Mike Wallace and the Pittsburgh Steelers might get a contract done this offseason after all.
With training camp approaching, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports the two sides are in "close contact" and have made recent progress toward a deal. This is a change of tone since, well, this entire offseason. Wallace was believed to be asking for an exorbitant salary, and there was very little optimism a deal could be done.
Brooks: Haley's impact on Pittsburgh
Some questioned Pittsburgh's hiring of Todd
Haley to run the offense, but Bucky Brooks thinks it's a perfect match. **More ...**
The sides are expected to keep a "steady pace" in talks until training camp starts. Wallace remains unsigned after receiving a restricted free-agent tag this offseason for $2.72 million. We'd be surprised if he showed up to training camp on time without a new contract.
The theory this offseason is that the Steelers eventually would have to make a choice between Wallace and Antonio Brown, like they once did with Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. (Nice decision there.)
If the Steelers could lock up Wallace long-term this offseason, that would give them a lot of time to get Brown under contract before he's an unrestricted free agent in 2014.
The Steelerscut offensive tackle Johnathan Scott on Thursday, which frees up some salary-cap space to spend on Wallace.
