Pittsburgh Steelers ink Antonio Brown to 5 year 42.5 million dollar extension

[Oviedo]

Agreed. Wallace was a pretty sizable reason for the success Brown had last season. Here is to hoping we can sign Wallace without breaking the bank, otherwise he can go look for his Fitzgerald money elsewhere.

I would agree, but the same thing can happen with better play calling where Haley utilizes the RBs and TEs more in the passing game. Instead of safties playing over the top to stop Wallace you force them to come in to cover the RBs or TEs which then let's Brown and Sanders exploit deeper patterns.

Brown and sanders may not be as fast as Wallace but I will contend that they may use their speed more effectively because of better route running. I always liked Wallace (until he started to play the fool) but I have also always said he may be our third best best WR in terms of overall talent behind Brown and Sanders.

Also don't underestimate Cotchery. He is one of those WRs that will drive a defense crazy because he always finds the open spot and is available. We will be fine without Wallace. Maybe less ESPN highlight clips but overall effectiveness is what matters and I trust Haley will call a much more effective game than Arians' vertical passing attack that always looked deep.

[steelfin]

Brown and sanders may not be as fast as Wallace but I will contend that they may use their speed more effectively because of better route running. I always liked Wallace (until he started to play the fool) but I have also always said he may be our third best best WR in terms of overall talent behind Brown and Sanders.

Most of this makes sense...but I am not sure why so many people think Sanders is the savior....I am hoping he steps up....But up to this point, he has very limited production and has not been able to stay on the field with any regularity.

If anyone thinks we are better without Wallace they are mistaken. It would be great if they can still work a deal with Wallace. Locking up Brown and Wallace for the next 4 to 5 years would be huge.

I am hoping Maze or Clemons steps up in camp. Without Wallace we are thin at the WR spot....and if history means anything, I am not banking on Sanders...

[DukieBoy]

There is more than one direction in which to "stretch the field". I read that Haley has the offense working on alot of swing routes to the RBs.

[steelfin]

True...but running East West doesn't usually make first downs or TDs...

[Flasteel]

There is more than one direction in which to "stretch the field". I read that Haley has the offense working on alot of swing routes to the RBs.

Rainey on wheel routes and swing passes will be devastating.

[chiken]

True...but running East West doesn't usually make first downs or TDs...

To be fair, its not like we were scoring touchdowns with Wallace.. our scoring offense sucked.

[RuthlessBurgher]

We'll see what happens this year without Wallace. IMO Brown's TDs will soar.

Wallace gave us 8 TD catches last year. Brown gave us 2 TD catches.

If Wallace isn't around, and Brown's TD production somehow manages to "soar" up to 10 TD catches to make up the difference, that still leaves us right where we were last season (when we were 21st in scoring).

[flippy]

Wallace gave us 8 TD catches last year. Brown gave us 2 TD catches.

If Wallace isn't around, and Brown's TD production somehow manages to "soar" up to 10 TD catches to make up the difference, that still leaves us right where we were last season (when we were 21st in scoring).

Wally doesn't score TDs in the postseason. In fact he practically disappears. He also played a major roll in losing to GreenBay in the SuperBowl when he was totally clueless on the last drive.

The Steelers paid Ward a king's ransom, but at least he showed up when the games counted. Does it really matter what Wallace does in the regular season?

[RuthlessBurgher]

To be fair, its not like we were scoring touchdowns with Wallace.. our scoring offense sucked.

Mike Wallace's 24 TD catches in 3 seasons would beg to differ.

Antonio Brown has averaged 1 TD catch per season in the NFL.

Emmanuel Sanders has averaged 2 TD catches per season in the NFL.

Jerricho Cotchery has averages 2.5 TD catches per season in the NFL.

Considering the team is struggling to score TD's, it seems like Steeler fans are profoundly confident in 3 guys who combine to average 5.5 TD catches per season, but are perfectly happy to dump Mike Wallace who averages 8 TD catches per season by himself.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Wally doesn't score TDs in the postseason. In fact he practically disappears. He also played a major roll in losing to GreenBay in the SuperBowl when he was totally clueless on the last drive.

The Steelers paid Ward a king's ransom, but at least he showed up when the games counted. Does it really matter what Wallace does in the regular season?

Mike Wallace caught a 4th quarter TD pass in the Super Bowl to bring us within a field goal.

Neither Antonio Brown nor Emmanuel Sanders has caught a TD pass in 4 playoff games each.

[chiken]

The point is, The Team scoring offense sucked.. BEN makes the deep plays by buying time ala risking injury and delivering some sports Center highlight play (more times than not) Thats what MW was great at and thats what we are trying to get Ben to stop doing.

In Response we have changed the offense, looks like we are running and short passing alot more, giving the ball to our quick guys who can rack up yards after the catch (something that MW is not really great at)

What Good was having MW when we were averaging 17 points a game..

[BURGH86STEEL]

Wally doesn't score TDs in the postseason. In fact he practically disappears. He also played a major roll in losing to GreenBay in the SuperBowl when he was totally clueless on the last drive.

The Steelers paid Ward a king's ransom, but at least he showed up when the games counted. Does it really matter what Wallace does in the regular season?

Not sure why people will resort to any ideology to discredit Wallace. Why not cut Wallace loose if there is going to be such a myopic view of his production? I don't agree what Wallace played a major role in the loss to GB. Seems you believe that Wallace has to many faults to be a member of the Steelers.

I believe Wallace makes the Steelers a better offense. Seems they won't reach an agreement so both parties will probably move on within the next year.

[chiken]

Not sure why people will resort to any ideology to discredit Wallace. Why not cut Wallace loose if there is going to be such a myopic view of his production? I don't agree what Wallace played a major role in the loss to GB. Seems you believe that Wallace has to many faults to be a member of the Steelers.

I believe Wallace makes the Steelers a better offense. Seems they won't reach an agreement so both parties will probably move on within the next year.

not speaking for anyone else, I am just saying that we as a team were not all that great on offense even with the guy so honestly whats the big deal.. I think we can be good with him, but I don't believe we are worse without him.. To me its going to be about Ben.. IF the O line can block then Ben like Brady can do the job regardless the receivers.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

blaming wallace for losing to green bay might be one of the more absurd things I have ever read here.

[flippy]

Mike Wallace caught a 4th quarter TD pass in the Super Bowl to bring us within a field goal.

Neither Antonio Brown nor Emmanuel Sanders has caught a TD pass in 4 playoff games each.

It's not like Brown and Sanders were established starters. Neither were in the SuperBowl. And they have 1 playoff start between the 2 of them. So you could argue Wallace has 1 TD in 4 playoff starts. AB and ES have 0 TDs in 1 playoff start.

That was Wallace's only TD in the playoffs. For the most part, he's absent come playoff time. Just like he was the 2nd half of last season. As good as Wallace is at times, he's equally bad in other spots. If he wants so much money, he should be consistent and dominant in the playoffs.