounder). Wallace was a 3rd-rounder as well as Emmauel Sanders and Hines Ward. Antonio Brown was a 6th rounder.

When you take in account what happened Tuesday, how much those guys got paid, how the Steelers don’t value receivers and how little disposable cap money they have along with how much some teams might have next year with the cap going up, it’s not a good equation for Wallace staying with the Steelers.

It is a possibility that the Steelers will let Wallace play out his final year of his contract and test the free agent market.

– Mark Kaboly

[URL]http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2012/03/14/good-news-bad-news-about-wallace/[/URL]

[Mo_Steel]

I still am having trouble understanding why brown commands a "huge contract" and a "mega deal".

he had a really nice second half to the season. Some of you guys are really over estimating his value as of this moment.

I see no trouble signing both.

I too agree with this statement. Many have talked about how Wallace slowed and Antonio exploded but it maybe inversed as well since Wallace exploded out the gate and AB started as an afterthought until midseason. I like both and after the Steelers show Wallace some tough love give him his shot, they will sign him long term in their favor a bit and still have room to offer AB the same tough love next year if need be and resign him. The tough love will be can you find someone to pay you what you think you are worth, or do you comeback to a realization the Steelers will take care of you well in a team/family atmosphere, and their big selling point will be doyou want to be a part of awinner.

[Slapstick]

Based on the market, Wallace should receive something on the order of:

Garcon
S. Johnson
D. Jackson