Steelers' Rooney on Wallace: 'He should be here'

[Crash]

So you would rather have Brown, an injury riddled Sanders (Believe me, I'm not a football player but I know about bad feet and injuries), and undrafted Marquis Maze and let one of the premier deep threats in the NFL walk?

OK then....

[steelz09]

So you would rather have Brown, an injury riddled Sanders (Believe me, I'm not a football player but I know about bad feet and injuries), and undrafted Marquis Maze and let one of the premier deep threats in the NFL walk?

OK then....

I guess the words "a healthy Sanders" was somehow confusing for you. I'm not sure how I can clear that one up.

But yes.. I think Maze is going to be a solid WR. And yes, I think Maze, Brown, a HEALTHY Sanders, and a comp 3rd rounder (if we lose wallace) will be greater than having Wallace and losing all of the above except Maze.

[Crash]

I guess the words "a healthy Sanders" was somehow confusing for you. I'm not sure how I can clear that one up.

He'll have feet issues for the remainder of his career. Btw, he sat out the morning session today with a sore knee.

[steelz09]

maybe, maybe not... that's an opinion so don't state it like a fact.

[Crash]

maybe, maybe not... that's an opinion so don't state it like a fact.

Two words: Bill Walton.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I feel no ill-will toward Wallace if he decides to sit out. It's wrong for a player who is under contract to hold out, IMO, but that's not the case with him. Should he decide not to sign the $2.7 million one-year tender, he may lose a huge chunk of change this season, so it might not be the smartest move for him, but he's doing nothing wrong.

I don't expect it will take him long to catch up with the new offense once he reports. In spite of some of the noise we've heard, this isn't rocket science, it's football. And Wallace still has that one quality that most makes him a special receiver: speed.

Enjoy it while he's here. I think chances are, we'll have him here for this season, and the next, and then he'll be gone-- unless he makes a dramatic adjustment in his salary expectations. I just can't see the Steelers giving him Fitz money.

[Crash]

If he stays away all year and then shows up just to get his season credit no way do they tag him. In fact, if he did that? They wouldn't even PLAY HIM when he came back, they'd pay him 5 weeks to sit at home and not be a distraction IMO.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers' Wallace not at OTAs, needs a contract decision by Friday

June 13, 2012
The Sports Xchange

Mike Wallace isn't reporting to Steelers' minicamp this week, but he has another decision to make by Friday.

Wallace, a restricted free agent, has until the June 15 deadline to sign his one-year, $2.7 million offer. If he doesn't, the Steelers can reduce the offer by 110 percent to $577,500.

The tactic isn't mandatory but has been used in prominent holdout cases such as those involving Logan Mankins of the Patriots and Vincent Jackson of the Chargers in 2010. Both players responded by holding out into October before reporting in time to be on the roster for the six games required to earn an accrued season toward the six needed to become an unrestricted free agent.

Wallace's position is that he expects the Steelers to offer him a long-term contract before the start of the season. Pittsburgh's salary-cap situation might preclude a landmark deal in line signed by Lions' wide receiver Calvin Johnson (eight years, $132 million) in March.

The Steelers' leading receiver with 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns last season, Wallace's production slowed over the second half of last season, when Antonio Brown was the most-targeted Steelers' receiver.

[URL]http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/mc-steelers-wallace-contract-0613-20120613,0,3230659.story[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

NFL Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Art Rooney Not Happy With Mike Wallace

by Jeff Shull
June 14, 2012



Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Mike Wallace was slapped with the franchise tag this off season with the hopes that the two sides could eventually sign a long term contract. Well, that hasn’t happened yet and not only has Wallace refused to sign his tag, but he is holding out of Steelers mini-camp.

Their president, Art Rooney II, is not happy about it. “He should be here,” the disgruntled owner said recently. The Steelers can apparently cut the offer from $2.7 million to $2 million or remove it altogether this Friday, but the club is not likely to use either option.

Head coach Mike Tomlin is not too worried about the situation, and believes it will work itself out in the end like most do. Though he is critical of Wallace not being at camp.

“Mike has always been guy who’s in tip top condition over a 12-month calendar since we had him,” Tomlin said. “He’s a sharp guy. I’m sure he’s working at the learning element of it. But there’s no substitute for being here and being around your teammates and learning the nuances and learning from other people’s mistakes.”

The Steelers are a first class organization and Wallace is a fantastic player and key piece to their offense. He’ll likely get what he’s looking for, but when is the only question. Wallace has averaged 66 receptions, 1,225 yards and nine touchdowns over the past two seasons. He is one of the best deep-threats in the league and opens up the offense for Ben Roethlisberger.

[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/nfl_rumors_pittsburgh_steelers_owner_art_rooney_no t_happy_with_mike_wallace/11008835[/URL]

[flippy]

I don't expect it will take him long to catch up with the new offense once he reports.

Rumor has it, Haley put one play in the playbook for Wallace. Go deep. Should be pretty easy to figure out.

On a side note, it makes it easier for Ben to remember too.

[Jooser]

Rumor has it, Haley put one play in the playbook for Wallace. Go deep. Should be pretty easy to figure out.

On a side note, it makes it easier for Ben to remember too.

L M A O ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[phillyesq]

Saying that a free agent "should be here" is wrong. He shouldn't say that when all Wallace is doing is exercising right as a free agent per the CBA agreement. What he should say is "I understand the business side of this process, we hope to have Mike back with us soon".

Art II doesn't handle most PLAYER contracts. But he was the reason Bill Cowher quit after 2006.

Again, you demand context for anything that Ben says. What was the context of this statement? Did you listen to the interview? If not, basd on the standards that you articulate, you have no business addressing this comment.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Two words: Bill Walton.

Walton was a foot taller than Sanders...I would think that it would be tougher for feet to heal if they are supporting someone as big as a Sasquatch as opposed to a little guy like Sanders.

[Slapstick]

Walton was a foot taller than Sanders...I would think that it would be tougher for feet to heal if they are supporting someone as big as a Sasquatch as opposed to a little guy like Sanders.

Walton also played for, like 20+ years on a hard court...

Hopefully, grass and field turf won't be as damaging to the feet...

[Crash]

Sanders will be fine. I have all the faith in the world in him. I also agree with Art II, Wallace needs to sign the tender and get to work.