Steelers Ink Antonio Brown

[carrollcountyraven]

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.

Or.... Wallace could wait till the 10th game to sign, the Steelers might trade him to some god for saken team, he could get hurt, Wallace knows he'll get paid, and it'll be more than 2.7.

[RavenScallywag]

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.

Nowhere in there does he say Wallace is easily beatable. He just thinks Antonio Brown can be more dangerous to an offense, because of his versatility.

Basically, Mike Wallace is a dangerous option. But his biggest asset to that team is that you have to guard him on deep routes, leaving your underneath coverage lighter. So you send a guy deep with Wallace, maybe a S too. That's two guys covering Wallace, while Brown is 1 on 1 10-15 yards past LoS. That pass is going to Brown for a decent gain.

Wallace is just more one dimensional. He's still super dangerous, but Antonio Brown excels at a lot of things that Wallace doesn't do so well.

[RavenScallywag]

Or.... Wallace could wait till the 10th game to sign, the Steelers might trade him to some god for saken team, he could get hurt, Wallace knows he'll get paid, and it'll be more than 2.7.

I'll withold judgement until I see how Wallace reacts to this, but I imagine this is just going to further that rift. He's not going to up and "oh crap, I better get in there now". He's going to play the negotiating game still.

[GOTA]

Or.... Wallace could wait till the 10th game to sign, the Steelers might trade him to some god for saken team, he could get hurt, Wallace knows he'll get paid, and it'll be more than 2.7.

We saw that with Vincent Jackson. It's certainly possible.

[psuasskicker]

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.

I think it'd be smartest for them to do that if they think Sanders will be a good receiver. The team can win the SB without Wallace. They should also be able to get a first round pick for him.

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.

So you're saying football players have never embellished ridiculous statements about rival teams? Right. Got it.

- C -

[akashicrecorder]

Tldr.

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 -

[Stealthbirds80]

Good for them. Antonio Brown may be the better all around player anyway in the long term.

[arnie_uk]

id be all over him if we had more cap

[SteelFaninBMore]

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.

I think that's the minimum Pittsburgh would take, as well. Considering that Wallace should net a 3rd round comp pick if he walks after the season, trading him for anything less than that seems counter-productive.

[GOTA]

I think it'd be smartest for them to do that if they think Sanders will be a good receiver. The team can win the SB without Wallace. They should also be able to get a first round pick for him.



So you're saying football players have never embellished ridiculous statements about rival teams? Right. Got it.

- C -

I don't think they could get a 1st round pick for him with those contract demands. I can't see a team wanting to give up that much in picks and money. He's not Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. It would be like the Cowboys trading for Roy Williams.

[B-more Ravor]

Well, the Steelers certainly aren't trading him to us, but if he's a UFA next year, I'd love to see us make a play for him. It's not in our nature to outbid for top FA, but he might be one that is definitely worth it.

[GOTA]

Well, the Steelers certainly aren't trading him to us, but if he's a UFA next year, I'd love to see us make a play for him. It's not in our nature to outbid for top FA, but he might be one that is definitely worth it.

No way the Ravens would even consider paying Wallace what he wants. He'll be a Brown

[B-more Ravor]

No way the Ravens would even consider paying Wallace what he wants. He'll be a Brown

I'm working on the assumption - perhaps, naively - that no one is going to pay Wallace that much.

[GOTA]

I'm working on the assumption - perhaps, naively - that no one is going to pay Wallace that much.

Next year there are certain teams that are going to have to get to that cap floor which kicks in. We saw the Bucs spend money like crazy to try and get ahead of it this season. Top free agents in key positions, which wide receiver has become, are going to be overpaid. I don't think Wallace gets that elite money but I can see him getting bid way up. That's not Ozzie's style. I just don't see him being involved in the bidding wars that we're going to see in 2013.

[B-more Ravor]

Oh, I don't really disagree. As I said, it's not really in Ozzie's nature, but Wallace might IMO be one time where it's worth it.

[JAB1985]

I'm working on the assumption - perhaps, naively - that no one is going to pay Wallace that much.

I dont think youre naive but theres some bad owners out there.

I highly doubt anybody trades enough plus signing him to a megadeal. Has to be a 2nd and that plus 17.4 million/year... No way. We have two similar players in smith and jones that combined arent anywhere near that (is our entire wr core less than that?). If jones get a bit more consistent, there really isnt much difference in skill set and physical ability between the two except the pricetag. Ill keep my fingers crossed for that before overpaying for wallace personally.

[GOTA]

Oh, I don't really disagree. As I said, it's not really in Ozzie's nature, but Wallace might IMO be one time where it's worth it.

If Torrey Smith continues to improve they're not going to need a Mike Wallace. They'll need someone more similar to Boldin who will be cheaper. I could see them making a play for Greg Jennings instead

[iggyman555]

antonio brown also returns punts +1

[NCCRavensFan]

I think that's the minimum Pittsburgh would take, as well. Considering that Wallace should net a 3rd round comp pick if he walks after the season, trading him for anything less than that seems counter-productive.

The one problem for the steelers taking a hard line with him is that while he will most likely be a 3rd round comp pick, they won't get that pick until 2014 (UFA in 2013). Whereas if they trade him, they get the picks and/or players this year or next year. Wallace can still take the Vincent Jackson route, hold out until week 10, get credit for his year of service and then get paid big bucks next year. I think if Wallace is smart with what just happened he should hold out as long as possible.

[Boulderraven]

The one problem for the steelers taking a hard line with him is that while he will most likely be a 3rd round comp pick, they won't get that pick until 2014 (UFA in 2013). Whereas if they trade him, they get the picks and/or players this year or next year. Wallace can still take the Vincent Jackson route, hold out until week 10, get credit for his year of service and then get paid big bucks next year. I think if Wallace is smart with what just happened he should hold out as long as possible.

Yep. Steelers will deal him likely for a 4th rounder as Bouchette points out. That saves them a few million this year, a headache and get a movable pick next year. Big Question is? How will Brown do without teams keying on Wallace? He will face teams number 1 DB's- possible double teams as well. Letting your number 1 WR return punts now is a huge risk. Plus, with new OC and system is Wallace going to be any value in week 11 anyway? Will he even put out? He will be dealt 3rd rounder tops, probably a 4th with his contract demands.