The new collective bargaining agreement eliminated the "First- and Third-Round" restricted free agent tender, which could result in more offer sheets for Pro Bowl-caliber restricted free agents during the term of the new labor agreement. Two such players -- Houston Texans running back Arian Foster and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace -- are restricted free agents this off-season and could receive the franchise tag as their clubs attempt to put up walls around the player to restrict their movement. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert hinted that the team would consider using the tender on Wallace. "Certainly Mike has done a lot to establish himself as a Pro Bowl receiver, and we want to try to keep Mike here for the long run," Colbert said. A "First Round" tender is worth $2.742 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2012, whereas as the franchise tag for wide receivers is projected to be worth around $9.5 million. For Foster, his tender (available on the same link) is projected to be worth around $8 million. Source: Mac's Football Blog
not cap friendly at all, if they tag him i bet they trade him. im not opposed to getting a first for him. a lot of steeler fans dog him for "having a bad attitude, or really dropping off at the end of the year, or being soft, or not fighting for the ball"....but a lot of steeler fans are dumbasses. he didnt have as good of a second half of the year but it allowed brown to explode. Id really like to keep wallace, brown, sanders, and cotchery all together, i think its an awesome group but the idea of an extra first round pick makes the draft nerd in me get all giddy. he took steps in completing his game last year, became more physical, ran better routes...hes going to be a top 5 WR under haley who his whole career has made a living off turning WRs into pro bowlers
You can't pay him $9M a year or whatever it is...knowing that Brown and Sanders are coming up behind him. There's going to be a major ripple effect with this team through Wallace's deal. Steelers have to be very smart and very careful with what they do with Wallace here...
