Mike Wallace Signs With Dolphins
With Reggie Bush and Jake Long likely on the way out of Miami, it may have looked like the Dolphins weren’t serious about making a playoff run in 2013, but with the recent signing of star wide receiver Mike Wallace they’ve proved that they are.
According to ESPN.com, the team made the announcement via Twitter saying:Â “The ink is dry and it’s official. Please welcome @Wallace17_daKid to the Miami Dolphins!”
The five-year deal is worth $60 million and includes $30 million in guarentees according to NFL sources, including insider Adam Schefter.
Wallace will give the Dolphins a huge weapon on the offensive side of the ball and a big target for young quarterback Ryan Tannehill. In 2011, Wallace caught eight touchdown passed and gained nearly 1,200 yards. Last year, he didn’t quite achieve those numbers, but still caught over 80 balls and eight TDs for the Steelers. He will be a welcome addition to a team that needed some serious help at the receiver position.
Not only does Wallace bring in the numbers and the experience, but he is known as one of the fastest receivers in the league, making him one of the biggest free agent assets of the offseason. The addition of Wallace will definitely make the Phins more of a threat in the AFC East, but with New England coming back strong, it will be a tall order to win the division as it has been in the past few years.
Luckily for Miami, the Jets are in shambles and the Bills look like they are going nowhere, so a wild card berth is not out of the question, especially if Tannehill continues to improve as an NFL passer.
The Dolphins are certainly not a favorite at this point, even to make the playoffs, but the Wallace signing shows they are willing to make some moves and make some things happen, which may mean they will be a serious contender in years to come. Don’t look towards the Phins to be a surprise team in 2013, but keep an eye on them in the coming seasons, as they are definitely looking to build towards the future.
