Mike Wallace

Really don’t want to franchise him and don’t know if we can afford it. I guess a first round tender could at least get us a pick.

That said wallace has had the best first three seasons of any steeler WR. I doubt antonio brown has as good of a season without wallace demanding so much defensive attention.

Bottom line we need more then brown and sanders at WR. Ward and cotchary could be good but wallace changes a teams gameplan because the defense needs to put a deep saftey wgerever wallace lines up.

how come they can’t give him a 4 or 5 year back loaded contract????

I have always been of the belief the Steelers will not franchise him, not at that amount. I believe he will have a 1st round tender placed on him, and some team (Pats, 49ers), some team in the bottom of the first round will sign him. If the offer is for less than $9.4 (or whatever the franchise tag ends up being), the Steelers can match it. If Baltimore or New England make an offer, the Steelers can decide if they want to match it or let him go to a rival.

However, in my opinion, Wallace will not be a Steeler much longer. I think the Steelers might be better served allowing Wallace to sign elsewhere and get the 1st rounder for him. Then, cut Hampton, and use a portion of what his salary would have been this year and sign Paul Soliai to play the nose. Use the 2 first rounders on OL (Peter Konz, Cordy Glen) or I would trade up to get David DeCastro, and look at drafting one of those Arkansas WRs in the 4th round (Joe Adams or Jarius Wright).

This would take care of NT, G and give us another explosive WR who can learn under Brown, Sanders and Cotchery (whom I would resign).

1) Wallace has played his last game as a Steeler
2) Ward will be back next season
3) The Steelers clearly are more interested in Antonio Brown (and they should be) if they must decide between the 2 (and they must)..He and Greg Jennings are symmetrical.
4) The Steelers can’t keep re-negotiating and pushing $$ back. It will haunt them in the worst way. And they WON’T do this because they are managed by the Rooneys. Colbert has said that the uncapped season (2010) resulted in extra spending and you can’t argue w/ the results (a trip to Super Bowl 45)
5) As Ed Bouchette said today on PFT Live, they will likely keep either Pottsie or Foote at a reduced rate….Same for Big Snack.

Steelers are in this situation because they picked talent well. (and some unfortunate injuries). I hope Wallace is with the team this year. The reason for my hoping is Ben has not had consistent WR1 and WR2 for more than 2 year in a row except for 07-09 (Holmes and Ward). Miller is at times held back by weakness in the OL.

Year 3 seems to be the year it comes together for most pros. Wallace and Brown would be great for 2012 (It will be even better if they know the most of the system they are running).

If the Steelers lose Wallace, I hope the work on getting stability on the offensive side of the ball. The best offenses are that way in the NFL because they have been together for a while. Think about this Pouncey will be the only player on the OL that could be a 3 year in a row starter at the end of the season. (Look at the best OL’s and see how many 3 yr in a row starters they have)

Wallace is a great talent and you would hate to lose it but the stability he represents is even more important in my opinion, because of the change in Ward’s status with the team. The team wants to increase scoring? Great. The front offices should also work on long term stability on the offense if he stay or goes.

I agree with u but kemo decline was unforeseen..Gilbert was good ..pouncey needs to stay health as does gursky..and colon.one missing peace and we will have above average line…I hope we can keep Wallace he a deep threat ..but not a great route runner

Wallace isn’t going anywhere. Steelers will put a 1st round RFA tender on him. No team is going to give up a 1st round pick on a one trick pony, sorry, but that is the truth.

Even if NE or the 49ers give up the 30/31 pick that gives us 2 picks in the 1st round and potentially gives us the ability to move up to #9 or #10 using the draft value chart. I’d take a top 10 pick for Mike Wallace any day of the week. WR is deep this year and we can find another deep threat in the later rounds. Plus, the WR is no better than the QB throwing to him. Look at Tone in NY with Sanchez or Dolphin’s Wes Welker vs. Patriot’s Wes Welker.

Mike definitely stretches the field and requires a double team with safety over the top, which opens up the field for everyone else.

However:

• He plays scared football (i.e., doesn’t take hits – sideline and go down in the middle of the field and shows little interest in blocking)
• Judgement of the ball in the air is horrible, he just runs and hopes the ball catches up to him. I do think Ben and Mike suffered from not having an off season to get on the same page. Slow down and come back to the football or look up and judge better
• Can easily get jammed at the line of scrimmage
• Doesn’t run precise routes or understand the coverage being played against him.
• Doesn’t have a high football IQ