What if Mike Wallace is traded? (1 Viewer)

[coolnerd]

My link

The Steelers are expected to listen to trade offers for Wallace, and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has “guessed” that he might only cost a fourth-round pick. If the monetary price has come down, too, then perhaps a team looking for a playmaker will be willing to pay those costs, and the receiver nicknamed “60 Minutes” will be playing ball in a different locale in 2012.

So if Bouchette is right about this, and say they would trade him for a 4th or even 5th rounder (yes, I realize this goes against what Colbert said a couple posts up), do we still get the 3rd round compensatory pick for Wallace or not?? If not, it makes absolutely no sense to let him go at that price.

No you don't.He would fetch a 3rd if he just hits FA normally.

makes no sense IMO

that's probably a 3rd rounder (late) in 2014 depending on his and the steelers compensatory qualifications. It is not automamtic.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

My link

The Steelers are expected to listen to trade offers for Wallace, and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has “guessed” that he might only cost a fourth-round pick. If the monetary price has come down, too, then perhaps a team looking for a playmaker will be willing to pay those costs, and the receiver nicknamed “60 Minutes” will be playing ball in a different locale in 2012.

So if Bouchette is right about this, and say they would trade him for a 4th or even 5th rounder (yes, I realize this goes against what Colbert said a couple posts up), do we still get the 3rd round compensatory pick for Wallace or not?? If not, it makes absolutely no sense to let him go at that price.

No you don't.He would fetch a 3rd if he just hits FA normally.

makes no sense IMO

that's probably a 3rd rounder (late) in 2014 depending on his and the steelers compensatory qualifications. It is not automamtic.

yeah those 3rds are really a 4th.

 

[Dippa]

If he is traded, the Colts might be a pretty good destination for him for fantasy, maybe not near term, but...Andrew Luck throws 70 yard bomb into the wind at pro day!

 

[gandalas]

God, I wish the Browns were not divisional rivals with the Steelers, cause I would LOVE to see him on our team. Especially with the new owner being a former minority owner over there, so I imagine there is some sort of connection. Of course, it could never happen. :( But Weedon's rocket arm throwing long bombs to Wallace while Gordon and Little work the underneath stuff just has me dreaming...

 

[voiceofunreason]

Less than zero chance he's going to the pats. There's about zero chance that he's going to the cowboys.

Now I see how these hack reporters keep their jobs, some people actually believe the crap they make up.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert tells ESPN's Ed Werder that unsigned restricted free agent Mike Wallace is not available for trade.

 

[Raider Nation]

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert tells ESPN's Ed Werder that unsigned restricted free agent Mike Wallace is not available for trade.

Just in case you didn't believe me four hours ago.

 

[Tyrion]

Actually since the comp picks come at the end of the third and can't be traded wouldn't any pick, 3rd and above, make sense? I mean if you think he will be a problem child and they also get a player in return? Can players still do the whole play for just 10 games thing like vjack did? Or did it get nixed with the new collective?

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Can players still do the whole play for just 10 games thing like vjack did?

If Wallace wants to become an UFA in '13, and at this point we can probably assume he absolutely does, then he has to play 6 games, I believe. He needs to have '12 count as a "fully accrued year" to become a UFA in '13 and has to play at least 6 games to have that happen.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Can players still do the whole play for just 10 games thing like vjack did?

If Wallace wants to become an UFA in '13, and at this point we can probably assume he absolutely does, then he has to play 6 games, I believe. He needs to have '12 count as a "fully accrued year" to become a UFA in '13 and has to play at least 6 games to have that happen.

play or report prior to week 10? Because VJax played like 1 game last yr.

 

[scothawk]

Multiple Sanders owner here.

So much Im begining to feel sick.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Can players still do the whole play for just 10 games thing like vjack did?

If Wallace wants to become an UFA in '13, and at this point we can probably assume he absolutely does, then he has to play 6 games, I believe. He needs to have '12 count as a "fully accrued year" to become a UFA in '13 and has to play at least 6 games to have that happen.

That is why I have been puzzled all along by the way this situation has developed with Wallace.It has the potential to get ugly and be a distraction and that is something the Steelers are very good at avoiding.

Their patented statedment of Wallace not being available in a trade was expected but I think they will move him along if it does wind up being a distraction.

Everyone was shocked when they moved Santonio Holmes and only got a third round pick but as many have correctly pointed out the compensentory picks are awarded for the following year and can't be traded and the highest possibility that Wallace would garner would be at the end of the third round, essentially a high fourth round selection so any deal they make for Wallace above a fourth rounder is better than what they could expect if they let him walk.

I think Wallace is serious since this thing began in March. I also think the Steelers played their biggest card by signing Brown, basically slapping Wallace in the face.

I don't see Wallace caving in and I don't see the Steelers caving in, they both might half-cave where he'd report ALA V-Jax later in the season, out of playing condition and not really do anything other than fufill his contract to become an URFA next off-season with zero chance that the Steelers would franchise him thus the Steelers wouldn't get any benefit from him and they wouldn't get any compensation other than a compensentory pick the next draft and they highest they could hope for would be at the end of the third round.

Seems to me that the smartest thing they could do would be to wait for a camp injury and an offer of at least a third, possibly up to a second (no team offered a first when he was a RFA so zero shot of a first round pick) or a possibly a player for player swap or possibly a conditional pick with at least a third round pick as the lowest possible pick at the bottom of the conditional scale.

Otherwise this could turn into an ongoing drama that we'll all get sick of before it eventually plays out and that could be looooooong into the season since it has been building for a long time.

 

[treat88]

Just for the record, Santonio Holmes only netted them a 5th round pick.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Just for the record, Santonio Holmes only netted them a 5th round pick.

You're kidding me.Why'd they do that?It would seem they could have gotten 'up-to' a third round compensentory pick but Holmes was a problem child, not just looking for money. Wallace has not been a problem child, from all reports and that is something I have asked about and no one has come up with anything so I take it that this impasse is all about money. I think the situations a lil different but I am shocked they only took a fifth for Homlmes.That says to me they would prefer to simply cut ties and not have any distractions rather than try for decent compensation.This will probably get settled sooner rather than later but the way I'd handle it would be to wait for a camp injury and hope for the best compensation but if they only took a fifth for Holmes then all bets are off on how this will be played by the Steelers.

 

[treat88]

Just for the record, Santonio Holmes only netted them a 5th round pick.

You're kidding me.Why'd they do that?It would seem they could have gotten 'up-to' a third round compensentory pick but Holmes was a problem child, not just looking for money. Wallace has not been a problem child, from all reports and that is something I have asked about and no one has come up with anything so I take it that this impasse is all about money. I think the situations a lil different but I am shocked they only took a fifth for Homlmes.That says to me they would prefer to simply cut ties and not have any distractions rather than try for decent compensation.This will probably get settled sooner rather than later but the way I'd handle it would be to wait for a camp injury and hope for the best compensation but if they only took a fifth for Holmes then all bets are off on how this will be played by the Steelers.

The situations are more than a little bit different, they aren't even comparable.Wallace is in no way a problem child. He just wants to get paid. It's reasonable.Holmes was smoking and tweeting about it on the heels of a BR PR issue. Plus Holmes history was littered with less than stellar decisions.I agree it was a poor haul for a receiver of Holmes caliber, but that decision was about more than football, it was about image repair.The Wallace negotiation is all about the business of football.The Steelers want players who are want to play football. They want those players to show a commitment to the team. If players demonstrate those two qualities and are performing on the field...they will get paid and they will get paid very close to their market value. The ball is in Wallace's court at this point. If he shows up, they will take care of him soon thereafter.

 

[todisco1]

The ball is in Wallace's court at this point. If he shows up, they will take care of him soon thereafter.

I'm hearing multiple reports of this not being the case at all, that the extension of Brown closes the door on any possible extension for Wallace. Do you have anything tangible on them still wanting to extend Wallace? Not calling you out, just curious because I'm hearing conflicting information.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

The ball is in Wallace's court at this point. If he shows up, they will take care of him soon thereafter.

I'm hearing multiple reports of this not being the case at all, that the extension of Brown closes the door on any possible extension for Wallace. Do you have anything tangible on them still wanting to extend Wallace? Not calling you out, just curious because I'm hearing conflicting information.

I read the extension to Brown the same way, a slap in the face to Wallace.The patented statement the Steelers issued about not trading Wallace was expected.

Here is a take from a Miami beat reporter who wants the Phins to make a play for Wallace concerning that statement by the Steelers.

My link

... suggest they chase a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers unsigned receiver Mike Wallace. Now, understand, ESPN's Ed Werder was told by Steelers GM Kevin Colbert that Wallace is "not available in trade."

Sorry, I've covered this league too long to know that often a "no" means "not now" and sometimes it transitions to "yes, absolutely." Flatly, the Steelers know they are going to lose Wallace after this season and get practically nothing (probably a compensatory pick) in return. They may well decide to cut their losses and actually get something for Wallace instead.

I understand making a move such as this would be expensive on multiple levels. The Dolphins would have to pay the Steelers draft choice compensation and then pay Wallace a hefty contract that averages between $11-$12 million per season.

But that's the cost of doing business, folks, ...

 

[az_prof]

Just for the record, Santonio Holmes only netted them a 5th round pick.

You're kidding me.Why'd they do that?It would seem they could have gotten 'up-to' a third round compensentory pick but Holmes was a problem child, not just looking for money. Wallace has not been a problem child, from all reports and that is something I have asked about and no one has come up with anything so I take it that this impasse is all about money. I think the situations a lil different but I am shocked they only took a fifth for Homlmes.That says to me they would prefer to simply cut ties and not have any distractions rather than try for decent compensation.This will probably get settled sooner rather than later but the way I'd handle it would be to wait for a camp injury and hope for the best compensation but if they only took a fifth for Holmes then all bets are off on how this will be played by the Steelers.

They did it because he was a cancer and a distraction. They will move any player if he is that much of a problem. This alone makes me believe the stories that Wallace could be moved.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I don't see the Steelers trading him and I only feel that way because I thought they sort of made a choice between Holmes and Wallace when they traded Holmes to the Jets. I might be looking at it wrong but I would be a little surprised to see them send Wallace to another team now. It would leave them with Brown, Sanders, and Cotch? I don't know if that is enough for a team with possible title hopes.

 

[treat88]

The ball is in Wallace's court at this point. If he shows up, they will take care of him soon thereafter.

I'm hearing multiple reports of this not being the case at all, that the extension of Brown closes the door on any possible extension for Wallace. Do you have anything tangible on them still wanting to extend Wallace? Not calling you out, just curious because I'm hearing conflicting information.

No. Nothing tangible.Just precedent and watching the way this team operates for the last couple decades. Freely admit things may have changed more than I am reading into the tea leaves.The Brown contract has about 13 million dollars guaranteed in it. That was in no way the deal offered to Wallace. If it was, I don't blame him for walking. So, they certainly didn't just hand Brown Wallace's offer.Rather, the Brown deal actually has a very minimal impact on the 2012 cap, leaving plenty of room for Wallace to sign a deal with 25ish guaranteed when prorated over say a 5-6 year contract.I don't think Brown's deal closes the door on Wallace, instead I think it is the team providing a little "perspective" with it's timing.To borrow a Tomlinism, it is up to Wallace whether he puts his hand on the pile or not, both financially and literally. I think he will when faced with the reality that the Steelers control his rights rather affordably over the next 2 seasons.If not, the team typically acts pretty decisively. I don't expect them to leave him dangling until week 11.Interesting situation.

 

[Tchula]

From a need perspective, Miami and Seattle jump to mind.

 

[todisco1]

The ball is in Wallace's court at this point. If he shows up, they will take care of him soon thereafter.

I'm hearing multiple reports of this not being the case at all, that the extension of Brown closes the door on any possible extension for Wallace. Do you have anything tangible on them still wanting to extend Wallace? Not calling you out, just curious because I'm hearing conflicting information.

No. Nothing tangible.Just precedent and watching the way this team operates for the last couple decades. Freely admit things may have changed more than I am reading into the tea leaves.The Brown contract has about 13 million dollars guaranteed in it. That was in no way the deal offered to Wallace. If it was, I don't blame him for walking. So, they certainly didn't just hand Brown Wallace's offer.Rather, the Brown deal actually has a very minimal impact on the 2012 cap, leaving plenty of room for Wallace to sign a deal with 25ish guaranteed when prorated over say a 5-6 year contract.I don't think Brown's deal closes the door on Wallace, instead I think it is the team providing a little "perspective" with it's timing.To borrow a Tomlinism, it is up to Wallace whether he puts his hand on the pile or not. I think he will when faced with the reality that the Steelers control his rights rather affordably over the next 2 seasons.

Thanks for the clarification. Fascinating situation. I've also read there is little chance the Steelers would franchise Wallace next year, meaning if they don't get a long term deal he'll walk after this season. No idea how true this is, but if it is then it may benefit Wallace more to play under his tender and leave next season and get a VJax type deal.

 

[pantherclub]

Wallace and Steve smith on the field together would be insane to watch

 

[Cookiemonster]

I doubt Wallace will be traded because it's likely that there aren't any teams out there that are willing to pay Wallace $11.5-12mil per year. If Wallace would have accepted $9-9.5, he'd be a Steeler long term. If he'd accept $10-10.5, he'd have been traded during the offseason. Now that A. Brown has been paid, I think the door has closed to remain a Steeler beyond this year. He'll almost certainly be a FA next year after playing his 6 games (at probably less that full speed) and get right about $10m/yr as a FA anyways.

I don't see where Wallace did himself any favors here. His agent was happy with a proposal, but Wallace shot it down! He'll never make that money back that he's going to lose this year, and he'll probably have to work for a team that will be less competitive on average. All I can figure is that Wallace was born in the Bayou, played college ball in the deep south, and wants to go back. This is the only way he gets to determine where he gets to play. If geography is what he wants, now it's entirely up to him.

 

[Freedonia]

any chance the the Rams turn any of those RG3 picks they got from Washington into Wallace. They have so much tied up in Bradford they need to give him some play makers if they want him to have any chance to be succeed.

 

[matttyl]

Possibly a stupid question here...but if a team trades for Wallace, what are they really trading for? I mean, do they just get the rights to him at $2.7M for this year (his current "contract")?

If that's the case, Wallace isn't going to play for that team at that price just like he's (apparently) not going to play for the Steelers at that price.

And if that's the case, you'd have to trade something to the Steelers (apparently a 3rd round pick at absolute minimum) AND give him a deal of at least $10-11M per year for the next 5 years, if not more.

And if all of those are in fact the case, why not just wait till the 2013 offseason when he's an UFA and give him the same deal and save the pick?

I mean, it is worth giving up a 3rd or even 2nd round pick to have Wallace for 5 years starting in 2012...when you don't have to do anything to get him for 5 years starting in 2013?!

And if you're the Steelers, and you believe you'll likely get a 3rd round compensatory pick if Wallace leaves next year anyway, where's the desire to trade him when he's still forced to come back and play for you weeks 12+ (the last 6 games of the season including 4 divisional games)? Would you rather have him for 6 games this year and have a late 3rd....or not have him and have a mid 3rd?

Very, very interesting situation.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Possibly a stupid question here...but if a team trades for Wallace, what are they really trading for? I mean, do they just get the rights to him at $2.7M for this year (his current "contract")?If that's the case, Wallace isn't going to play for that team at that price just like he's (apparently) not going to play for the Steelers at that price.And if that's the case, you'd have to trade something to the Steelers (apparently a 3rd round pick at absolute minimum) AND give him a deal of at least $10-11M per year for the next 5 years, if not more.And if all of those are in fact the case, why not just wait till the 2013 offseason when he's an UFA and give him the same deal and save the pick?I mean, it is worth giving up a 3rd or even 2nd round pick to have Wallace for 5 years starting in 2012...when you don't have to do anything to get him for 5 years starting in 2013?!And if you're the Steelers, and you believe you'll likely get a 3rd round compensatory pick if Wallace leaves next year anyway, where's the desire to trade him when he's still forced to come back and play for you weeks 12+ (the last 6 games of the season including 4 divisional games)? Would you rather have him for 6 games this year and have a late 3rd....or not have him and have a mid 3rd?Very, very interesting situation.

basically everything in here is 100% correct, which is why it's a tough deal to make, an hasn't been done yet.the only thing you need to bear in mind is they always have the tag option next year, so he's not automatically ufa.but if they use that their wr payroll will be kind of heavy.

 

[matttyl]

but if they use that their wr payroll will be kind of heavy.

Not really, the new Brown deal only pays him $2M in salary next year with a $2.5M roster bonus, and a portion of that signing bonus. I'm not sure how all that will count against the cap, but that along with a ~$10M franchise tag for Wallace....they are paying ~$16M or so to their top 2 WRs. That's not so bad.

 

[Tau837]

I mean, it is worth giving up a 3rd or even 2nd round pick to have Wallace for 5 years starting in 2012...when you don't have to do anything to get him for 5 years starting in 2013?!

But if a team wants him, trading for him now guarantees they get him. If they wait, there is no such guarantee. He could be franchised or there could be other teams competing to sign him. Plus, if a team trades for him now, they get him in 2012, not 2013.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

but if they use that their wr payroll will be kind of heavy.

Not really, the new Brown deal only pays him $2M in salary next year with a $2.5M roster bonus, and a portion of that signing bonus. I'm not sure how all that will count against the cap, but that along with a ~$10M franchise tag for Wallace....they are paying ~$16M or so to their top 2 WRs. That's not so bad.

oh, I had thought the brown number would be higher.I thought I had heard, though, that pitt was kind of short on cap space.even if true, that might clear up next year, (or get worse...) but tagging players is very cumbersome as far as cap accounting goes because you can't hide any of it in future years.it could end up like the cassel tag when he was with the pats, where it put them right at the cap, and would have really been paralyzing if they hadn't dealt him --- of course, I don't think pitt is typically a big fa player anyway.here's some steeler cap theorizing I just googled up with a few figures.http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/07/impact-of-new-antonio-brown-contract-on-cap-space-mike-wallace/bear in mind any team trading for him would have a chance to work out a longer term deal, just like kc did with cassel, or at the very least tag him twice, if they were so inclined and had the room.ps I think brown counts about 4m against the cap next year

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

addendum - I was skimming steeler contracts, and it looks like a few of their bigger names might pop another 20+m on the cap next year, unless they were to restructure.

 

[Godsbrother]

Possibly a stupid question here...but if a team trades for Wallace, what are they really trading for? I mean, do they just get the rights to him at $2.7M for this year (his current "contract")?If that's the case, Wallace isn't going to play for that team at that price just like he's (apparently) not going to play for the Steelers at that price.And if that's the case, you'd have to trade something to the Steelers (apparently a 3rd round pick at absolute minimum) AND give him a deal of at least $10-11M per year for the next 5 years, if not more.And if all of those are in fact the case, why not just wait till the 2013 offseason when he's an UFA and give him the same deal and save the pick?I mean, it is worth giving up a 3rd or even 2nd round pick to have Wallace for 5 years starting in 2012...when you don't have to do anything to get him for 5 years starting in 2013?!And if you're the Steelers, and you believe you'll likely get a 3rd round compensatory pick if Wallace leaves next year anyway, where's the desire to trade him when he's still forced to come back and play for you weeks 12+ (the last 6 games of the season including 4 divisional games)? Would you rather have him for 6 games this year and have a late 3rd....or not have him and have a mid 3rd?Very, very interesting situation.

basically everything in here is 100% correct, which is why it's a tough deal to make, an hasn't been done yet.the only thing you need to bear in mind is they always have the tag option next year, so he's not automatically ufa.but if they use that their wr payroll will be kind of heavy.

Both of these are excellent posts and why a trade is unlikely. In addition there is a matter of the Steelers not wanting to set a precedent of rewarding a holdout. If the Steelers were to deal Wallace and the new team signed him to a lucrative long-term deal then the Wallace would have "won". Any player in a similar situation in future would look at the Wallace situation and might also decide to holdout.Now if the Steelers were given a ridiculous trade offer like the Raiders gave the Bengals for Palmer then I am sure they would pull the trigger but that seems unlikely. Wallace will eventually sign his RFA tender and report because he really has no other choice. If he does so before the season starts then there is still a chance the two sides could come to an agreement if the relationship hasn't completely soured. If he waits until the season starts then the Steelers will not negotiate during the season. At that point he'll play the 2012 season for $2.74 million and look for the bug bucks as a free agent. However playing without a long term agreement does have some risk if he were to have a serious injury. A way to lessen that risk would be to wait until week 11 to report but it would cost him $1.7 million.Interesting situation...

 

[Godsbrother]

addendum - I was skimming steeler contracts, and it looks like a few of their bigger names might pop another 20+m on the cap next year, unless they were to restructure.

And they would. Players are almost always willing to restructure because they typically get more money up front.

 

[TheFly06]

Just pure talk radio discussion I heard this morning on the Houston airwaves, but with the doubt surrounding Mendenhall's health, and Andre Johnson's age and recent injuries, should the Steelers and Texans think about making this deal:

Trade Mike Wallace for Ben Tate, straight up.

What would y'all think about that? Sorry if it sidetracks the current discussions in this thread. Just thought it was a fun scenario to think about.

 

[Godsbrother]

Just pure talk radio discussion I heard this morning on the Houston airwaves, but with the doubt surrounding Mendenhall's health, and Andre Johnson's age and recent injuries, should the Steelers and Texans think about making this deal:Trade Mike Wallace for Ben Tate, straight up. What would y'all think about that? Sorry if it sidetracks the current discussions in this thread. Just thought it was a fun scenario to think about.

Pretty interesting. I would definitely consider that but I think the Steelers are comfortable with Redman and Dwyer.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Possibly a stupid question here...but if a team trades for Wallace, what are they really trading for? I mean, do they just get the rights to him at $2.7M for this year (his current "contract")?

If that's the case, Wallace isn't going to play for that team at that price just like he's (apparently) not going to play for the Steelers at that price.

And if that's the case, you'd have to trade something to the Steelers (apparently a 3rd round pick at absolute minimum) AND give him a deal of at least $10-11M per year for the next 5 years, if not more.

And if all of those are in fact the case, why not just wait till the 2013 offseason when he's an UFA and give him the same deal and save the pick?

I mean, it is worth giving up a 3rd or even 2nd round pick to have Wallace for 5 years starting in 2012...when you don't have to do anything to get him for 5 years starting in 2013?!

And if you're the Steelers, and you believe you'll likely get a 3rd round compensatory pick if Wallace leaves next year anyway, where's the desire to trade him when he's still forced to come back and play for you weeks 12+ (the last 6 games of the season including 4 divisional games)? Would you rather have him for 6 games this year and have a late 3rd....or not have him and have a mid 3rd?

Very, very interesting situation.

basically everything in here is 100% correct, which is why it's a tough deal to make, an hasn't been done yet.the only thing you need to bear in mind is they always have the tag option next year, so he's not automatically ufa.

but if they use that their wr payroll will be kind of heavy.

Both of these are excellent posts and why a trade is unlikely. In addition there is a matter of the Steelers not wanting to set a precedent of rewarding a holdout. If the Steelers were to deal Wallace and the new team signed him to a lucrative long-term deal then the Wallace would have "won". Any player in a similar situation in future would look at the Wallace situation and might also decide to holdout.Now if the Steelers were given a ridiculous trade offer like the Raiders gave the Bengals for Palmer then I am sure they would pull the trigger but that seems unlikely.

Wallace will eventually sign his RFA tender and report because he really has no other choice. If he does so before the season starts then there is still a chance the two sides could come to an agreement if the relationship hasn't completely soured.

If he waits until the season starts then the Steelers will not negotiate during the season. At that point he'll play the 2012 season for $2.74 million and look for the bug bucks as a free agent. However playing without a long term agreement does have some risk if he were to have a serious injury. A way to lessen that risk would be to wait until week 11 to report but it would cost him $1.7 million.

Interesting situation...

I outright reject the assumption that if the Steelers trade Wallace that they would set in motion a precident where they would be seen as soft touches by agents and they would be dealing with a slew of holdouts. I remember that was the reasoning of the Bengals for not trading Ocho Cinco when Washington offered TWO number-one draft picks for him before he really became a distraction.

But to get to the raw numbers posted from the above article.

The aticle states they only have approx ~ $2 million available but thru accounting magic the absolute bottom line if they scrape the bottom of the barrell of everything that they could put on the table for this year would be approx ~ %6 million.

Wallace was tagged with the RFA deal of a lil over #2 million.

He's looking for V-Jax money of #11 million.

My"]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/2289846-85/brown-steelers-million-season-wallace-contract-avg-receiver-catches-2017?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tribunereviewsteelers"]My link[/url

]... Wallace — their holdout receiver who wants a contract like receiver Vincent Jackson’s $55 million contract with Tampa Bay — couldn’t be clearer.

My"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/28/wallace-wants-to-be-paid-like-vincent-jackson-not-fitzgerald/"]My link[/url

]...

On Friday night, however, Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote that Wallace’s asking price is more in line with the five-year, $55.555 million contract signed by Bucs receiver Vincent Jackson during the spring. Jackson’s deal contains $26 million guaranteed.

And that’s a big difference.

Fitzgerald’s average annual value is $15 million, whereas Jackson’s is a more affordable $11.1 million. And Jackson got a lot less of his value guaranteed.

So while common perception has continued to be that Wallace wants to be paid like Fitz, his monetary demands may not be quite so exorbitant. Wallace is entering his age-26 season and commands heavy defensive attention even when he isn’t catching passes, opening up the field for others. Jackson and Fitzgerald do the same, but they are both 29.

The Steelers are expected to listen to trade offers for Wallace, and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has “guessed” that he might only cost a fourth-round pick. If the monetary price has come down, too, then perhaps a team looking for a playmaker will be willing to pay those costs, and the receiver nicknamed “60 Minutes” will be playing ball in a different locale in 2012.

I'm no cap or contract expert but the difference between what the Steelers can stretch their cap to the ultimate limit is $6 million whereas the contract that Wallace is seeking isn't Larry Fitzgerald territory of $15 million a year it is in-line with V-Jax contract of $11.5 million per year.No matter how you slice it their is a significant difference between what the Steelers can put on the table ($6 million) and what Wallace is seeking ($11.5 million).

 

[Shutout]

85 posts and not a single citing of Ed Bouchette other than his guess on what a trade pick comp would be??? SHAMEFUL.

Bouchette has been covering the Steelers for about 28 years and he was interviewed Friday night for about 30 minutes and had a lot of good info on this.

Paraphrasing, here's his take.

In his opinion, the Brown signing was both an indication that the Steelers have moved on from entertaining Wallace and also an indicaiton that the organization does think that Brown may be the better all-around receiver. They (the Steelers) took notice of the last half of the season last year when it was obvious to the Steelers that Brown was playing much better, according to Bouchette.

Bouchette says several times and with several examples during the interview that the Steelers decision makers thought it was fair and sincere that they did not reduce Wallace's salary this year to the ~$500,000 or so that they could have and that would have been the wrong thing to do and so it was in good faith they did not. So they left it in Wallace's hands to bridge the gap and nothing has happened because of the amount of money Wallace is expecting. So they "moved on".

Bouchette said very plainly that the Steelers are not going to entertain this idea. He cited that they didn't cave when franco harris (FRANCO HARRIS) tried a similar situation as a RFA and the same guys that didn't cave to him won't be caving to Wallace, in his opinion. He said that Hines Ward is basically the only STEELER WR to ever get the big 2nd contract and that he just doesn't think it will happen for Wallace.

He simply doesn't believe the Steelers will ever give Wallace the kind of money he is seeking. He believes it is actually plausible that the Steelers will allow Wallace to walk as a FA next year, assuming he reports. When asked, he said he DID think Wallace was serious enough about this holdout to not report until Week 11.

--Someone above said something about "playing" the last 6 games. It is not necessary to actually play the games. You just have to report and be available to the team's wishes. You may remember VJAX reporting but sitting out some games due to injuries. That is ok and still counts towards getting his credited season.---

Bouchette was asked in the interview if he thought the Steelers might do something crazy IF Wallace held out the frst 10, like deactivate him or let him sit a week and then release him (this would be INTERESTING because it would make Wallace go through waivers, costing him one week and he would end up a RFA next year too). Bouchette said if he wasn't on board with playing or wasn't in shape, yes, he might be deactivated. But he said he thought the Steelers were too classy to go the "release" route; NOT based on the thought of losing money or compensation of draft pick, but just based on the "right thing to do".

All in all, Bouchette thinks there is a legit chance that this could drag out a long time and he doesn't think Wallace will ever get the money he wants from the Steelers and there is a very good chance he won't be with the team long term.

 

[Godsbrother]

85 posts and not a single citing of Ed Bouchette other than his guess on what a trade pick comp would be??? SHAMEFUL.

Bouchette has been covering the Steelers for about 28 years and he was interviewed Friday night for about 30 minutes and had a lot of good info on this.

Paraphrasing, here's his take.

In his opinion, the Brown signing was both an indication that the Steelers have moved on from entertaining Wallace and also an indicaiton that the organization does think that Brown may be the better all-around receiver. They (the Steelers) took notice of the last half of the season last year when it was obvious to the Steelers that Brown was playing much better, according to Bouchette.

Bouchette says several times and with several examples during the interview that the Steelers decision makers thought it was fair and sincere that they did not reduce Wallace's salary this year to the ~$500,000 or so that they could have and that would have been the wrong thing to do and so it was in good faith they did not. So they left it in Wallace's hands to bridge the gap and nothing has happened because of the amount of money Wallace is expecting. So they "moved on".

Bouchette said very plainly that the Steelers are not going to entertain this idea. He cited that they didn't cave when franco harris (FRANCO HARRIS) tried a similar situation as a RFA and the same guys that didn't cave to him won't be caving to Wallace, in his opinion. He said that Hines Ward is basically the only STEELER WR to ever get the big 2nd contract and that he just doesn't think it will happen for Wallace.

He simply doesn't believe the Steelers will ever give Wallace the kind of money he is seeking. He believes it is actually plausible that the Steelers will allow Wallace to walk as a FA next year, assuming he reports. When asked, he said he DID think Wallace was serious enough about this holdout to not report until Week 11.

--Someone above said something about "playing" the last 6 games. It is not necessary to actually play the games. You just have to report and be available to the team's wishes. You may remember VJAX reporting but sitting out some games due to injuries. That is ok and still counts towards getting his credited season.---

Bouchette was asked in the interview if he thought the Steelers might do something crazy IF Wallace held out the frst 10, like deactivate him or let him sit a week and then release him (this would be INTERESTING because it would make Wallace go through waivers, costing him one week and he would end up a RFA next year too). Bouchette said if he wasn't on board with playing or wasn't in shape, yes, he might be deactivated. But he said he thought the Steelers were too classy to go the "release" route; NOT based on the thought of losing money or compensation of draft pick, but just based on the "right thing to do".

All in all, Bouchette thinks there is a legit chance that this could drag out a long time and he doesn't think Wallace will ever get the money he wants from the Steelers and there is a very good chance he won't be with the team long term.

Bouchette is certainly a credible source but most of this has already been stated on FBGs in this and other threads. The Steelers had the option to reduce the RFA tender but didn't as a sign of good faith. Wallace obviously didn't think too much of it and refuses to report until he gets a deal that will make him one of the highest paid WRs in the league. Hence the impasse.You are right that Wallace only has to report by Week 11 to qualify as a UFA next year and he doesn't necessarily have to play. There is a cost of doing so (at least $1.7 million) and you certainly aren't going to increase your value on the open market by playing only a handful of games in 2012 after a subpar second half in 2011. But in the end this is Wallace's choice on how he wants to handle his career.

The Steelers may be "too classy" to outright release him but it would also be incredibly stupid and the Steelers aren't stupid. They might trade him if they got a great offer but they're going to get a nice compensatory pick anyway.

I think it is pretty obvious now that Wallace will likely not be with the team long term. The question is whether or not Wallace plays for the Steelers this year and if so, how many games will he play and how effective will he be?

 

[Godsbrother]

ESPN's take:

Steelers are right in not trading Wallace

July, 29, 2012

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace isn't going anywhere this year. That's the word out of Steelers training camp, where general manager Kevin Colbert told ESPN's Ed Werder on Saturday, "Mike Wallace is not available for trade."

This ends speculation that the Steelers were going to move Wallace after signing wide receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year, $42.5 million extension on Friday.

Here are three reasons why the Steelers' best move is not to make a move with Wallace:

There's no value in it.

The only way shipping Wallace to another team this season makes sense is if an interested team (Miami, Dallas and Indianapolis have been mentioned) gives a first-round pick (don't hold your breath) or a second-round one to the Steelers. There's no reason to take a third-round pick for Wallace now because the Steelers can get some production out of Wallace in 2012 in addition to a potential third-round compensatory pick in 2014. Plus, trading Wallace lets him get a big deal right away from another team, and the Steelers don't want to set a precedent that holding out gets you want you want.

There's still a chance that Pittsburgh can keep Wallace.

Don't laugh. The prospects of the Steelers signing Wallace now appear grim if you read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. But Wallace is seeking a Vincent Jackson-type contract, not a Larry Fitzgerald one. That means Wallace wants a deal along the lines of $26 million guaranteed in the first two years, which is a far more reasonable demand. Sure, the Steelers would likely have to do more creative bookkeeping to make this work. But the Steelers' history has been that they sign the players they want to keep. What's the worse that can happen by keeping Wallace? He sits out training camp and the first 10 games of the regular season, which gives him time to accrue a full season and become an unrestricted free agent next season. The Steelers would still get six regular-season games out of Wallace as well as the playoffs.

There would be a void by trading Wallace.

It's reasonable to think Brown could step up and take Wallace's spot as the No. 1 wide receiver. But who takes Brown's place at No. 2? Emmanuel Sanders gets hurt every year, and Jerricho Cotchery's catches have decreased the past four seasons. When the Steelers traded Santonio Holmes before the 2010 season, they had Hines Ward coming off a 95-catch season and Wallace coming off a promising rookie season (19.4-yard per catch average and six touchdowns). It would be a challenge to absorb the loss of Wallace this year.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

ESPN's take:

Steelers are right in not trading Wallace

July, 29, 2012

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace isn't going anywhere this year. That's the word out of Steelers training camp, where general manager Kevin Colbert told ESPN's Ed Werder on Saturday, "Mike Wallace is not available for trade."

This ends speculation that the Steelers were going to move Wallace after signing wide receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year, $42.5 million extension on Friday.

Here are three reasons why the Steelers' best move is not to make a move with Wallace:

There's no value in it.

The only way shipping Wallace to another team this season makes sense is if an interested team (Miami, Dallas and Indianapolis have been mentioned) gives a first-round pick (don't hold your breath) or a second-round one to the Steelers. There's no reason to take a third-round pick for Wallace now because the Steelers can get some production out of Wallace in 2012 in addition to a potential third-round compensatory pick in 2014. Plus, trading Wallace lets him get a big deal right away from another team, and the Steelers don't want to set a precedent that holding out gets you want you want.

There's still a chance that Pittsburgh can keep Wallace.

Don't laugh. The prospects of the Steelers signing Wallace now appear grim if you read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. But Wallace is seeking a Vincent Jackson-type contract, not a Larry Fitzgerald one. That means Wallace wants a deal along the lines of $26 million guaranteed in the first two years, which is a far more reasonable demand. Sure, the Steelers would likely have to do more creative bookkeeping to make this work. But the Steelers' history has been that they sign the players they want to keep. What's the worse that can happen by keeping Wallace? He sits out training camp and the first 10 games of the regular season, which gives him time to accrue a full season and become an unrestricted free agent next season. The Steelers would still get six regular-season games out of Wallace as well as the playoffs.

There would be a void by trading Wallace.

It's reasonable to think Brown could step up and take Wallace's spot as the No. 1 wide receiver. But who takes Brown's place at No. 2? Emmanuel Sanders gets hurt every year, and Jerricho Cotchery's catches have decreased the past four seasons. When the Steelers traded Santonio Holmes before the 2010 season, they had Hines Ward coming off a 95-catch season and Wallace coming off a promising rookie season (19.4-yard per catch average and six touchdowns). It would be a challenge to absorb the loss of Wallace this year.

Unfortunately for the Steelers all of the logic to how keeping Wallace that works in their favor has another side, Mike Wallace's side.1. There's no value in it.

He did not sign the RFA tender back in March. He did not sign the tender when the Steelers broke off negotiations. He has made his case clear that the RFA is not what he has set for his market price and he's certainly not going to sign that deal since the Steelers turned around and gave Antonio Brown more than the RFA tender. Why would he sign that RFA now or at any time where he'd risk injury playing for less than what he feels he's worth before he can ink that long-term contract that he's seeking?

2. There's still a chance that Pittsburgh can keep Wallace.

Not if Wallace is serious about his contract demands and considering he made his case back in March and hasn't wavered all indications are he's serious. Assuming everything we've seen from Wallace is true and I've got no evidence he is not serious then he will never sign that RFA tender and even if the Steelers do all of the accounting shennanigans that they can muster they would only be able to put $6 million on the table which is $5 million less than what Wallace is asking. Everyone has spelled out how V-Jax situation played out last year and that is what the Steelers could be looking at for this year. Next year they would never-ever place the franchise tag on him because that tag guarantees an avrage of the top-five WRs in the NFL faaaaaaaaaaar exceeding what he is asking for today so they'd never franchise him next year.

3. There would be a void by trading Wallace.

There is a void right now and their will continue to be a void even if he pulls a V-Jax and comes in late in the season. The Steelers can't pay him and he's not going to sign for what they have had on the table since March.

Neither side is likely going to get what they want this year but Wallace will get his pay-day next year with a slight possibly he could get a new contract this year if Pittsburgh cuts a deal and ships him out of town.

I think the Steelers made it clear by extending Brown that Wallace is done so the only way they can spin this in their favor is by making a deal and the sooner the better.

I don't see him caving and little if any positives if he comes in late and they have a distraction but their are positives by dishing the kid.

- The Steelers get a pick and have extra cap space next year and make a clean break and remove this ongoing distraction.

- Wallace would get his pay-day and would have nice things to say about Pittsburgh.

- The new team would be happy and Wallace would be a distant memory in the Steelers rear view mirror.

 

[Shutout]

85 posts and not a single citing of Ed Bouchette other than his guess on what a trade pick comp would be??? SHAMEFUL.

Bouchette has been covering the Steelers for about 28 years and he was interviewed Friday night for about 30 minutes and had a lot of good info on this.

Paraphrasing, here's his take.

In his opinion, the Brown signing was both an indication that the Steelers have moved on from entertaining Wallace and also an indicaiton that the organization does think that Brown may be the better all-around receiver. They (the Steelers) took notice of the last half of the season last year when it was obvious to the Steelers that Brown was playing much better, according to Bouchette.

Bouchette says several times and with several examples during the interview that the Steelers decision makers thought it was fair and sincere that they did not reduce Wallace's salary this year to the ~$500,000 or so that they could have and that would have been the wrong thing to do and so it was in good faith they did not. So they left it in Wallace's hands to bridge the gap and nothing has happened because of the amount of money Wallace is expecting. So they "moved on".

Bouchette said very plainly that the Steelers are not going to entertain this idea. He cited that they didn't cave when franco harris (FRANCO HARRIS) tried a similar situation as a RFA and the same guys that didn't cave to him won't be caving to Wallace, in his opinion. He said that Hines Ward is basically the only STEELER WR to ever get the big 2nd contract and that he just doesn't think it will happen for Wallace.

He simply doesn't believe the Steelers will ever give Wallace the kind of money he is seeking. He believes it is actually plausible that the Steelers will allow Wallace to walk as a FA next year, assuming he reports. When asked, he said he DID think Wallace was serious enough about this holdout to not report until Week 11.

--Someone above said something about "playing" the last 6 games. It is not necessary to actually play the games. You just have to report and be available to the team's wishes. You may remember VJAX reporting but sitting out some games due to injuries. That is ok and still counts towards getting his credited season.---

Bouchette was asked in the interview if he thought the Steelers might do something crazy IF Wallace held out the frst 10, like deactivate him or let him sit a week and then release him (this would be INTERESTING because it would make Wallace go through waivers, costing him one week and he would end up a RFA next year too). Bouchette said if he wasn't on board with playing or wasn't in shape, yes, he might be deactivated. But he said he thought the Steelers were too classy to go the "release" route; NOT based on the thought of losing money or compensation of draft pick, but just based on the "right thing to do".

All in all, Bouchette thinks there is a legit chance that this could drag out a long time and he doesn't think Wallace will ever get the money he wants from the Steelers and there is a very good chance he won't be with the team long term.

Bouchette is certainly a credible source but most of this has already been stated on FBGs in this and other threads. The Steelers had the option to reduce the RFA tender but didn't as a sign of good faith. Wallace obviously didn't think too much of it and refuses to report until he gets a deal that will make him one of the highest paid WRs in the league. Hence the impasse.You are right that Wallace only has to report by Week 11 to qualify as a UFA next year and he doesn't necessarily have to play. There is a cost of doing so (at least $1.7 million) and you certainly aren't going to increase your value on the open market by playing only a handful of games in 2012 after a subpar second half in 2011. But in the end this is Wallace's choice on how he wants to handle his career.

The Steelers may be "too classy" to outright release him but it would also be incredibly stupid and the Steelers aren't stupid. They might trade him if they got a great offer but they're going to get a nice compensatory pick anyway.

I think it is pretty obvious now that Wallace will likely not be with the team long term. The question is whether or not Wallace plays for the Steelers this year and if so, how many games will he play and how effective will he be?

As I said, the ONLY mention of Bouchette in this thread was of his guess on a trade pick comp. The rest was stated Friday night. yeah, didn't work for VJAX at all.

Maybe you should just listen for yourself. A very credible guy like Bouchette shared some great info but maybe I don't write it in a way that you interpret. Sounds like you have your mind made up but what's in your head isn't the same as what Bouchette said.

At any rate, I heard it, I relayed it. People can take what they want from it.

I agree that I don't think he's long-term for the Steelers. Maybe they shouldn't have tagged him the way they did. Some people say it was smart. Some people say it wasn't. Maybe it was both in that it made business sense, but at the end of the day, it IS a distraction and one of their best WRs is not in camp. From that measure, I would put it in the category of "I would do it different if I could go back and redo it".

 

[Godsbrother]

85 posts and not a single citing of Ed Bouchette other than his guess on what a trade pick comp would be??? SHAMEFUL.

Bouchette has been covering the Steelers for about 28 years and he was interviewed Friday night for about 30 minutes and had a lot of good info on this.

Paraphrasing, here's his take.

In his opinion, the Brown signing was both an indication that the Steelers have moved on from entertaining Wallace and also an indicaiton that the organization does think that Brown may be the better all-around receiver. They (the Steelers) took notice of the last half of the season last year when it was obvious to the Steelers that Brown was playing much better, according to Bouchette.

Bouchette says several times and with several examples during the interview that the Steelers decision makers thought it was fair and sincere that they did not reduce Wallace's salary this year to the ~$500,000 or so that they could have and that would have been the wrong thing to do and so it was in good faith they did not. So they left it in Wallace's hands to bridge the gap and nothing has happened because of the amount of money Wallace is expecting. So they "moved on".

Bouchette said very plainly that the Steelers are not going to entertain this idea. He cited that they didn't cave when franco harris (FRANCO HARRIS) tried a similar situation as a RFA and the same guys that didn't cave to him won't be caving to Wallace, in his opinion. He said that Hines Ward is basically the only STEELER WR to ever get the big 2nd contract and that he just doesn't think it will happen for Wallace.

He simply doesn't believe the Steelers will ever give Wallace the kind of money he is seeking. He believes it is actually plausible that the Steelers will allow Wallace to walk as a FA next year, assuming he reports. When asked, he said he DID think Wallace was serious enough about this holdout to not report until Week 11.

--Someone above said something about "playing" the last 6 games. It is not necessary to actually play the games. You just have to report and be available to the team's wishes. You may remember VJAX reporting but sitting out some games due to injuries. That is ok and still counts towards getting his credited season.---

Bouchette was asked in the interview if he thought the Steelers might do something crazy IF Wallace held out the frst 10, like deactivate him or let him sit a week and then release him (this would be INTERESTING because it would make Wallace go through waivers, costing him one week and he would end up a RFA next year too). Bouchette said if he wasn't on board with playing or wasn't in shape, yes, he might be deactivated. But he said he thought the Steelers were too classy to go the "release" route; NOT based on the thought of losing money or compensation of draft pick, but just based on the "right thing to do".

All in all, Bouchette thinks there is a legit chance that this could drag out a long time and he doesn't think Wallace will ever get the money he wants from the Steelers and there is a very good chance he won't be with the team long term.

Bouchette is certainly a credible source but most of this has already been stated on FBGs in this and other threads. The Steelers had the option to reduce the RFA tender but didn't as a sign of good faith. Wallace obviously didn't think too much of it and refuses to report until he gets a deal that will make him one of the highest paid WRs in the league. Hence the impasse.You are right that Wallace only has to report by Week 11 to qualify as a UFA next year and he doesn't necessarily have to play. There is a cost of doing so (at least $1.7 million) and you certainly aren't going to increase your value on the open market by playing only a handful of games in 2012 after a subpar second half in 2011. But in the end this is Wallace's choice on how he wants to handle his career.

The Steelers may be "too classy" to outright release him but it would also be incredibly stupid and the Steelers aren't stupid. They might trade him if they got a great offer but they're going to get a nice compensatory pick anyway.

I think it is pretty obvious now that Wallace will likely not be with the team long term. The question is whether or not Wallace plays for the Steelers this year and if so, how many games will he play and how effective will he be?

As I said, the ONLY mention of Bouchette in this thread was of his guess on a trade pick comp. The rest was stated Friday night. yeah, didn't work for VJAX at all.

Maybe you should just listen for yourself. A very credible guy like Bouchette shared some great info but maybe I don't write it in a way that you interpret. Sounds like you have your mind made up but what's in your head isn't the same as what Bouchette said.

At any rate, I heard it, I relayed it. People can take what they want from it.

I agree that I don't think he's long-term for the Steelers. Maybe they shouldn't have tagged him the way they did. Some people say it was smart. Some people say it wasn't. Maybe it was both in that it made business sense, but at the end of the day, it IS a distraction and one of their best WRs is not in camp. From that measure, I would put it in the category of "I would do it different if I could go back and redo it".

I appreciate the info from Bouchette, sorry if it came across that I didn't. I certainly value his take on the situation as I do a Dulac and Lolley. I don't necessarily agree the Steelers or even Wallace share your "I would do it different if I could go back and redo it" view. The Steelers offered what they thought was fair and a deal they could afford and Wallace felt the offer wasn't good enough and is holding out. Not much you can do in a situation like that.

I guess the Steelers might regret not extending Wallace back in 2011 but at that time they had other contracts they had to deal with (Woodley, Timmons, Taylor, Colon, etc.).

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Looks like Lacanfora was at camp yesterday and spoke with Colbert...interesting

Holdout Wallace should wise up, get to camp, stop messing with Steelers

History suggests the Steelers will eventually reward Mike Wallace if he signs and reports.

By Jason La Canfora | NFL Insider

July 29, 2012 7:44 PM ET

LATROBE, Penn. -- I wrote this before, about six weeks ago to be precise, and I'll write it again, and if logic reigns it will soon become a moot point: Mike Wallace, you need to get back with your teammates. Your holdout is going nowhere. It's well beyond time to get back to Pennsylvania and get back to work.

There isn't really any other choice. This ill-fated holdout is getting Wallace nowhere and the only rational end result -- signing a long-team deal with the Steelers -- has not changed. As the Steelers forged on Sunday at training camp, no one was pining for Mike Wallace. Instead, the business of preparing for a championship season resumed, something this franchise does quite well.

You can't bully the Steelers. The Rooney family won't blink, and they continue to abide by their tried and true tactics in these situations, in this case, no negotiations with Wallace until he gets his butt to Western Pennsylvania. No one is bigger than this team, especially not a highly talented, yet limited receiver who happens to be playing a position where the team enjoys great depth, at a time a new offense is being installed, and with fellow receiver Antonio Brown just receiving a five-year, $42 million extension.

Coach Mike Tomlin, generally unfazed in the face of anything, is not deterred by Wallace's absence. And he's up front with his team about the mentality to adopt.

"We identify all of these situations as unique ones, and each one stands on its own, and it's part of the process," Tomlin said. "Whether it's through a contractual situation or injuries or suspensions or what have you, one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. We talk about that openly all the time. We acknowledge in this journey we're on, things are going to happen, and others need to seize these opportunities to show what they're capable of. And I think a lot of men here are capable of that."

One player told me that, unequivocally, "We're not the same team without Mike," noting how effective he is by changing defenses as a deep threat whether the ball comes his way or now. They know it's a business, but feel like Wallace is hurting not only himself, but the team, and they wonder about how fit and durable he will be if he has a long layoff.

Now is not the time to be like Mike. It's beyond time that Wallace started to be like Antonio.

Wallace had very little leverage back when he skipped minicamp, and the tide has only swung even more in the Pittsburgh Steelers' favor since then. So, let's get a few things straight right off the bat.

A trade is not the solution here. It would be tricky enough for the Steelers to get fair compensation in the first place, and for Wallace to find a team to meet his demands in the second. But the time for him to determine his market already came and went, when he received no offer sheet as a restricted free agent, and the Steelers ownership and management is not entertaining the idea of dealing the speedy young wideout.

This isn't lip service. This is how the Rooneys roll.

"Mike Wallace is not available for trade," general manager Kevin Colbert told me before practice Sunday, overlooking the bucolic scenery of St. Vincent's College. "We're not even thinking in those terms."

Also, disregard what you might hear about the Brown signing being reactionary to Wallace's holdout. This, too, is another facet of The Rooney Way when it comes to operating their team. Traditionally, they open up talks with top players as camp opens the year they enter the final year of their rookie contracts. Wallace or no Wallace, the Steelers were very much interested in securing Brown and fellow receiver Emanuel Sanders deep into the future, and that never changed.

Sure, the timing is fortuitous, but the Steelers had told Brown long ago they would make an effort to secure his services before the start of the season, and that they did.

You will read plenty about the Steelers and Wallace having a frayed relationship, one that's beyond repair. Again, reader beware. The Steelers wanted Wallace long-term at the start of the offseason, and that has not wavered. It just has to be at the right price point. And money tends to be the great salve for bruised feelings when it comes to the business of football. Far more acrimonious situations have been patched up. The Steelers still want him.

"We haven't changed in that regard at all," Colbert said. "Mike is a great player and we'd love for him to be a Steeler for a long time."

Some will suggest that Pittsburgh's cap crunch will make signing Wallace to a big contract prohibitive. Nope. Not true. Where there is a will, there's a way. "There are always ways to create room if you decide to do it."

There is a budget in place to sign Wallace. And, again, as I advised in this space oh those many weeks ago, Wallace needs to try to get as close as he can to a five-year, $50 million deal -- with $25 million guaranteed -- and call it a day. Wisely, sources said Wallace came off his desire to be paid like a Larry Fitzgerald a few weeks ago, when things were progressing, and trying to get a deal around $11 million a year like Vincent Jackson got from Tampa is the new goal.

But Jackson wasn't just a third-year player when he got paid, and he was an unrestricted free agent and he had already played a partial season vastly underpaid due to the uncapped-season rules and another as a franchise player. Wallace has none of that on his résumé, and the Steelers still could franchise him for two more years. And if he were to sit out an entire season, they would still own his rights and he would be right back where he started.

This isn't like Maurice Jones-Drew making a stand with the Jags, or a franchise player like Dwayne Bowe staying away with his tender unsigned. Wallace is only hurting himself at this point, and the Rooneys have forbidden any negotiations to take place until Wallace shows up. Another long-standing policy. It ain't changing, either.

"Mike understands that for any steps to be taken," Colbert said, "he has to come here and report to camp and sign his tender and then we'll see where it goes."

Where it goes, is where it has always been heading -- a long-term deal around the parameters I put forth. Any staying away is only preventing that payday, and putting Wallace's future on hold.

Camp Rumblings: The Steelers feel optimistic that their offensive line is really ready to take a turn for the better. Willie Colon, a former starting tackle moving to left guard, earned praise from Colbert and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and they feel like Max Starks will help their tackle depth when he eventually gets off the PUP list.

• The team is in no rush to get Casey Hampton or James Harrison off the PUP list, allowing both stalwart vets plenty of rest and rehab time.

• Running back Jonathan Dwyer is in the best shape the coaches have ever seen him, and the big back could figure pretty heavily into the rotation with Rashard Mendenhall likely out until December.

• Haley, taking over for longtime coordinator Bruce Arians, who had a very close relationship with Ben Roethlisberger, said he has to play golf with Big Ben -- they share that passion -- and is gradually getting to know him better. Their chemistry will be a big element to this season, and Haley is much more fiery and demonstrative than what Roethlisberger is used to.

"You can't force that relationship," Haley said. "What I've always told my quarterbacks is, I go by what I see, not what I hear," Haley said. "And I'd expect them to do the same thing."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19683859/holdout-wallace-should-wise-up-get-to-camp-stop-messing-with-steelers

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

the lacanfora stuff all sounds pretty spot on.

bracie - while 6m in cap room really isn't much -- you'd want to have a few million available to sign in season injury replacements, etc, you'd be surprised what kind of contract you can build off that.

the 11m average you quoted is just an average -- not actual cap space, and while we're talking, the wr franchise figure might be around 10m next year.

it pretty much just comes down to a question of whether wallace is willing to play for money that pitt is willing to offer.

if you want an example of how pitt could stretch that cap, I think the guy I linked has one already cooked up.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/07/mike-wallace-contracts-the-steelers-you/

 

[steelcityman]

Steelers aint keeping that pain in ### around all year. He will be a Charger by weeks end. Let them deal with not only a arrogant person, but a stupid one at that.

Whoever they want to trade him to, better have a QB with a strong arm to throw deep to. Thats what team X will pay him for, to run fast.

Steelers sent a rep to London to sign Usain Bolt in case Wallace is out of Pitts by the end of the Olympics.

I am shocked he is still on the team right now. Maybe Rooney feels like giving him one more chance.

 

[fightingillini]

Steelers aint keeping that pain in ### around all year. He will be a Charger by weeks end. Let them deal with not only a arrogant person, but a stupid one at that.Whoever they want to trade him to, better have a QB with a strong arm to throw deep to. Thats what team X will pay him for, to run fast.Steelers sent a rep to London to sign Usain Bolt in case Wallace is out of Pitts by the end of the Olympics.

As a Rivers and Antonio Brown owner in a keeper league, I would love to see Wallace go to SD.

 

[Tau837]

Steelers aint keeping that pain in ### around all year. He will be a Charger by weeks end. Let them deal with not only a arrogant person, but a stupid one at that.Whoever they want to trade him to, better have a QB with a strong arm to throw deep to. Thats what team X will pay him for, to run fast.Steelers sent a rep to London to sign Usain Bolt in case Wallace is out of Pitts by the end of the Olympics.I am shocked he is still on the team right now. Maybe Rooney feels like giving him one more chance.

No chance he is going to San Diego.1. It's not A.J. Smith's style to trade for a high priced veteran... can anyone name even a single instance where he did that?2. Smith has already showed through how he dealt with Vincent Jackson that he isn't willing to pay the going rate for top WRs.3. The Chargers are happy with their current group of WRs. Not saying Wallace would not be an upgrade, but they don't need a WR upgrade.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Steelers aint keeping that pain in ### around all year. He will be a Charger by weeks end. Let them deal with not only a arrogant person, but a stupid one at that.Whoever they want to trade him to, better have a QB with a strong arm to throw deep to. Thats what team X will pay him for, to run fast.Steelers sent a rep to London to sign Usain Bolt in case Wallace is out of Pitts by the end of the Olympics.I am shocked he is still on the team right now. Maybe Rooney feels like giving him one more chance.

I dont see this as him being a pain, or the Steelers treating him unfairly.Its rather standard affair in the NFL.I also dont see the comparison with the Chargers/Jackson at all, one drastic difference is the style in which AJ Smith conducts business.

 

[pantherclub]

Panthers can afford him but they will not do it.

 

[FavreCo]

Send him to Jax where WRs die. L. Robinson already struggling, he better be banking all that $.