Dolphins reportedly "lead dog" to sign Mike Wallace

[SCFinfan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report-dolphins-lead-dog-mike-wallace-012124688--nfl.html

They say he prefers the warmer weather.

[Sunstroke]

Spend a good bit of time in Pittsburgh, and I'll bet South Beach looks pretty awesome...

[MikeO]

The only team I could see landing Wallace other than Miami are the Pats

The Browns have all but given up and said they are focusing on defense and want to raid the Ravens defense. The Vikings are now looking at Jennings and have said they might just look to add WR's in the draft and ignore it in free agency.  I have a feeling that Miami threw such a huge number at Wallace's agent this weekend that other teams have waived the white flag on even trying to land him......other than the Pats of course!

Of course after failing to land "the big one" in the past I won't believe Wallace to Miami until I see it !

[Sunstroke]

I wish my 49ers could afford Wallace. With his speed to stretch the field, complementing Crabtree and Davis working the middle...we might have a passing attack to match our rushing game.

[Brian Fein]

^^ You already have Ted Ginn, and his whole family.

[Brian Fein]

Of course after failing to land "the big one" in the past I won't believe Wallace to Miami until I see it !

I generally agree with this, but...

They wanted David Boston, they went out and got him
They wanted Ricky Williams, they went and got him.
They wanted Daunte Culpepper, they went and got him
They wanted Brandon Marshall, they went and got him
They wanted Peyton Manning, they whiffed on that one.

Let's hope that Mike Wallace doesn't turn out to be in line with all those other guys they really wanted.

[MikeO]

I generally agree with this, but...

They wanted David Boston, they went out and got him
They wanted Ricky Williams, they went and got him.
They wanted Daunte Culpepper, they went and got him
They wanted Brandon Marshall, they went and got him
They wanted Peyton Manning, they whiffed on that one.

Let's hope that Mike Wallace doesn't turn out to be in line with all those other guys they really wanted.

3 of those guys are a decade plus ago, not the same people in place (ie Ireland).
Marshall was a trade, not a Free Agent signing.
Peyton well they didn't whiff but whatever, different debate for a different day.

Talking more of Harbaugh and Fisher they missed big on.

[Spider-Dan]

Brian, every single one of the examples you cited of MIA "getting their man" was a trade.

When it comes to big name free agent acquisitions, the list pretty much starts and ends with Karlos Dansby.  I guess you could count Joey Porter, but he was cut by PIT, which is not quite the same thing.

[Brian Fein]

I know they were trades, so what?  They are all offseason deals in which the Dolphins went out to get a guy who was on the market, and got him.  But you have a good point - I forgot about Dansby. 

I'd argue that its harder to pull off a trade than to sign a free agent.  The deal has to work for both teams, and not just be the highest bidder, financially.

[Landshark]

I know they were trades, so what?  They are all offseason deals in which the Dolphins went out to get a guy who was on the market, and got him.  But you have a good point - I forgot about Dansby. 

I'd argue that its harder to pull off a trade than to sign a free agent.  The deal has to work for both teams, and not just be the highest bidder, financially.

You might be right but the highest bidder doesn't always land the free agent signing.  Look no further than Ryan Clark for example.  The Dolphins offered him more money and he stayed in Pittsburgh.

Back on topic.  The Vikings just traded Percy Harvin to Seattle.  Now the Dolphins may have competition for Wallace.

[Brian Fein]

That's cause the Vikings are bringing in Greg Jennings.

[MikeO]

Harvin to Seattle. Minny opened up more cap space they are all in on Wallace now according to reports.

I will believe Wallace to Miami when I see it. The track record isn't on the Fins side here. This is far from a "done deal"

[Brian Fein]

Not a done deal, but Wallace reportedly wants warm weather, and Minnesota isn't exactly a tropical paradise.

[Spider-Dan]

I know they were trades, so what?  They are all offseason deals in which the Dolphins went out to get a guy who was on the market, and got him.

That's not really a fair comparison.  Outside of possibly trading with other AFCE teams, "getting your man" via trade simply means you were willing to offer more than anyone else.  In a trade, the other team has no real reason to care about anything but what you are giving them in exchange.

In contrast, you can't just buy a player (in that same fashion) by simply offering them more money than the next guy.  It's not like the Dolphins missed out on Ryan Clark or Peyton Manning because they wouldn't pony up enough cash...  they missed out because those players didn't want to play for this organization.  That's the point of this Wallace talk: can the Dolphins convince a free agent to come to Miami instead of going somewhere else?

[bsfins]

I don't want Mike Wallace (I'm not a fan of any of the free agent Wr's)..I think he'll have some good games,but we'll regret signing him down the road...