Greetings,
Cannot argue with that.
The only reason why I said that is because Wallace is the best deep threat in the game, much better than Lloyd. Also they don't need a guy who gets in the 100 catch range, have that already in Welker. With that being said I would be happy with either one of those guys. I like Lloyd a lot and he would be a huge upgrade over the current second receiver(Branch).
I also think too many people think it is a forgone conclusion that he is coming to New England, especially being that he has not shopped around yet.
Celticboy04
Wallace may be the best 'speed' threat in the game, but I think the term 'best deep threat' is arguable at best.
Wallace plays a lot of backyard football with Roethlisberger's scrambling abilities, and finds a way to get open in that regard. Once Roethlisberger had to remain a statue due to injury, Wallace's production dropped like you wouldn't even believe. Check the last 7-8 games of the season, it's crazy.
Mike Wallace has not earned the right to be called a top-tier WR in the NFL, at least not through the 2011 season anyway.
Any comparisons to Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald etc are absolutely crazy. Those are the guys who are worth 9-10 million per/ a year....not Mike Wallace.
I would put Wallace's salary worth at somewhere around 7-8 million per/ a year, based on his speed, youth, and potential alone but he is far from a 'sure thing' in the NFL. He certainly still needs to prove himself.
Mike Wallace basically had the same year as Pierre Garcon in 2011. Both had about 70 catches. Garcon had 6 TD's, while Wallace had 8.
Deion Branch is at the opposite end of the salary spectrum, with many posters talking of him being forced into the vet minimum if he wants to stay. Even Branch's output was 51 catches, 700 yds, and 5 TD's--and he is considered 'washed up' in the minds of many posters (not necessarily mine). The difference is production between Branch and Wallace should not call for one taking the vet minimum and one making top-tier WR money at 10 million+. You can argue about Wallace's "potential" but you can't give up a first round pick and a huge long-term contract based on potential alone. In many ways, Wallace is still somewhat of an unknown.
I don't see the NEP taking any kind of risk that will involve Mike Wallace, as high as his ceiling may be. The problem is that we have no idea if he'll ever reach that ceiling. Worse off, we have no idea if he can actually play in this system here in N.England.