Steelers Ink Antonio Brown

**perryw9202** · 07-27-2012, 05:57 PM

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ong-term-deal/

Wonder what this does for Wallace?

**SteelFaninBMore** · 07-27-2012, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by perryw9202

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ong-term-deal/

Wonder what this does for Wallace?

Not sure. It certainly sends the message that if you show up to camp, you'll be rewarded. Maybe Wallace takes the hint and shows up to work, or maybe he takes it as a slap in the face and digs his heels in deeper.

A lot of people are going to speculate that they just gave away Wallace's money, and that his future in Pittsburgh is now shot. Might be true, but it doesn't make sense to me that the Steelers would get fed up after the 2nd day of camp and say "fuck it, we're done with Wallace, give his money to Brown." The only way I can see such a quick change of heart from the FO would be if another team made an offer for Wallace that was too good to pass up (and I severely doubt that did/would happen).

It all depends on how this 5 year/$42m is structured. If it's heavily backloaded, then I would think that there's still be room to fit Wallace in.

**Sirdowski** · 07-27-2012, 06:08 PM

It's a big F U to Wallace. You want to be paid like Larry Fitz? Best of luck to you.

**Steelgal** · 07-27-2012, 06:13 PM

From some posts I've read from people who know MUCH more about the cap situation than I do, they said it's still possible to give Wallace a deal. Probably just not the astronimical numbers he wants.

Personally, I love what they did. Wallace should know the Steelers won't go away from past history and continue negotiations while he hasn't reported to camp. If he wants any deal, he has to report. Simple as that. I have no idea how Brown will perform without having Wallace on the field, but I'm not overly concerned. Wallace disappeared the last half of the season, while Brown was the team MVP and broke records. Wallace has the definate speed, which can't be replaced. But he rarely came back for the ball or tried to break up the pass instead of allowing an interception.

I hope they still get a deal done with Wallace, if it's reasonable. There's no way he deserves Fitzgerald or megatron money. He might get a bit more than Brown, but don't know if he'd be willing to take it.

**psuasskicker** · 07-27-2012, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by perryw9202

Wonder what this does for Wallace?

Probably piss him off.

- C -

**Ravenswintitle** · 07-27-2012, 06:24 PM

Pitt is not the type of organization that is going to negotiate with Wallace while he's holding out. Get your azz into camp and they'll work on a deal. There are numerous examples; his agent needs to get him into camp.

**JAB1985** · 07-27-2012, 07:39 PM

Well helps solidify those that think brown is better. #1 money for a guy behind wallace. I think with sanders taking the top off, while may e not as good as wallace, will deliver similar production. Smart move by a well run organization. Wallace isnt worth near what he wants and they know it.

**GOTA** · 07-27-2012, 07:42 PM

Brilliant move by the Steelers.

**Ravenswintitle** · 07-27-2012, 08:05 PM

They can now tag Wallace again next year if they want to, he has no leverage.

**purplepoe** · 07-27-2012, 08:34 PM

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms the Steelers will not be giving unsigned restricted free agent Mike Wallace a long-term deal after committing $42.5 million to teammate Antonio Brown.
Bouchette's colleague, Gerry Dulac, essentially said the same thing. The Steelers were already one of the NFL's tightest teams up against the salary cap, and the Brown deal increased his cap cost, if only slightly. Still, the Steelers won't be satisfying Wallace's long-term demands, and he'll have to sign his one-year, $2.742 million tender in order to play football in Pittsburgh. The organization could consider trading him before the season, or keeping him if he caves and franchise-tagging Wallace in 2013.

PP

**psuasskicker** · 07-27-2012, 08:37 PM

It's highly likely he'll make it a condition of signing his tender that they do not tag him again next year.

You guys hammer on him all you want. The dude has 2,450 yards and 18 TDs in the previous two years on a team that was 19th and 27th in passing attempts and 13th and 21st in passing TDs in that time. He's going to get paid like one of the top five receivers in the NFL, because that's exactly what he is.

- C -

**akashicrecorder** · 07-27-2012, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

It's highly likely he'll make it a condition of signing his tender that they do not tag him again next year.

You guys hammer on him all you want. The dude has 2,450 yards and 18 TDs in the previous two years on a team that was 19th and 27th in passing attempts and 13th and 21st in passing TDs in that time. He's going to get paid like one of the top five receivers in the NFL, because that's exactly what he is.

- C -

He runs one route. When he loses a step, he's worthless.

**psuasskicker** · 07-28-2012, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by akashicrecorder

He runs one route. When he loses a step, he's worthless.

You're right. I can't think of one single receiver who was really fast and could only run one route really well their first couple years and lasted really long in this league. I'm sure once he turns 32 and starts losing a step seven years from now, he'll be all washed up.

BTW, on the off-chance you missed the heavy sarcasm drip there, you're also wrong about the "one route" thing. Wallace caught 74 passes last year. Two of them were rendered meaningless due to penalties. Regardless, of those receptions, 49 of them were thrown less than ten yards in the air. He gained an additional 378 yards in YAC on those 49 receptions less than ten yards from the LoS. 29 of them went for first downs, and three of his eight TDs were on receptions caught less than ten yards from the LoS, including one from behind the LoS.

Toss in another 13 catches from between 10 and 19 yards and you've got just short of 84% of his receptions that aren't on go routes. Does Wallace run an incredibly effective go? Sure does. Is that the only route he runs well? Not even close.

He's a Steeler. Some of you folks need to get over your blinders and accept the fact that the team we hate more than anything actually has some pretty friggin' good players on it. As it happens, a few of them happen to be among the best at their position. Wallace is one of those, whether you like it or not.

- C -

**Irish Raven** · 07-28-2012, 02:36 AM

Brown was excellent in the second half of last season and deserves his five-year, $42.5 million, it's not like Mike Wallace is in a Megatron situation where he is the teams most important weapon

Brown will have a good career and was team MVP, I just wish he would stop this messing of pointing and waving and acting like he's Superbowl MVP when he gets a first down. Just unnecessary

**leachisabeast** · 07-28-2012, 03:27 AM

Mike Wallace is probably pissed, and will probably want a trade. I can see a team giving up as high as a second round pick for him.

**Ravensfannation** · 07-28-2012, 03:36 AM

In some way this just has to make Mike Wallace not want to go to camp. Hell Mike Hold Out all you want!

**srobert96** · 07-28-2012, 05:58 AM

Based upon the reports of the Steelers cap issues I think this will make it very hard for them to keep Wallace next year. If they Tag him they will have 17m tied up in receivers and they are already slated to be over the cap without Brown or Wallace's numbers included. They have kicked the can down the road with restructuring and not sure they can do it again.

I would love to see the Ravens cut Boldin and sign Wallace if he is a free agent next year. He and Smith on the outside would make the offense very difficult to defend.

**GOTA** · 07-28-2012, 06:11 AM

According to PFT the Steelers won't offer Wallace a contract next year and may try to trade him this year. He's a real pain in the ass.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...in-pittsburgh/

After Brown signed his deal, Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that there won’t be a new deal for Wallace. In other words, the Steelers are telling Wallace that his options are to sign his one-year tender and play this season for $2.7 million, or not to play at all.

If Wallace does sign that one-year tender, he’d become an unrestricted free agent a year from now. At that point, the Steelers could use the franchise tag to keep him, but Bouchette writes that there’s “no way” the Steelers will franchise Wallace. In other words, the Steelers have pretty much resigned themselves to getting one more year out of Wallace, and then letting him move on.

But will they even get another year out of Wallace? Not necessarily, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who writes that the Steelers could trade Wallace in training camp.

**JAB1985** · 07-28-2012, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by psuasskicker

He's a Steeler. Some of you folks need to get over your blinders and accept the fact that the team we hate more than anything actually has some pretty friggin' good players on it. As it happens, a few of them happen to be among the best at their position. Wallace is one of those, whether you like it or not.

- C -

So in your opinion anybody that thinks wallace isnt a top 5 wr is just hating because hes a steeler and doesnt know football? Somebody should tell ladarius to take off his purple shades and start reading football for dummies.

lardarius-webb-thinks-antonio-brown-is-better-than-mike-wallace/

ill take the guys word that has had to guard them both, who happens to be a top 5-10 db in this league as well. Nothing hating about giving another player on the steelers credit where credit is due. To each their own.

**BmoreKrazy** · 07-28-2012, 06:36 AM

If they trade him I see the CowBoys and Miami as the top spots , I do not see them signing him long term though this reminds me of Holmes all over again minus the weed.