So the Mike Wallace situation appears to look like one that is going to last awhile, as the Post-Gazette reports that Wallace, not his agent Bus Cook, is the one that is holding out.
Ed Bouchette also reports and confirms that the Steelers have indeed stop talks with Cook about Wallace, and until the WR shows up, they will not look to get a deal done with him.
Wallace has a one-year tender of $2.7 million on the table, and GM Kevin Colbert told the Post-Gazette he needs to ink the deal before they will chat again.
“Him not being here, really we have to focus on what we can control because we can’t control that. Again, every negotiation is unique, you put your best foot forward. If it’s not suitable for both parties, you have to adjust, and we’re really in adjust-move-forward-mode right now.”
Colbert says that he and the Steelers will take calls from Cook about Wallace, but they are not going out of their way to try and get a deal done.
“Yeah, we have to move on. We have to prepare with the 89 guys who are here. You have to, you can’t focus on who isn’t here because you lose track of what you’re supposed to be doing.”
This sounds like a holdout that could be ugly for a long time to come.
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Pingback: ESPN: Recent Words Between Wallace and Steelers Not Helping Matters » Steelers Gab
DrGeorge
July 27, 2012 at 3:49 pm
The front office is handling this the right way. Without in the least minimizing Wallace’s considerable talent, the Steelers realize there are larger issues involved here — including a lesson in team unity. Wallace and his agent are well aware of what happened when S. Holmes and A. Faneca called the Stellers bluff; the Steelers did just fine without them. And the Steelers aren’t bluffing with Wallace now. No player is bigger than the team. They would prefer to have Wallace in camp, but they are prepared to go through the season without him, if it comes to that.
But I doubt that it will come to that. If Wallace sits out a year, he will be worth even less next season than he is now. Logically, he ought to sign quickly and play well this season, if only to enhance his market value. The ball is in Wallace’s court, since he’s the holdout. And it could be that Wallace has already considered all of this and is simply trying to avoid the preseason.
Steel Q
July 27, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Well said Doc. Although I don’t agree with everything you post, I do agree 100% with your analysis on the Wallace situation. No person is bigger than the team. Great analysis and prescription!