PDA

View Full Version : Will the Steelers choose Mike Wallace and the future or the past?



polamalubeast
02-18-2012, 03:06 PM
It has become blatantly apparent that Mike Wallace either has to get the franchise tag or sign a new contract before the start of free agency or there is a damn good possibility he will be in another uniform next season. It did not matter which channel I turned on or which site I looked at over the past two days. They all are hyping the same thing. Mike Wallace being a restricted free agent will likely land him on another team.

Wallace can only receive a first round tender from the Steelers as protection. That is a small price to pay for a 25 year old wide receiver who can blow the top off of the defense. Wallace is going to be a prime candidate on the market. It is a good year for wide receivers with Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne and others out there. Most are about to hit or are over 30. Wallace is about to hit his prime. The production a team will get out him will well exceed everyone else on this list.

There seems to be four team names that come up all in most sources for Wallace’s services. They are Baltimore, San Francisco, Cincinnati and New England. Two teams in the division, our most hated rival outside the division and then a team on the brink of being a championship contender. All of which even with no poison pill have the cap space to give Wallace a front loaded deal that the Steelers will not be able to match. Especially the Bengals who are around $44 million under the cap. It puts the Steelers in a very vulnerable position.


read more

http://bleedblackandgold.com/blog/2012/02/18/will-the-steelers-choose-mike-wallace-and-the-future-or-the-past/

polamalubeast
02-18-2012, 03:07 PM
Cuts/Restructures to get under the cap and keep Mike Wallace:
•Hines Ward- $3.39 Million
•Casey Hampton- $5.89 Million
•Larry Foote- $3 Million
•Aaron Smith- $2.1 Million
•Rashard Mendenhall- $2.23 Million (this could be Jonathan Scott, about the same cap charge)

That right there gets the Steelers to around $16.61 million. Add to that a Ben Roethlisberger restructured contract and you are now under the cap and still have Mike Wallace. All of these guys minus Hines Ward are in the last year of their contracts. Mendenhall and Hampton are injured and will most part if not all of the season anyways. Foote and Smith are both going to be situational at best. Ward is the number 4 receiver. While it will be a loss of guys who have been here for a long time all of which are replaceable. That hardest being Hampton but Ziggy Hood is expected to take that spot if the Steelers do not draft a Nose Tackle.


That will put the Steelers right back at the salary cap though so they will still need to make some more moves to sign some now needed free agents, restricted free agents and draft picks. That could come from a Troy Polamalu restructure for the unrestricted free agents. When it comes to the draft picks the Steelers will have some time. They can work a new deal with Mike Wallace to cut his cap number way down the same way they did with LaMarr Woodley last year. They will also get $2.39 million back when Chris Kemoeatu is released after June 1. If the Steelers were to draft Dont’a Hightower they would also be able to part ways with James Farrior giving them another $2.82 million. That should give the Steelers enough to sign all the draft picks and the restricted free agents.

http://bleedblackandgold.com/blog/2012/02/18/will-the-steelers-choose-mike-wallace-and-the-future-or-the-past/

BigNastyDefense
02-18-2012, 03:24 PM
What people forget to realize is that he has to sign another team's tender. If he decides he doesn't want to play for any of the teams that offer him a deal, then he remains with the Steelers. If his desire is to sign the tender and work out a long-term deal with the Steelers then that's what he will do. If his desire is to grab the most money possible, then he'll likely be gone.

polamalubeast
02-18-2012, 05:01 PM
Fitting Mike Wallace Under The 2012 Salary Cap While Wearing Franchise

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/fitting-mike-wallace-under-the-2012-salary-cap-while-wearing-franchise-tag/

El-Gonzo Jackson
02-18-2012, 06:12 PM
Thanks for posting YET another article predicting the impending doom of Mike Wallace leaving. I really dont even want to bother opening the link from some blogger with no sources that is just speculating that some random teams are targeting Wallace and wanting to give up a 1st round draft pick to do so.

:doh:

ShutDown24
02-19-2012, 11:55 AM
I don't see Wallace leaving. Even if another team offers him a contract, the Steelers just have to match it and Wallace returns to Pittsburgh. Does anyone really think any team will offer him so much money the Steelers won't match it? Considering most contracts nowdays are backloaded, the cap implications shouldn't be a huge issue to deal with if this scenario plays out.

Iron Steeler
02-20-2012, 05:03 AM
Tag em... if someone gives us 2 1st rounders it will hurt a little less