The Baltimore Ravens could be coveting Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace.
In a report by Baltimore Ravens.com ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated the Pittsburgh Steelers are in “big trouble” because they have a “potential real problem” in keeping Wallace, who many consider one of the most complete wide receivers in the game today.
The Steelers, who are already trying to find ways to get under the cap, will likely franchise or tender Wallace with a first-round draft choice, says Schefter. Any team that is coveting Wallace the strategy is simple, send Pittsburgh a first-rounder, and then to ensure Kevin Colbert and Co. can’t match an offer to keep him, the said team can propose a roster bonus that the cap-strapped Steelers can’t afford.
“So if you’re the Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals or San Francisco 49ers, what you do is you structure a contract with a roster bonus that’s paid right away,” said Schefter. “If there’s a roster bonus of $20, $25, $30 million, Pittsburgh would have to pay that right now. Pittsburgh is way over the cap. They’re struggling to get under the cap. That would be a very difficult thing to do.”
All of this of course depends of the Ravens draft wizard Ozzie Newsome. Baltimore has longed believed in the philosophy of right player right price and one has to wonder if Newsome thinks Wallace is the “right player.”
“This league covets draft picks,” said Newsome. ”And so, in order to go after a restricted guy, No. 1, you have to give a number now that’s something that I won’t match, or we won’t match as a team. And then you’ve got to also give up a significant draft choice, because we would put some numbers on there that would make it prohibitive for people.
The move would not only improve the Ravens receiving corp but would also take a way one of Pittsburgh’s best players.
“This sets up terribly for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This sets up to be a potential real problem for the Pittsburgh Steelers. … Poison pills are not allowed, but all you have to say is, ‘We’re not paying him a signing bonus,’ which is spread out and prorated. A roster bonus counts against that season’s salary cap right away.
