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The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to replace much of their depth and leadership from a year ago.
Gone are Aaron Smith, James Farrior, Chris Hoke and Hines Ward and their combined eight Super Bowl titles, 12 AFC championships, five All-Pro honors, seven Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl MVP trophy.
And joining that list of ex-Steelers could be Mike Wallace, another player with an appearance in both a Super and Pro bowl. Wallace's all-star year came just a season ago, as he led the Steelers with 72 receptions, almost 1,200 receiving yards, and eight touchdown catches—six more than fellow Pro Bowler Antonio Brown, who was signed to a $42.5-million contract extension through the 2017 season on July 27, this year.
Wallace is in a contract dispute with the Steelers. The star wide receiver is believed to, essentially, want a better deal—more money, more years—and he has yet to report to Steelers training camp this year.
Should Wallace join his employer for at least six weeks this year, he'll satisfy his obligation to the team and become eligible for unrestricted free agency following the season. As a free agent, Wallace would make as much money as any team would be willing to spend on him, but he won't get another dime from the Steelers unless he plays this year.
Losing another important member of last year's roster would be a hard pill to swallow for Steelers management, but the team has not caved in and paid Wallace more to play in 2012, not even with its first preseason game slated for tonight, Aug. 9, at 7:30 in Philadelphia.
Indications are that Wallace will not be traded, either, meaning that he might not play in 2012 at all.
It's usually never good from a player's perspective to sit out a season, especially in his prime, but what should Steelers management do in regard to their best interests?
Should Wallace be signed for more money? Traded? Should the Steelers let him sit until he finally shows up?
Vote in our poll above and tell us why you feel the way that you do in the comments section below.
Ed M
8:20 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Wallace is playing hard ball with the wrong organization! If he doesn't do something before the end of camp, he ain't playing this year.
mary ann
12:36 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
he was offered a deal and turned it down. he hasnt paid his dues yet to be rated up there with megatron or larry f. prove yourself and the money will come. steelers only want players that want to be there and work hard.
Mike Jones
8:55 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Yes he is... and he's going to lose. He should've paid more attention in History 101 at Ole Miss to know that if the Steelers can cut the legendary Franco Harris, they won't cater to anyone. My biggest disappointment is now they're down a receiver and probably could use Hines in camp. I think they should've kept him for one more year for insurance.
Robert A. Shoaf
9:38 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Steelers are a better team with Wallace, but I have no complaint with how the team his handling his situation.
Wallace needs to become a better, more reliable reciever, and not disappear in some games, as in the past. That said, opposing teams have to respect his speed, and that allows opportunities for other recievers.
I like Antonio Brown, but he he gets injured, the Steelers have a real problem.
Chuck Roberts
9:46 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
This reminds me of Mike Wallace .. Take a look .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBS0OWGUidc
Mary
10:17 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Is there no honor any more?? Mike Wallace signed a contract and should honor what he agreed to in this contract. It isn't right that he should ask for more now.......he needs to play the season as he agreed upon and then move on AFTER his contract has expired!
Mike Jones
10:32 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Sue... That's actually the problem. He hasn't signed his contract. After being drafted in 2009, he signed a three-year deal. It expired after last season, but the Steelers control his rights as a restricted free agent this year. They offered him a $2.7 million contract for 2012 (as per the collective bargaining agreement for restrict free agents) but he wants a long-term deal. He ain't getting it from the Steelers. He should play out this season and put up great numbers so he can get paid in 2013 by another team.
kfs
10:43 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
If I wanted more money, I believe I would be in camp working my butt of proving to them why I am worth it. I don't believe the Steelers have come out and said they would not give him more. They said the are unwilling to negotiate unless he shows up for camp.
Mike Jones
12:15 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
@kfs... I couldn't agree more. Sitting out and sulking isn't going to get him a contract. But I do believe the Steelers made it very clear they won't be giving him more money after signing Antonio Brown to his big contract. They knew they wouldn't be able to afford Wallace, so they put their money on the receiver they could afford.
kfs
12:31 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thanks Mike! I had just seen that they would not negotiate as long as he is not in camp, but missed where they said they would not give him more. If he doesn't play this year, I don't see him getting "big" money from anyone else next year either.
Mike Jones
2:45 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Well, they didn't say they WOULDN'T give him more money, but their actions spoke loudly about that topic when they gave that money to Brown instead. Wallace better realize soon that this train is leaving the station with or without him.
Rudy Plese
6:07 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I say no matter what, he rides the bench this year.
Roger
7:42 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I realize the Wallace situation is a bit different, but didn't Hines Ward refuse to report to camp in a contract dispute a few years ago? What was the outcome? Did Ward get more money, or finally take what the Steelers had first offered him?
The major difference is that Ward was a proven entity over a few years, whereas Wallace lacks the proven history.
It is these tactics by players that make my interest in professional sports dwindle. The players are in a financial situation that is held by 0.0001% (or thereabouts!) of our population, and yet seem to want to stick it to the fans they claim.
Mike Jones
7:48 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Ward still had one year on his contract when he held out. He stayed away for three weeks until Bill Cowher and The Bus talked him into returning. A couple weeks after he returned, the Steelers signed him to a 5-year contract extension. Like you said, Ward had a proven record. He was starting his eighth year in the league and had put up big numbers for the past six years. Wallace isn't using his head and his teammates better talk some sense into him ASAP or he's going to lose millions.
Robert Edward Healy, III
7:49 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Mike's right. Wallace would be wise to learn from that example. Ward did not get a new deal until he came to camp.
Ed M
9:48 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Hines was a proven WR. Wallace isn't. 1 good year doesn't deserve Megatron or Larry F. money. And where was he in the 2nd half of the last season?
maureen
9:25 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Go Steelers can't wait
H.M.
10:37 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Wallace needs the Steelers and the playing time to prove himself more than the Steelers need him. I believe they will wait him out. I think he was a bit of a let down last year. After being hyped as such a great receiver, he just didn't deliver the numbers.
Rex
1:53 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Steelers are doing the right thing, but wonder how Brown's numbers will suffer if Wallace isn't in there. I assume his numbers where down the second half year in part due to the defense focusing on him and a lesser DB/S was on Brown making it easier for Brown to come open as he "came into his own" last year. If Wallace is a no go/no show, are Brown's numbers as good? Of course, the Steelers have the solution to that in house -- throw to the TE 8-10 times a game. But that's a message which has been ignored since 1933.
Robert Edward Healy, III
1:55 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
"Pay him more to play this season" is getting very little love. Smart move IMO.
Robert Edward Healy, III
8:16 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Well, folks, the Steelers won this staring contest it seems. Either way, I have closed the poll. Thank you for taking part!