The Miami Dolphins have reportedly signed WR Mike Wallace to a mammoth 5-year, $65 million contract. The deal includes $30 million guaranteed. Mike Wallace makes more money than Ben Roethlisberger now. Let that sink in.
Is he worth that money? No, no he is not. With the exception of last year, Mike Wallace was a dependable pass-catcher anywhere on the field, but changed the game with his blinding speed. Mike Wallace's trademark play was to blow past everyone and catch a cruise missile in the end zone for six points. Even if he were one-dimensional, that's a really good dimension to pick. Last year, he kept the blinding speed and sort of forgot about the "catching footballs" portion of his job from time to time, but whether than was an anomaly or the new norm will be the Miami Dolphins' problem now.
I'm not at all upset about losing Wallace, especially if he was going to demand the GDP of a small nation. The Steelers needs depth at WR, sure, but Antonio Brown is the #1, Emmanuel Sanders, when healthy, just makes tough catches, and Plaxico Burress and Jerricho Cotchery round out the bottom of the lineup. Another #2 or #3 receiver would be very nice, and that's the kind of player you can find in the draft. I expect that the Steelers will do that. Santonio Holmes was fairly easily replaced (by Mike Wallace) and perhaps Wallace will be just as easily replaced by a new guy this year. Unlike the situation at outside linebacker in James Harrison's absence, depth receivers are not critical to the success of their unit.
As for what the Steelers are doing with today's free agency frenzy, here is Kevin Colbert's office, circa 4:00 PM:
Yeah, the Steelers haven't signed anybody new. I'm not holding my breath.
