A Case For: Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates following his touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Earlier in February when I was reviewing the Denver Broncos free agency needs at wide receiver, I skimmed over the Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Wallace. I tend to skip over both the big names and restricted free agents when I am evaluating free agents, because there is little need to discuss a player like Wes Welker or Dwayne Bowe, because, if in fact they are available the utter mob that would barrage that particular agents phone would normally not include anyone from the Broncos organization.

Recent events in The Birmingham of America (Pittsburgh) have brought to light that the Steelers have some major issues with cap space and a full-court press by internet blogs to pull the trigger early on who will be the odd man out once the team realizes that there really isn’t any more room to keep all of those starters  and draft new ones. The thing about internet blogs is they often are the ones that create the next days headlines (and talking points for those talking heads on the radio and behind the sports desks of your favorite TV stations).

So! It does seem to me that Wallace will probably be the one who is allowed to test the market, the young receiver is entering his fourth season and is on the brink of becoming the next big thing (as far as NFL receivers are concerned).

Wallace goes beyond the usual, ‘He’s a good player and we need all good players on our team.’

Targeting Wallace is letting Tim Tebow and Denver fans know that Tebow is the man the team hopes to lead the Broncos for the next 12-14 years. One place Tebow is absolutely lacking as one of my friends at another blog often says is the ability to throw to a receiver that isn’t completely open. Well, Wallace is usually completely open, because he is that fast. Teams don’t normally make the same mistake that Denver did in the playoffs and put a player like D.J. Williams on him. Wallace would bring an immediate panic to a defense who already has to stack the line to account for the Broncos’ strong rushing game.

From a pure money ball stand point take a look at what Wallace doesn’t due– fumble. He has only fumbled three times in three years, you pair him up with the other two receivers in Denver and you’ve got one heck of a problem. Here is the other incredible thing about Wallace, he has never missed a game since being a pro, a healthy receiver is something that will be unfamiliar to current Broncos fans.

Who do you double on a team that has Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wallace? It’s miss-match heaven and we’re all invited to watch the show.

The main thing missing on the Broncos offense is one receiver; with a quarterback who is capable of shredding an offense several ways, an offensive line that is amongst the youngest and best in the league, a top rated rushing attack, and two stellar receivers adding a fourth year Pro Bowl receiver will make Denver look like a better version of the team they just beat in the playoffs.

Of course (and there is always an of course) this will cost the Broncos a first round draft pick as Wallace is a restricted free agent. This could very well be the deal breaker for Denver as they are building via the draft, but a wiser investment could not be spent on a proven wide receiver entering his fourth season.

And if not Mike Wallace, let it be one of the former San Diego Chargers: Vincent Jackson or Laurent Robinson.

One thing is for certain, even Wallace isn’t sure that he’ll be back with the Steelers next season, “[Pittsburgh is] where I would like to be, but we all know that it is a business and you have certain things you have to handle,” Wallace said. “So if I have to go elsewhere, you know Pittsburgh will always be in my heart, but I have to do what I have to do.”

Am I crazy or can you agree with me that a receiver that can create that type of separation is exactly what Tebow needs to assist in bringing back that passing game he had when Brandon Lloyd was here.