Many players came out of free agency this offseason with a foul taste in their mouths.
Mike Wallace wasn't one of them. The playmaking wide receiver landed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. Wallace was happy to secure the deal he wanted, but he doesn't like any misconceptions that might have come with it.
"In free agency, with so many great guys, when you get the prize deal, it's always a good feeling," Wallace told USA Today after Wednesday's minicamp practice. "I just wanted to be happy. Money isn't everything. A lot of people last year, when I held out in Pittsburgh, took it the wrong way, felt like I was just being greedy."
Wallace's father, Mike Wallace III, said his son turned down a $76 million offer from the Minnesota Vikings. According to the father, the Vikingstried to sell Wallace on the idea that he only had to spend time in cold and snowy Minnesota during the season. Wallace had his heart set on South Beach all along.
"I know this: He's going to give Miami their money's worth," Wallace's father said. "Dolphins fans are going to love him. He worked hard and deserved everything he got. So don't call him selfish."
We're not going to call Wallace selfish. He earned the right to cash in during free agency, and he took advantage of it. Good for him. But we're sorry: If this is true, heads need to be examined in Minnesota. Wallace being offered $76 million? Panic in a Percy-free world.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
