Wallace Gone?

[jonzr]

Yeah, "league sources".

... Mike Wallace is prepared to sit out offseason drills and at least the start of training camp, according to league sources.

Be careful, Mikey. 

Wallace has until June 15 to sign it before the Steelers can cut the tender to $577,500 -- a loss of $2.1 million.

[Brinker]

So if he plays for the 2.7 mil this year and does not reach a long term deal, does that make him an UFA after this year and if so can we use the franchise tag. Would we be compensated in the draft if he signs somewhere else after this year?

[jonzr]

If he plays and becomes a UFA then he's completely free.

[kluisi61]

If he plays and becomes a UFA then he's completely free.

Might get a compensatory (or something like that) pick for him if he leaves as an UFA. We would get compensation if he was franchised, but if he's bitching and moaning about the RFA tender this year, he'd probably bitch and moan even more about being franchised next year.

Plus, I believe the compensation for another team signing your franchise player is 2 first round picks and all the other teams showed that they were not willing to give up 1 this year. Unless he does show up and shows that he can be a complete WR, no team will be willing to give up 2 next year. I'm not even sure he would be worth franchising if they can't sign him long term. Think that would be an average of the 5 highest paid WRs next year, and he's not even close to a top 5 WR (though he is the top deep threat).

[jonzr]

What was I thinking?  Yeah, kluisi is right.  And I don't think they'd franchise him either.

[LambertsFrontTeeth]

I love the fact that he is pissed and thinks he is worth big money.

That means he will have to have a MONSTER year to get the kind of deal that he believes he deserves. That's great motivation.

[pensodyssey]

I love the fact that he is pissed and thinks he is worth big money.

That means he will have to have a MONSTER year to get the kind of deal that he believes he deserves. That's great motivation.

Eh, maybe.  Didn't exactly work out that way with Plaximo.

[jasonic]

I always thought there was something was amiss when he referred to himself as FastMoney....let him go, we'll be fine.  It took us oh about 3 weeks to adjust to losing Sanantonio SB MVP   

[Finnegans Wake]

Like I said, if they can't close a long term deal before the draft, they should see if any teams would be willing to trade draft picks and work out a deal in advance.  Colts could get Luck another weapon on a team that's lost Garcon and has an aging star in Reggie Wayne.  I'd take their high R2, or even flip R2 and R3 picks with 'em. 

[aj_law]

Just bumping this old thread to try to keep most of the Wallace talk in one place.

Looking back, I had forgotten that Pittsburgh had the option to reduce Wallace's 2 mil and change tender to a little over 500K (110% of prior year's salary) if he didn't sign by June 15.  I do vaguely remember reading that Pittsburgh claimed to have no intention of doing that. 

I wonder if they are regretting that decision.  I also wonder if they could still do that if they chose to really play hardball and go that route.

He's gotta see that they hold all the cards here.  Sign the fuckin' tender and try to work out a deal, Broseph.  You're just cutting off yer nose to spite your face.