Update: Steelers Suspend Negotiations with Wallace Due to Training Camp Absence

[BigNastyDefense]

This is what the Steelers do. They don't negotiate with players not in camp, except for rookies. When Hines Ward held about 6 years ago, they refused to negotiate a contract extension with him until he reported.

Mike Wallace has few choices:

Show up to camp and work out this long-term contract.

Sign the tender, work on a long-term contract, and worst-case become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Sit out, get stuck as a restricted free agent again, and go through this entire ordeal again.

But the only team that he can possibly play for this season is the Pittsburgh Steelers unless they choose to trade his rights to another team.

[polamalubeast]

Steelers ready to play hardball with Wallace



Remember when I said that the Steelers weren't going to play hardball with wide receiver Mike Wallace? Turns out that is no longer the case.


The Steelers will stop negotiations on a long-term deal until Wallace signs his $2.7 million restricted free-agent tender and reports to training camp, a team source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

This is really the team's only resort to get Wallace to training camp. The Steelers can't fine him because he hasn't signed his tender and officially isn't under contract.

As the Post-Gazette points out, this is a tactic that the Steelers have used before. Pittsburgh halted contract talks with wide receiver Hines Ward in 2005 when he missed the first two weeks of camp.

Steelers president Art Rooney II declined comment on the situation Wednesday, and coach Mike Tomlin said he hasn't spoken to Wallace in about two weeks.

There's still reason to believe the sides will work out a deal before the regular season begins. It just seems now that Wallace will have to show up to get it.


http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/pos...medium=twitter

[Devilsdancefloor]

wally is gonna pull a merriweather pro bowl to POOOOF. C'mon mike

[steeldawg]

Cmon both sides lets get Mike to camp we need him.

[ALLD]

I have never seen somebody so upset turning down almost $3million just to start.

[SteelerEmpire]

If he waits too long he won't be in many plays early in the season because the other WR's will be much more familiar with the playbook.

[steelreserve]

Remember when I said he had no leverage and wasn't even accomplishing anything by holding out now because he already made his point?

Yeah, that.

[86WARD]

Meh...I've been saying that I think he holds out a couple/few days to make a point and then reports and a deal gets done...I think that still happens.

[SteelerFanInStl]

He's only hurting himself by holding out. I've gotten to the point that I don't really give a crap what he does now. The Steelers will still win without him.

[steeldevil]

Go Sanders lol

[The Duke]

Hope Clemons and Rainey impress and we don't need Wallace

[Animal Mother]

Let's say just for argument sake, that Wallace is really mad and decides he's not going to camp and he's going to hold out for the season. Well, first off, he needs to show up by Week 8 or he'll have to do the whole thing over again anyway. Second, as soon as he sees that this TEAM is more than capable of moving on without him, and that Sanders and Brown are getting all the love and affection from the TEAM, then he will realize he made a stupid mistake. I hope he realizes that sooner rather than later.

[PalmerSteel]

he's just amping up the publicity on his situation for a couple days to get his point across, in his mind. he will be in there next week. wallace isnt that dumb.

[whodat1]

It makes me wonder if this is MW's decision, or is it his agent who is hoping for the big payday?

[steel striker]

Wallace is just hurting himself by not coming to camp but, hey his choice. I hope the FO can get him signed to a deal but, like mentioned by many others steelers can win without him. It would be nice to have Wallace in camp to learn the new offense.

[86WARD]

Typical Steelers move...nothing new.

[SMR]

Let's say just for argument sake, that Wallace is really mad and decides he's not going to camp and he's going to hold out for the season. Well, first off, he needs to show up by Week 8 or he'll have to do the whole thing over again anyway. Second, as soon as he sees that this TEAM is more than capable of moving on without him, and that Sanders and Brown are getting all the love and affection from the TEAM, then he will realize he made a stupid mistake. I hope he realizes that sooner rather than later.

Bingo!