Mike Wallace Returns To Steelers – Should I Jump For Joy?

Hey did ya hear?  #17 returned to the Steelers on Tuesday and signed his one year tender of $2.7 million.  I want to be happy, but should I be jumping for joy?

I guess I’m just irritated about how all of this went down on his end – demanding a big paycheck but not quite living up to the ‘legendary’ hype…. yet.  The Steelers were smart to not give in.  And, perhaps they will be seen as smart by not trading him.  But I still think this all went down wrong, and can’t shake the feeling that in the end the Steelers are going to get the short end of the stick – meaning no long term deal and a snarky receiver who will have more complaints/excuses during the season than touchdowns.  Just listen to what he said on his first day back:

"“My teammates need me.  It’s time to get ready for the season. I felt like it was time to go. I’m ready to roll. I’m here. That’s really all that matters to me.”"

Now Wallace either had a ‘come to Jesus’ with himself last week, or he is feeding us a bunch of bull.  I can’t help but assume the later and believe that Wallace needs to listen to himself spout that drivel into a microphone.  That’s all that matters?  Really?  Highly unlikely.  If that were really the case, your rear end would have been in camp on day one, and you would have worked out your contract issues while you caught passes during drills.  That little feeling of ‘it was time to go’ was your pocket book crying and your future career pleading for you to salvage it.  It’s true that your teammates need you – as in they need you to get on the field so reporters can quit pestering them with questions about Mike Wallace.  But, in actuality you need them more than they need you.

And you should remember that.

Is it good overall that Mike Wallace is back? I think it depends on his route running.  The offense needs to rely heavily on the quick pass due to the O-line still working things out.  Don’t expect to see the deep ball much in the first few weeks.  Wallace will need to win us over with slants and quick curls.  Let’s hope he can lose guys in the flat after he catches the ball.  He’ll need to evolve a little as a player.  And, my Steeler Nation friends, if he can do that it will be WIN WIN for he and the Steelers.

Excuse me while I go try and find a trampoline….