polamalubeast
06-19-2012, 09:35 AM
By Ron Cook / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
There has been much angst about Mike Wallace's future with the Steelers. Will he sign his one-year tender for $2,742,000 and report to training camp next month? Will he hold out and continue to try to negotiate a long-term contract? Will he be a disgruntled, disruptive player all season if he ends up having to sign the tender?
All are fair questions.
The angst is legitimate, although the belief here is that Wallace will report to Latrobe on time. He has no other option. He also will have a great season, either because of his peace of mind with a new multi-year contract or because he is smart enough to realize he has to have a great season to get the big money next year as an unrestricted free agent.
But Wallace isn't the most significant man the Steelers need to re-sign this summer.
That would be coach Mike Tomlin.
Keeping Tomlin for the long haul is much more important to the team's future.
According to Steelers.com, Tomlin is signed through this season with a club option for 2013. Traditionally, this is the time when the team does a new deal with the coach. It seems likely there will be an announcement -- quietly, of course, with no fanfare -- of an extension for Tomlin before camp. But if it doesn't happen before the start of the season in September, it will be reason for great concern. Bill Cowher led the Steelers to a win in Super Bowl XL after the 2005 season but didn't get an extension that offseason when he had two years left on his contract. After coaching the team in '06, he was gone.
What a shame it would be if Tomlin left.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/ron-cook/priority-for-steelers-should-be-to-extend-tomlins-contract-640956/#ixzz1yFYYuugs
There has been much angst about Mike Wallace's future with the Steelers. Will he sign his one-year tender for $2,742,000 and report to training camp next month? Will he hold out and continue to try to negotiate a long-term contract? Will he be a disgruntled, disruptive player all season if he ends up having to sign the tender?
All are fair questions.
The angst is legitimate, although the belief here is that Wallace will report to Latrobe on time. He has no other option. He also will have a great season, either because of his peace of mind with a new multi-year contract or because he is smart enough to realize he has to have a great season to get the big money next year as an unrestricted free agent.
But Wallace isn't the most significant man the Steelers need to re-sign this summer.
That would be coach Mike Tomlin.
Keeping Tomlin for the long haul is much more important to the team's future.
According to Steelers.com, Tomlin is signed through this season with a club option for 2013. Traditionally, this is the time when the team does a new deal with the coach. It seems likely there will be an announcement -- quietly, of course, with no fanfare -- of an extension for Tomlin before camp. But if it doesn't happen before the start of the season in September, it will be reason for great concern. Bill Cowher led the Steelers to a win in Super Bowl XL after the 2005 season but didn't get an extension that offseason when he had two years left on his contract. After coaching the team in '06, he was gone.
What a shame it would be if Tomlin left.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/ron-cook/priority-for-steelers-should-be-to-extend-tomlins-contract-640956/#ixzz1yFYYuugs