Steelers WR Mike Wallace deserves Larry Fitzgerald money

[Oviedo]

Wonder if the Steelers considered trying to extend Brown and Sanders now and using the Franchise Tag on Wallace next year if they need to?

IMO opinion, they would be wise to focus on extending Brown. I think it would give them additional leverage with Wallace. I would wait on Sanders and see if he can make it through a full season healthy and can perform to expectations.

Also IMO I think they are very comfortable with their WR situation and are willing to let Wallace walk or to trade him if he doesn't come to their number. I think this is a very similar situation to what the Pats had with Deon Branch before they traded him. Good move for them and might be a good move for us in the grand scheme of things.

[Slapstick]

If Wallace sits out of camp, it allows you to see what you have in guys like Toney Clemons, Marquis Maze or Derrick Williams and the other guys like Gilreath and Stewart...

[Oviedo]

If Wallace sits out of camp, it allows you to see what you have in guys like Toney Clemons, Marquis Maze or Derrick Williams and the other guys like Gilreath and Stewart...

Great points. What exactly is Wallace accomplishing by not being around? It gets harder and harder for me to figure it out.

[Slapstick]

Great points. What exactly is Wallace accomplishing by not being around? It gets harder and harder for me to figure it out.

He is avoiding the possibility of injury...

While I think he should report, he was on the team when Limas Sweed tore his Achilles tendon in offseason workouts...

He is sacrificing acclimating to the offense for personal security...$2.7 is not a large enough number for him to take the injury risk, I suppose...considering the big contract numbers floated to WRs who may not be able to produce like him....

[BURGH86STEEL]

Great points. What exactly is Wallace accomplishing by not being around? It gets harder and harder for me to figure it out.

Staying healthy until he signs a long term deal.

[squidkid]

alot of people on this board want to throw the term 'elite' around when it comes to ben. people are bent because he should have been ranked higher than X and Y. well, if ben is as elite as some say, why would we need to spend 8+ million per year on a receiver when the other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs?

[SteelCrazy]

squidkid, Ben isnt elite. Charlie Batch will make more money this year in base salary then Big Ben. 925,000 vs 900,000.

[RuthlessBurgher]

alot of people on this board want to throw the term 'elite' around when it comes to ben. people are bent because he should have been ranked higher than X and Y. well, if ben is as elite as some say, why would we need to spend 8+ million per year on a receiver when the other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs?

Brees has Marques Colston, who signed a five-year, $36.3 million contract a few months ago. The deal contains $17.7 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus, Colston's first two base salaries, and $2 million of his 2014 salary.

Rodgers has Greg Jennings, who signed a four-year, $26.885 million contract in 2009 (it contains $16.25 million guaranteed, including an $11.25 million signing bonus and Jennings' first-year base salary).

Brady has Wes Welker, who signed one-year, $9.515 million contract a few weeks ago. The franchise tag deal is fully guaranteed.

The other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs who all make WAY more money than Wallace's $2.7 million RFA tender amount.

[Slapstick]

Brees has Marques Colston, who signed a five-year, $36.3 million contract a few months ago. The deal contains $17.7 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus, Colston's first two base salaries, and $2 million of his 2014 salary.

Rodgers has Greg Jennings, who signed a four-year, $26.885 million contract in 2009 (it contains $16.25 million guaranteed, including an $11.25 million signing bonus and Jennings' first-year base salary).

Brady has Wes Welker, who signed one-year, $9.515 million contract a few weeks ago. The franchise tag deal is fully guaranteed.

The other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs who all make WAY more money than Wallace's $2.7 million RFA tender amount.

The last three years (regular season only):

Marques Colston - 234 catches - 3240 yards - 24 TDs

Greg Jennings - 211 catches - 3327 yards - 25 TDs

Wes Welker - 331 catches - 3765 yards - 20 TDs

Mike Wallace - 171 catches - 3206 yards - 24 TDs

And, all three of those guys outperformed Wallace in the postseason...

Slower does not necessarily mean less talented...

I would definitely give Wallace a Colston-like contract without a problem...I'd even up it a bit...

[steelz09]

The last three years (regular season only):

Marques Colston - 234 catches - 3240 yards - 24 TDs

Greg Jennings - 211 catches - 3327 yards - 25 TDs

Wes Welker - 331 catches - 3765 yards - 20 TDs

Mike Wallace - 171 catches - 3206 yards - 24 TDs

And, all three of those guys outperformed Wallace in the postseason...

Slower does not necessarily mean less talented...

I would definitely give Wallace a Colston-like contract without a problem...I'd even up it a bit...

Taking out the "age factor", I would take Colston and Jennings over Wallace. I won't include Welker in that list because I think Brown is a more favorable comparison to Welker.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The last three years (regular season only):

Marques Colston - 234 catches - 3240 yards - 24 TDs

Greg Jennings - 211 catches - 3327 yards - 25 TDs

Wes Welker - 331 catches - 3765 yards - 20 TDs

Mike Wallace - 171 catches - 3206 yards - 24 TDs

And, all three of those guys outperformed Wallace in the postseason...

Slower does not necessarily mean less talented...

I would definitely give Wallace a Colston-like contract without a problem...I'd even up it a bit...

I wasn't commenting on which of those receivers is more or less talented myself...I just copied the line from squidkid in which he stated "well, if ben is as elite as some say, why would we need to spend 8+ million per year on a receiver when the other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs?"

I was just noting how each of those "elite" QB's all have a WR who is making big dollars (when he seemed to be suggesting that none of those guys needed big money WR's to be "elite").

[squidkid]

Brees has Marques Colston, who signed a five-year, $36.3 million contract a few months ago. The deal contains $17.7 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus, Colston's first two base salaries, and $2 million of his 2014 salary.

Rodgers has Greg Jennings, who signed a four-year, $26.885 million contract in 2009 (it contains $16.25 million guaranteed, including an $11.25 million signing bonus and Jennings' first-year base salary).

Brady has Wes Welker, who signed one-year, $9.515 million contract a few weeks ago. The franchise tag deal is fully guaranteed.

The other 'elite' qbs like brees, rodgers and brady do it with less talented wrs who all make WAY more money than Wallace's $2.7 million RFA tender amount.

so you do you think those wrs made those qbs elite or do you think those qbs where responsible for making those wrs that type of money?

[RuthlessBurgher]

so you do you think those wrs made those qbs elite or do you think those qbs where responsible for making those wrs that type of money?

Did Joe Montana make Jerry Rice, or did Jerry Rice make Joe Montana? It's a symbiotic relationship...a QB needs good WR's and a WR needs a good QB. The point is that Brees, Rodgers, and Brady aren't just getting by with cheap scrubs...they each have a #1 receiver who is being paid at a level where many on this board feel is "too much" for a wideout like Wallace.

[squidkid]

Did Joe Montana make Jerry Rice, or did Jerry Rice make Joe Montana? It's a symbiotic relationship...a QB needs good WR's and a WR needs a good QB. The point is that Brees, Rodgers, and Brady aren't just getting by with cheap scrubs...they each have a #1 receiver who is being paid at a level where many on this board feel is "too much" for a wideout like Wallace.

just because those wrs are getting paid that much doesnt make them worth that much. i bet that there are 50 wrs in the nfl that would put up numbers similiar to welker, colston and jennings if they had brady, brees and rodgers throwing to them. we see this all the time in the nfl. a player has good stats for a couple seasons, leaves for big money and basically is never heard of again.
the thought of wanting to give one wr(wallace) 8-12 million per year because he has put up top 10 wrs numbers doesnt make sense to me.
if wallace wants the big money, i hope he gets it from another team where he can then kill their cap for a few years.

[feltdizz]

I don't understand the "would he be as good with another QB" line...

Would Brady be successful if he was on the Browns? Would Ben or Eli be elite if they were drafted by the Bucs and Miami.

A WR who is fortunate to have an elite QB has a chance to make money if he produces...why should Wallace negotiate based on the other 50 WR's who aren't in his position?