Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, reports that the San Francisco 49ers looked into Steelers restricted free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace since free agency began and were told that Wallace was looking for a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million one that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed last year.
That is a pretty huge demand for sure and if indeed it is true, you can be pretty sure you do not have to worry about him getting any offer sheets as that request is outrageous. While he would return on his one year tender of nearly $2.75 million, there is no way the Steelers will sign him to a long term deal in that range.
Wallace has gained more yardage than Fitzgerald did in his first three years in the league, but Fitzgerald caught way more passes. They both registered 24 touchdowns through their first three years as well. Wallace can stretch the field better than any receiver in the league, but he has yet to become the complete receiver that Fitzgerald has, and thus he will not be paid like him until he does.
The Steelers will gladly let Wallace play on his one year tender and let him carry all of the risk that goes along with it. Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and several other teammates have likely talked to him about trying to work out a long term deal to stay in Pittsburgh, but it is a decision Wallace must make himself.
Fitzgerald money? Not happening.
