I'm not sure the way to build a winning team culture here is by singling out a guy like Wallace as "the king" with a contract like that.

I'd rather keep these guys at relatively the same level for a while and then let the players I have distinguish themselves by what they do on my team, not some other one.

The first thing I'd be thinking about doing here is giving Reggie Bush a long-term contract just as soon as he shows his performance last year wasn't a flash in the pan. That way you single him out as a leader and show the rest of your roster that hard work and leadership pay off on this team.

If you do that with Wallace, you short-circuit that process IMO.

Now if our team culture was already established and we were only Mike Wallace away from contending for a Super Bowl, it'd be a different story, but that isn't the case here.

 

BM 2.0. No thanks.

 

I agree with shour.That deal makes sense for a SB contender which we are not .We are going to have to rebuild our WR core the hard way through draft picks and underated free agent players .

 

At 11 mil per year, I'd throw away the phone number to Pitt. No way I want a diva WR like him.

 

I think the theory of bringing in a good player only when you are close of contending for the Super Bowl, is maybe the reason why this team doesn't have any play makers and we are in the position that we are right now, building the team with our young players and develop them is great, but young good players without a decent/good surrounding cast they will fail, because of lack of leadership and talent around them. The Dolphins needs to bring in proven good players to be competitive and keep building the team piece by piece, enough of trying to find gems when we need sure studs, churning the lower part of the roster is a luxury in the position that we are now, the priority is to stay focus of getting play makers especially in offense and start to be competitive. JMHO

 

I think that's a "physical talent" perspective that doesn't take into account the psychological variables involved in building a team culture.

When you're getting rid of veteran players (Marshall, Davis, Johnson) who can help the team physically but detract from the team's culture, you run the risk of losing the team if you don't reward players who show the opposite kind of behavior, such as Reggie Bush.

If you reward a player from another team before rewarding your own, I think you go further toward losing your own veterans, who IMO would perceive that you're doing nothing to look out for your own, while getting rid of the guys whose physical talent can help them win.

It's a sensitive situation right now IMO, and I think signing Wallace to such a large contract, while obviously helping the team talent-wise, would be the wrong move.

IMO you sign people like Reggie Bush to long-term contracts right now, and you aim toward adding people like Wallace down the road, when this team has a culture established, its own players have been rewarded, and is only pieces of physical talent away from contending.

 

I totally agree with your point of view, Bush deserve more consideration and he should have a new contract, but Bush alone is not enough, we have no offense period, Bess and Hartline are middle of the road WR's, Fasano doesn't strike fear to no one and Jake doesn't score touchdowns. My thinking is that even if we need to pay top dollars for a good WR like MWallace we should do it, I'm sure that Bush and other Dolphins players will understand that, ultimately they all want to win and be proud to be part of a winning team. JMO

 

I'd love to have Wallace here, but not for that price.

I'd rather just use our 1st next year on Robert Woods or Keenan Allen.

 

I think Mike Wallace is worth the money because his archetype is pretty rare. There are not many guys who can put up that kind of yardage with that little in the way of targets, and that's worthwhile. He can be a #2 or #3 receiver and still put up the same yardage.

 

He can't be a #2 or #3 receiver for his desired $11 million per year.

 

In his three Years in the NFL He has caught 171 Passes , averaging almost 19 yards a reception and scored 24 TD's. He's also only 26 years old. He's worth the money hes asking and if the fins could get him they should.

 

Just asking a question here because I think your perspective is interesting:

Miami needs a #1 wr to benefit developing RT and a vet is preferrable. Wallace matches this need. Wallace will command a high salary from anyone looking to purchase his service. Philbin is making it very clear that character is part of his job performance expectation from his players. My question is do you just not shop for a high priced vet that fills a need based not knowing what kind of professionalism he brings to the team or because it sends a conflicted message to the others on the team (as you have suggested) or do you try to find some sort of compromise to get a severly needed upgrade on the roster.

For instance maybe you invite the guy in to workout and he says all the right things to make you believe he will come in and be supportive of the Philibin philosiphy so you offer him a fair salary for this year and a backloaded bonus for next year that ensures the man that if he lives up to expectations he is compensated at a fair market value for his services.

 

I like how people ignorantly assume contract dispute = diva.

I've heard from people that actually have spoken to and interviewed the guy, that the diva label is ridiculous for him. The guy has produced 24 TDs and 3350 yards over his first three years in the league and he still makes what like $1.5 million a year on the RFA tag? It's ridiculous.

 

If he just shuts up, catches the ball and does it well, what's the problem?

He'd be HNIC alpha male with this group anyway, pay the man...we've paid complete failures in the past, i don't want to remember names....PLEASE let this be this year's -mistake- lol

 

People are looking way too far into the mindset of this team. Mike Wallace has never been in trouble so far as I know and has done nothing but produce. The best message you can send to your team is "We want to win games". If you can get a Wallace for less than an arm and a leg you do it.

 

I don't understand what you think the distinction is.

He had 1193 yards with 113 targets this year and 1257 with 93 the year before. There are a lot of 2nd and 3rd receivers on teams getting those number of targets. There being 2 or 3 guys ahead of Wallace doesn't really change anything if he's getting the amount of balls thrown at him it takes for him to be effective.

 

This whole diva stuff is nonsense. The man is underpaid. He is one of the best WRs in the game and should be paid like one. He would be amazing to have in Miami.... you build a winning culture by winning games. Mike Wallace will help you win games.

 

Exactly. The man just wants to be paid what his production dictates just like any of us at any job in the world. His peers that produce at the level he has are earning far more compensation. Think from his perspective. He could blow out his knee and never play the same again. If he never made another dollar he could make a nice life for himself but he wouldn't be "rich" long term by any means. He wants to secure his future while it is guaranteed.

 

I am 100% in support of Mike Wallace getting a new deal. Antonio Brown got an extension from the Steelers and is making almost $10m a year with 2 career touchdowns.

 

I wonder if the same people who call MW a Diva will call Jake Long a Diva when he demands to get paid or refuses to play for less than market value.

 

:rolleyes:

Most ridiculous thing I've read. Even more so than wanting to see our WR's distinguish themselves first. As if we don't already know our WR's are nothing short of hot garbage and are only capable of distinguishing themselves between a a practice squad player, and a fry cook at McDonalds.

Trying to land Mike Wallace is a no brainer in every way. The thought that this is a move that only a contender should mame is ridiculous in every way possible. He's 26, and an absolute playmaker. Good luck landing him in the draft, especially with a bum like Ireland at GM. Good luck having your rookie QB toss the ball to a bunch of practice squad caliber players. That should work out well.

 

How is he anything close to Brandon Marshall. To my knowledge he's never beat up any women nor has he ever thrown his coaches or QB under the bus.

How is he a diva WR? He's a good player and seemingly a pretty good guy. He wants to get paid what he feels he deserves. How is there anything wrong with that?

If he's putting up 1100 yards and 8-10 TDs a year does it really matter where he's listed on the depth chart? If that's what he's giving you(not to mention opponents have to completely change the way they defend your team with his speed), he is worth that kind of money.

It's just so funny to me that people complain about the lack of talent on the Dolphins yet they're against adding a legitimate difference maker on offense because he's asking for a lot of money (which he completely deserves).

 

My perspective has a whole lot less to do with Wallace and who he is as a person (for example, I don't think he's a diva, but that's immaterial to me), and a whole lot more to do with where this team is right now and the dynamics going on with it.

This team just cut or traded a good number of veteran players, without yet rewarding any of the ones who remain. When you're in the process of establishing a new team culture and getting your players on board with a new, first-year head coach, I think you have to reward your own before you reward an outsider.

For example, the establishment of player leadership is paramount right now IMO. Reggie Bush is a prime candidate IMO. I think you want Reggie Bush feeling proud to be a Miami Dolphin and committed to leading the rebuilding effort. You do that IMO by giving him the long-term contract he deserves and getting him strongly on board with the process.

If you go give Mike Wallace the money Reggie Bush has rightfully earned as a member of the Miami Dolphins, you lose Reggie Bush (mentally and emotionally speaking), and you lose a player leader who can set an example of a commitment to the head coach's program among the veteran players, as well as an important piece of the winning culture this team desperately needs IMO.

In return you get a receiver with tons of physical talent who helps Tannehill develop, obviously, but the price you pay in alienating your veteran players emotionally and undermining their commitment to your program isn't worth it IMO.

 

But they have rewarded some of their own with extensions, e.g., Cam Wake, Brandon Fields. And trading for Wallace doesn't mean they can't extend Reggie Bush too -- those are not mutually exclusive moves. They have plenty of cap space available next year for extensions of current players that they want to reward.

 

I'm all for it if there are leaders among the players who have long-term contracts they're happy with and feel committed to Philbin and the rebuilding effort. At that point you're free to add people like Wallace IMO.

 

The only offer they would not refuse is for our first round pick. If Ireland traded our first for a wide receiver not named Megatron or Fitz he should be fired immediately.

We are going 3-13, adding Mike Wallace for a first round pick would put us at 6-10 and give the Steelers a top 10 pick.

 

While I was hoping to see a deal for Wallace, waiting a year (and understanding that adding Wallace won't get us to the playoffs this year anyway) means we keep our picks and can then make him a HUGE offer next year. The Steelers seem ready to make a Super Bowl push this year with him, then let him go in 2013. That said, I'd offer a third and fifth for James Jones, so Tannehill will have some weapons on offense. Between Jones, Hartline, Bess, Bush, and Fasano, Ryan will have enough offensive help to develop as a QB. If Clay steps up, or Lane is a beast in short yardage, then even better.

 

I'd do what it takes to acquire Mike Wallace. That said, I agree with shouright's principle that at this point in time it's probably best to reward your own. Mike Wallace, it appears, will be a free agent next year. I think I'd make a run at him then AND try and keep the stockpile of draft picks I have now if I were Jeff Ireland. In any case regarding Wallace, you've got an additional 2 weeks to work out a trade this year with the deadline moved back if you really want to acquire him now.

However, in terms of rewarding my own players, I think I'd target Jake Long and Randy Starks first. They would seem to be a more integral part of the team this year and into the future. More so than Reggie Bush to me at least. I think Lamar Miller is being groomed for Bush's role, and I think Jeff would like to see what Daniel Thomas brings to the table if he can stay healthy for a whole year. I'm not the biggest Ireland fan, but I think the Miller pick will prove to be a boon in the future, even if not this year.

 

Agree with the 1st round pick. We kind of set the price for a guy like Mike with our deal for Marshall. So we're gonna have to give up a 2nd plus another pick to make this happen. Can't see that 2nd pick being less than a 3rd rounder myself.

 

On the field, no. In negotiations, absolutely.

 

Curtain #1- A 1st round draft pick with no NFL experience and hoping he is no Roy Williams, JJ Stokes, Yatil Green or Charles Rogers. Curtain #2- A NFL WR with speed, hands and no baggage other than wanting to get paid market value. Do a trade pay the money.

 

Tannehill?

 

Fixed. I knew what you meant and it makes sense if WR is going to be our 1st round target next year anyway. 1st round WRs are about a 50/50 proposition as for living up to their draft status. Why not get a proven and young WR a year early?