Two weeks ago, we asked why no teams were interested in signing Mike Wallace as a restricted free agent. That fact hasn't changed, so it looks like Wallace's agent is trying to manufacture some interest in his client.
First a report emerged on Wednesday that Wallace wouldn't report to Steelers practice under his current tender. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review followed that up Thursday that "several teams" were interested in trading for the Steelers wideout.
Of course, those teams are only interested in trading for Wallace for less than a first-round pick. Otherwise, they would just try to sign him as a restricted free agent. It's no surprise teams are interested in him at a bargain basement price. One problem: Why would the Steelers possibly be interested in making that deal?
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes:
"What the Steelers have to decide is whether having Wallace for this year is worth losing a possible third or fourth-round draft choice another team is willing to part with in a trade."
This makes no sense. The Steelers should get a third-round compensatory pick if Wallace left in free agency anyhow. So why trade him for that price when you can get a very valuable year out of him first? Kaboly also believes that there's no chance the team would place the franchise tag on Wallace, but there's no way to know that so far in advance.
Keeping Wallace increases Pittsburgh's chances for winning in 2012. It also increases flexibility for 2013. The Steelers might decide Wallace is worth the long-term money after another season. Perhaps fellow wideout Antonio Brown will struggle or get hurt, increasing Wallace's value.
It sounds like Wallace's agent is firing all his bullets, but ammunition is lacking. Teams aren't willing to sign the wide receiver as a restricted free agent. Wallace can hold out, but it makes no sense to skip regular-season games.
This sounds like one of those offseason stories that will be forgotten early in training camp, when Wallace is back in the black and gold.
