| Will Wallace have a new deal by training camp? (US PRESSWIRE) |
Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is the last remaining restricted free agent yet to sign his tender offer. We've gone from wondering if the organization would franchise Wallace in the spring (didn't happen) to whether another team would go after him (that didn't happen either), to how long the former third-round pick would stay parked on his couch in search of a long-term contract (still to be determined).
Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert has made it clear for months that Wallace is in the team's long-term plans though as recently as last week Len Pasquarelli reported that there had been "very little negotiation" between the two sides.
ESPN's John Clayton confirms as much but thinks that, even with training camp starting in 10 days, there's still time to get a deal done.
"No deal (yet), but talking to people in the Steelers organization they're still optimistic that something can get done and get done before training camp," Clayton said recently. "And that's they're history, they've always been good about taking care of their top players … and now Mike Wallace is one of their top young players. So even though nothing is close at the moment, there is still time before the start of camp and people in the Steelers organization are confident they can get something done, that there will be no hold out, and Wallace will be signed to a long-term deal."
Here's a closer look at some of those young players the Steelers have previously taken care after training camp began:
* August 5, 2011: LaMarr Woodley, six years, $61.5 million
* August 23, 2011, Lawrence Timmons, six years, $50 million
* September 10, 2011: Troy Polamalu, four years, $36.5 million
Ultimately, this all comes down to money. Wallace is reportedly frustrated with the situation and won't sign his tender "until he has to." It might be instructive for Wallace to remember the wise words of CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco who tweeted this back in April:
I love when players like Mike Wallace say they won't sign tender offer until they have to. Who's that hurting?
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 22, 2012
It's as true today as it was three months ago.
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