No Mike Wallace love yet (1 Viewer)

[Gawain]

Laurent Robinson: 5 yr, 32.5M

Meachum: 4 yr, 26M

D-Jax: 5 yr, 51M

Garcon: 5 yr 42.5M

V-Jax: 5 yr, 55.5M

Colston 5yr, 40M

Amazing to me that no one has thrown a 5-year, 40M deal at Wallace...if for no other reason than to make Pitt match and eat up some salary room.

 

[Coach3K]

Maybe they are afraid that the league may consider their "gamey" tactic of front-loading a contract to force PIT's hand to be too disruptive to "competitive balance" and they'll be punished later like Washington and Dallas!



Seriously, though, I'm pretty shocked, too. The list of potential suitors late in Round 1 may be small, but if it's going to happen, I think it's gotta happen soon!

 

[NJDawgPound]

As per Sirius NFL Radio offers for tendered players usually come at the deadline (usually a week or so before the draft). Didn't catch why.

 

[Gawain]

I suppose the 1st round pick is the big hurdle to this, of the guys I named, only one went to a 2011 playoff team.

If I am the Ravens though, i don't want to see the Steelers get another year out of him that cheaply.

 

[Hoosier16]

As per Sirius NFL Radio offers for tendered players usually come at the deadline (usually a week or so before the draft). Didn't catch why.

At the end, the teams have spent most of their money and it makes it harder for them to match.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

If pats don't land Lloyd(or maybe Santana after cut?) then Wallace would i imagine be a major possibility

 

[treat88]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Might as well see how FA shakes out and what the market looks like before making any decisions on him.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

I believe March 17 is the date teams can start negotiating with tendered players.Hoping New England jumps into this.

 

[Steed]

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder?

Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

 

[Hoosier16]

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder? Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

I think any team giving up a 1st rounder knows that they have to give up that type of contract. In fact, that's the whole point. It's the size of the contract that gets Wallace, not the 1st rounder. The market conditions have actually made it more likely.

 

[treat88]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

Why would Wallace sign anything before he sees what kind of offers he gets if any?

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder?Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

100% agree.Wallace's options are going to come down to playing for 2.7 mil, signing a cap friendly deal ala DJax, or holding out.

 

[Steed]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

 

[Hoosier16]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

Well, it's pretty simple. Pittsburgh can't afford that type of market. Other teams can. Feel free to call back. Multiple lines are open.

 

[Gawain]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

The 1st round pick carries some value that doesn't fluctuate (1M, 5M, 10M...who knows). As the salaries go up, the % of total compensation made up by that 1st round pick goes down. There is a fair amount of thought that Pitt is leery of matching a large contract to Wallace.Therefore, if the market had dictated Wallace as a 5M a year WR, the cost of including a 1st round pick would be either a greater % when it came to figuring out compensation (if Wallace received a market salary), or a larger % reduction in overall compensation (if Wallace's salary was reduced by the value of the 1st round pick).Now that Wallace looks more like a 10M a year WR, those %s are decreased by the 1st round pick.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

Well, it's pretty simple. Pittsburgh can't afford that type of market. Other teams can. Feel free to call back. Multiple lines are open.

lolI love this stuff.Mike Wallace will obviously be shopping around for the best price.He would be a fool not to. The question is, will Pittsburgh match the offer,and force themselves to purge more players from their roster to make room for Wallace's matched contract.period.

 

[cstu]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

Why would Wallace sign anything before he sees what kind of offers he gets if any?

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder?Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

100% agree.Wallace's options are going to come down to playing for 2.7 mil, signing a cap friendly deal ala DJax, or holding out.

If he's really worth that kind of money then giving up a very late first won't stop a team from making him an offer. I disagree though that he's worth more than VJax.

 

[treat88]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

Why would Wallace sign anything before he sees what kind of offers he gets if any?

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder?

Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

100% agree.Wallace's options are going to come down to playing for 2.7 mil, signing a cap friendly deal ala DJax, or holding out.

If he's really worth that kind of money then giving up a very late first won't stop a team from making him an offer. I disagree though that he's worth more than VJax.

That is the crux of the matter.I'm betting against a team making an offer that he will sign...but it certainly makes things interesting. Guess we will see.

 

[Steed]

No reason for a team to be in a hurry to offer a tender, they have until April 20th.

Except that Wallace & Pittsburgh are currently negoatiating.

Why would Wallace sign anything before he sees what kind of offers he gets if any?

The market conditions have made it too costly. Imagine laying out a contract like vjax's (Wallace would command a better contract then those other cats) plus giving a 1st rounder?Steelers played this perfectly. They're safe for 2012 with regards to Wallace.

100% agree.Wallace's options are going to come down to playing for 2.7 mil, signing a cap friendly deal ala DJax, or holding out.

If he's really worth that kind of money then giving up a very late first won't stop a team from making him an offer. I disagree though that he's worth more than VJax.

You may disagree but he's younger, has put up similar to better numbers, and has a clean off field record. These are all points Wallace and his agent will point to when using VJax's contract as a jumping off point.

 

[Hoosier16]

You may disagree but he's younger, has put up similar to better numbers, and has a clean off field record. These are all points Wallace and his agent will point to when using VJax's contract as a jumping off point.

So if that's the case, how can Pittsburgh possibly match a contract similar to that?

 

[Steed]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

The 1st round pick carries some value that doesn't fluctuate (1M, 5M, 10M...who knows). As the salaries go up, the % of total compensation made up by that 1st round pick goes down. There is a fair amount of thought that Pitt is leery of matching a large contract to Wallace.Therefore, if the market had dictated Wallace as a 5M a year WR, the cost of including a 1st round pick would be either a greater % when it came to figuring out compensation (if Wallace received a market salary), or a larger % reduction in overall compensation (if Wallace's salary was reduced by the value of the 1st round pick).Now that Wallace looks more like a 10M a year WR, those %s are decreased by the 1st round pick.

Some backwards logic here. Using the 30th picks contract from 2011 (7/30/2011: Signed a four-year, $6.87 million contract. The deal included a $3.5 million signing bonus.) That's a little over 1.5 million a year. What's more valuable to the acquiring team? Giving up say the 30th pick and 3.5 million more to get Mike Wallace or giving up the 30th pick and 8.5 million more to sign Wallace to a VJax contract? Those late 1st round picks are extremely valuable from a dollar cost basis

 

[Steed]

You may disagree but he's younger, has put up similar to better numbers, and has a clean off field record. These are all points Wallace and his agent will point to when using VJax's contract as a jumping off point.

So if that's the case, how can Pittsburgh possibly match a contract similar to that?

I highly doubt someone makes that offer sheet and surrenders their 1st rounder.

 

[cstu]

Explain to me how a skyrocketing wr market made it easier to sign Wallace away? I'll hang up and listen.

The 1st round pick carries some value that doesn't fluctuate (1M, 5M, 10M...who knows). As the salaries go up, the % of total compensation made up by that 1st round pick goes down.

There is a fair amount of thought that Pitt is leery of matching a large contract to Wallace.

Therefore, if the market had dictated Wallace as a 5M a year WR, the cost of including a 1st round pick would be either a greater % when it came to figuring out compensation (if Wallace received a market salary), or a larger % reduction in overall compensation (if Wallace's salary was reduced by the value of the 1st round pick).

Now that Wallace looks more like a 10M a year WR, those %s are decreased by the 1st round pick.

Some backwards logic here. Using the 30th picks contract from 2011 (7/30/2011: Signed a four-year, $6.87 million contract. The deal included a $3.5 million signing bonus.) That's a little over 1.5 million a year. What's more valuable to the acquiring team?

Giving up say the 30th pick and 3.5 million more to get Mike Wallace or giving up the 30th pick and 8.5 million more to sign Wallace to a VJax contract?

Those late 1st round picks are extremely valuable from a dollar cost basis

That's assuming who can draft a WR in the late 1st who doesn't bust. Plus it usually takes awhile for a WR to develop so by the time he's a top WR it's time to re-sign him to a big contract.

 

[KCitons]

I could see a team like the Bears taking Wallace as a better option than their pick of a Rookie WR at #19. Especially if they lose Mario Williams to Buffalo. They have the cap space and could put Wallace on one side, Marshall on the other and Bennett in the slot.

 

[Couch Potato]

Baltimore is interestingly silent on the WR free agency front, despite saying they'd be getting Flacco sore help. Their #1 is late, and as someone said above those late picks not only take time to mature, they can bust. I think the Ravens make a big play for him. Extra important benefit is immediately hurting their toughest division rival.

 

[cstu]

Baltimore is interestingly silent on the WR free agency front, despite saying they'd be getting Flacco sore help. Their #1 is late, and as someone said above those late picks not only take 2-3 years to mature and they can bust. I think the Ravens make a big play for him. Extra important benefit, immediately hurting their toughest division rival.

But Ozzie has clearly stated from the beginning that the Ravens have absolutely no interest in Wallace.

 

[Bojang0301]

Baltimore is interestingly silent on the WR free agency front, despite saying they'd be getting Flacco sore help. Their #1 is late, and as someone said above those late picks not only take 2-3 years to mature and they can bust. I think the Ravens make a big play for him. Extra important benefit, immediately hurting their toughest division rival.

But Ozzie has clearly stated from the beginning that the Ravens have absolutely no interest in Wallace.

Ya and multiple sources have stated that franchising Rice will bind the Ravens from any big signings in FA

 

[Couch Potato]

Baltimore is interestingly silent on the WR free agency front, despite saying they'd be getting Flacco sore help. Their #1 is late, and as someone said above those late picks not only take 2-3 years to mature and they can bust. I think the Ravens make a big play for him. Extra important benefit, immediately hurting their toughest division rival.

But Ozzie has clearly stated from the beginning that the Ravens have absolutely no interest in Wallace.

Oh! Lemme delete my post then! LOL

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Laurent Robinson: 5 yr, 32.5MMeachum: 4 yr, 26MD-Jax: 5 yr, 51MGarcon: 5 yr 42.5MV-Jax: 5 yr, 55.5MColston 5yr, 40MAmazing to me that no one has thrown a 5-year, 40M deal at Wallace...if for no other reason than to make Pitt match and eat up some salary room.

#1 - A team isn't going to throw an offer at Wallace just to make Pittsburgh eat up salary cap room. Anyone who is going to make an offer to Wallace has to be prepared to sign him at those terms.#2 - Wallace doesn't have to sign an offer sheet just because it's presented to him. If someone offers 5 years at $40 million and he and his agent think he's worth more than the $55 million Jackson got, he won't sign it. He'll either hold out in camp to try and coerce the Steelers into offering what they believe he's worth or he'll play out the string this year at $2.7M and then try to break the bank next year when he's a UFA and 31 teams can make him an offer without having to give up their first rounder. The first round tender takes a lot of teams out of the equation...had he been a UFA this year, we'd have very likely seen a team like Jacksonville throw a huge offer his way. As an RFA, not so much. They may believe Wallace is worth $60M over 5 years, but not if they have to give up the #7 pick for him.

 

[cstu]

Laurent Robinson: 5 yr, 32.5M

Meachum: 4 yr, 26M

D-Jax: 5 yr, 51M

Garcon: 5 yr 42.5M

V-Jax: 5 yr, 55.5M

Colston 5yr, 40M

Amazing to me that no one has thrown a 5-year, 40M deal at Wallace...if for no other reason than to make Pitt match and eat up some salary room.

#1 - A team isn't going to throw an offer at Wallace just to make Pittsburgh eat up salary cap room. Anyone who is going to make an offer to Wallace has to be prepared to sign him at those terms.#2 - Wallace doesn't have to sign an offer sheet just because it's presented to him. If someone offers 5 years at $40 million and he and his agent think he's worth more than the $55 million Jackson got, he won't sign it. He'll either hold out in camp to try and coerce the Steelers into offering what they believe he's worth or he'll play out the string this year at $2.7M and then try to break the bank next year when he's a UFA and 31 teams can make him an offer without having to give up their first rounder. The first round tender takes a lot of teams out of the equation...had he been a UFA this year, we'd have very likely seen a team like Jacksonville throw a huge offer his way. As an RFA, not so much. They may believe Wallace is worth $60M over 5 years, but not if they have to give up the #7 pick for him.

I don't believe he would turn down a decent offer to hold out nor do I think he'll play for $2.7M. One way or another he's going to sign a long-term deal.

 

[griff321]

Laurent Robinson: 5 yr, 32.5M

Meachum: 4 yr, 26M

D-Jax: 5 yr, 51M

Garcon: 5 yr 42.5M

V-Jax: 5 yr, 55.5M

Colston 5yr, 40M

Amazing to me that no one has thrown a 5-year, 40M deal at Wallace...if for no other reason than to make Pitt match and eat up some salary room.

#1 - A team isn't going to throw an offer at Wallace just to make Pittsburgh eat up salary cap room. Anyone who is going to make an offer to Wallace has to be prepared to sign him at those terms.#2 - Wallace doesn't have to sign an offer sheet just because it's presented to him. If someone offers 5 years at $40 million and he and his agent think he's worth more than the $55 million Jackson got, he won't sign it. He'll either hold out in camp to try and coerce the Steelers into offering what they believe he's worth or he'll play out the string this year at $2.7M and then try to break the bank next year when he's a UFA and 31 teams can make him an offer without having to give up their first rounder. The first round tender takes a lot of teams out of the equation...had he been a UFA this year, we'd have very likely seen a team like Jacksonville throw a huge offer his way. As an RFA, not so much. They may believe Wallace is worth $60M over 5 years, but not if they have to give up the #7 pick for him.

I don't believe he would turn down a decent offer to hold out nor do I think he'll play for $2.7M. One way or another he's going to sign a long-term deal.

I agree. You never know when it comes to these kind of dollar figures swirling around, but he's always been a guy that wants to be at the practice facility. I think he'd sleep there if he could. He just doesn't seem like the kind of player to holdout. I don't think it'll ever come to that anyway.

 

[Hoosier16]

You may disagree but he's younger, has put up similar to better numbers, and has a clean off field record. These are all points Wallace and his agent will point to when using VJax's contract as a jumping off point.

So if that's the case, how can Pittsburgh possibly match a contract similar to that?

I highly doubt someone makes that offer sheet and surrenders their 1st rounder.

Why not? If they are going to use a 1st on a WR, why wouldn't they use it on a proven one?

 

[cstu]

You may disagree but he's younger, has put up similar to better numbers, and has a clean off field record. These are all points Wallace and his agent will point to when using VJax's contract as a jumping off point.

So if that's the case, how can Pittsburgh possibly match a contract similar to that?

I highly doubt someone makes that offer sheet and surrenders their 1st rounder.

Why not? If they are going to use a 1st on a WR, why wouldn't they use it on a proven one?

Exactly, this thing about the 1st is overblown.

 

[Buck Stop]

might he be on his way to Denver?

 

[Coach3K]

$40 million in cap space. Maybe $15-20 of it this year accounted for by Manning, depending on how the contract is structured?

Yeah...they could plop a HUGE roster bonus down for this year that PIT wouldn't be able to think about matching.

The question is, would he want to play in Denver? Guess we'll see soon enough!

 

[BigSteelThrill]

.they could plop a HUGE roster bonus down for this year that PIT wouldn't be able to think about matching.

If they pay him 15 million this year and 9 million for three other years, Pittsburgh will certainly let him go.

 

[Hoosier16]

.they could plop a HUGE roster bonus down for this year that PIT wouldn't be able to think about matching.

If they pay him 15 million this year and 9 million for three other years, Pittsburgh will certainly let him go.

Does Pitt have to match the exact structure of the contract or just the money? If just the money, couldn't they structure the 15 mil as a signing bonus with a negligible salary this year and 9 mil the next 3 years? Then, the cap hit for this year would only be 4 million.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Unless Pittsburgh really doesn't care about keeping him, which I find hard to believe, there is no way Wallace plays for anyone else this year.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

.they could plop a HUGE roster bonus down for this year that PIT wouldn't be able to think about matching.

If they pay him 15 million this year and 9 million for three other years, Pittsburgh will certainly let him go.

Does Pitt have to match the exact structure of the contract or just the money? If just the money, couldn't they structure the 15 mil as a signing bonus with a negligible salary this year and 9 mil the next 3 years? Then, the cap hit for this year would only be 4 million.

Base structure, yep.But no incentives or poison pills anymore.

 

[eric rymer]

My link

Now I see why he has not signed yet.

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 22, 2012, 9:52 AM EDT

AP

Mike Wallace is the best free agent available right now, but it appears that he’s going to need to lower his asking price significantly if he wants to do anything other than play for the Steelers on the one-year restricted free agent tender this season.

That’s the word out of San Francisco, where the 49ers had interest in signing Wallace until they found out how much money he wanted. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Wallace wants a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million deal that Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Cardinals.

If that’s what Wallace is going to demand of every team that shows interest, it’s hard to see any team signing him to an offer sheet, which would also require the team to give the Steelers a first-round draft pick if the Steelers choose not to match. (And the Steelers surely would choose not to match an offer sheet that gave Wallace more money than Fitzgerald.)

Wallace may end up deciding that unless some team offers him a monster contract, he’s better off staying in Pittsburgh on the one-year, $2.74 million restricted free agent tender and then becoming an unrestricted free agent next year — especially considering that the Steelers might not franchise him because Antonio Brown, last year’s team MVP, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year, too.

As great a deep threat as Wallace is, he’s not as productive a receiver as Fitzgerald: Wallace’s career high in catches was 72 last year; Fitzgerald has had seasons of 80, 90, 96, 97, 100 and 103 catches. Wallace’s career high in yards was 1,257 two years ago; Fitzgerald has had four seasons of more than 1,400 yards. It’s not realistic to think Wallace will get more money than Fitzgerald. At least, not unless he has a great 2012 and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2013.

 

[belljr]

My link

Now I see why he has not signed yet.

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 22, 2012, 9:52 AM EDT

AP

Mike Wallace is the best free agent available right now, but it appears that he’s going to need to lower his asking price significantly if he wants to do anything other than play for the Steelers on the one-year restricted free agent tender this season.

That’s the word out of San Francisco, where the 49ers had interest in signing Wallace until they found out how much money he wanted. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Wallace wants a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million deal that Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Cardinals.

If that’s what Wallace is going to demand of every team that shows interest, it’s hard to see any team signing him to an offer sheet, which would also require the team to give the Steelers a first-round draft pick if the Steelers choose not to match. (And the Steelers surely would choose not to match an offer sheet that gave Wallace more money than Fitzgerald.)

Wallace may end up deciding that unless some team offers him a monster contract, he’s better off staying in Pittsburgh on the one-year, $2.74 million restricted free agent tender and then becoming an unrestricted free agent next year — especially considering that the Steelers might not franchise him because Antonio Brown, last year’s team MVP, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year, too.

As great a deep threat as Wallace is, he’s not as productive a receiver as Fitzgerald: Wallace’s career high in catches was 72 last year; Fitzgerald has had seasons of 80, 90, 96, 97, 100 and 103 catches. Wallace’s career high in yards was 1,257 two years ago; Fitzgerald has had four seasons of more than 1,400 yards. It’s not realistic to think Wallace will get more money than Fitzgerald. At least, not unless he has a great 2012 and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2013.

I like Mike and all but That cat needs a new agent or someone giving him some reality.Unless he is jacking the price up on purpose to play out his contract...

 

[trader jake]

Wallace will be playing for that 1 year tenure in Pittsburgh if those contract demands are accurate.

 

[gandalas]

My link

Now I see why he has not signed yet.

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 22, 2012, 9:52 AM EDT

AP

Mike Wallace is the best free agent available right now, but it appears that he’s going to need to lower his asking price significantly if he wants to do anything other than play for the Steelers on the one-year restricted free agent tender this season.

That’s the word out of San Francisco, where the 49ers had interest in signing Wallace until they found out how much money he wanted. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Wallace wants a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million deal that Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Cardinals.

If that’s what Wallace is going to demand of every team that shows interest, it’s hard to see any team signing him to an offer sheet, which would also require the team to give the Steelers a first-round draft pick if the Steelers choose not to match. (And the Steelers surely would choose not to match an offer sheet that gave Wallace more money than Fitzgerald.)

Wallace may end up deciding that unless some team offers him a monster contract, he’s better off staying in Pittsburgh on the one-year, $2.74 million restricted free agent tender and then becoming an unrestricted free agent next year — especially considering that the Steelers might not franchise him because Antonio Brown, last year’s team MVP, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year, too.

As great a deep threat as Wallace is, he’s not as productive a receiver as Fitzgerald: Wallace’s career high in catches was 72 last year; Fitzgerald has had seasons of 80, 90, 96, 97, 100 and 103 catches. Wallace’s career high in yards was 1,257 two years ago; Fitzgerald has had four seasons of more than 1,400 yards. It’s not realistic to think Wallace will get more money than Fitzgerald. At least, not unless he has a great 2012 and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2013.

I like Mike and all but That cat needs a new agent.

I disagree. I have thought all along that his best move is waiting it out to become a unrestricted free agent next year, when the new TV revenue is expected to raise salary caps through the roof. He very well may get that offer next season if the cap is raised by 40-50 million dollars, which I have seen posted here as a possibility.Really, I don't know why any notable free agent would sign anything more than a 1-year deal at this point, if that cash bonanza becomes a reality. The deals we may see next offseason could blow the big ones this year (Manning, Mario, Calvin etc) out of the water.

 

[belljr]

My link

Now I see why he has not signed yet.

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 22, 2012, 9:52 AM EDT

AP

Mike Wallace is the best free agent available right now, but it appears that he’s going to need to lower his asking price significantly if he wants to do anything other than play for the Steelers on the one-year restricted free agent tender this season.

That’s the word out of San Francisco, where the 49ers had interest in signing Wallace until they found out how much money he wanted. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Wallace wants a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million deal that Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Cardinals.

If that’s what Wallace is going to demand of every team that shows interest, it’s hard to see any team signing him to an offer sheet, which would also require the team to give the Steelers a first-round draft pick if the Steelers choose not to match. (And the Steelers surely would choose not to match an offer sheet that gave Wallace more money than Fitzgerald.)

Wallace may end up deciding that unless some team offers him a monster contract, he’s better off staying in Pittsburgh on the one-year, $2.74 million restricted free agent tender and then becoming an unrestricted free agent next year — especially considering that the Steelers might not franchise him because Antonio Brown, last year’s team MVP, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year, too.

As great a deep threat as Wallace is, he’s not as productive a receiver as Fitzgerald: Wallace’s career high in catches was 72 last year; Fitzgerald has had seasons of 80, 90, 96, 97, 100 and 103 catches. Wallace’s career high in yards was 1,257 two years ago; Fitzgerald has had four seasons of more than 1,400 yards. It’s not realistic to think Wallace will get more money than Fitzgerald. At least, not unless he has a great 2012 and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2013.

I like Mike and all but That cat needs a new agent.

I disagree. I have thought all along that his best move is waiting it out to become a unrestricted free agent next year, when the new TV revenue is expected to raise salary caps through the roof. He very well may get that offer next season if the cap is raised by 40-50 million dollars, which I have seen posted here as a possibility.Really, I don't know why any notable free agent would sign anything more than a 1-year deal at this point, if that cash bonanza becomes a reality. The deals we may see next offseason could blow the big ones this year (Manning, Mario, Calvin etc) out of the water.

I edited my post above. Thinking he may be asking high now hoping to just play it out next year.However if he thinks he is worth 120 million he is delusional.

 

[zamboni]

No harm in asking for it. I'm sure he won't get anywhere in that stratosphere, but makes sense to aim high and he'll still get a sizable deal.

 

[Steed]

Shocking someone wouldn't give Wallace $60M AND surrender their 1st rounder. Shocking I say

 

[KellysHeroes]

Evidence that the franchise tag is a waste

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Shocking someone wouldn't give Wallace $60M AND surrender their 1st rounder. Shocking I say

Does anyone think this may be an "Old Boys Network" way of not driving up the prices onstar RFA's so owners can keep costs in check ?

 

[Abspara]

Shocking someone wouldn't give Wallace $60M AND surrender their 1st rounder. Shocking I say

Does anyone think this may be an "Old Boys Network" way of not driving up the prices onstar RFA's so owners can keep costs in check ?

It certainly feels like it.