Categories: 3.1 Free Agency
| On 9 years ago

Mike Wallace Trade Is A Done Deal

By Adam Warwas

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Rick Spielman and the Vikings brass are currently hosting a dinner with defensive end Michael Johnson.


First, however, Rick Spielman had to button up a big trade that creates as many questions about the 2015 Vikings as it answers.

The Vikings have confirmed that they have traded for Miami Dolphins deep threat Mike Wallace. Reports are indicating that the Vikings got Wallace and a seventh round pick in exchange for a fifth round selection. The exact terms have not yet been confirmed (i.e. specific picks, pick years) that I have seen.

The other big question is whether or not Mike Wallace will be coming to Minnesota under a new contract. The Dolphins have already paid the two toughest years of the deal, in terms of dead cap space, but it is possible that a restructure is a factor. This could be both a good thing and a bad thing, as the devil is always in the details.

Early indications are that the Vikings will inherit Wallace’s current contract, however, and that likely means the Dolphins will pay a portion of his salary.

Another question is whether or not Wallace even wants to be in Minnesota. Much has been made of the perception that he chose Miami over Minnesota two years ago because he disliked cold weather, and it seems likely that those reports were exaggerated, but one has to wonder about a guy that pretty blatantly quit on his team last year.

Then, Armando Salguero, who was the Miami reporter all over the news from the beginning, dropped this little nugget of fun:


The last remaining question is whether or not this impacts the status of any other receivers on the Vikings roster. Cordarrelle Patterson has started to see rumors pop up regarding his long-term standing with the Vikings and Greg Jennings is scheduled to have an $11 million cap hit in 2015.

Wallace is a legitimate deep threat that has a nose for the end zone. He will likely be the team’s top wide out from Day One with Greg Jennings, Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright, and Cordarrelle Patterson vying for position on the depth chart.

 

Adam Warwas

Adam Warwas (Founder) has been writing about the Vikings for a total of eight years. Five of those years have been here at Vikings Territory where he continues to surround himself with enough talented individuals that people keep coming back. As proud as he is of what Vikings Territory has become, his real treasures are in his home... a beautiful wife and three amazing children (and a dog named Percy).

Tags: greg jennings michael johnson mike wallace

View Comments

    • So we now have a WR who doesn't want to be here,and a RB who doesn't want to be here.WTH!

      • Matt Cassel never threw a tirade or bitched at his QB and coaches on the sideline, did he?

    • So, Spielman gives up half their draft picks two years ago to draft Patterson -- a "raw" wide receiver who didn't (and still doesn't) know how to run routes -- and now here he is already willing to bring in another huge contract of a disgruntled, homophobic WR (see http://www.tmz.com/2013/04/29/miami-dolphins-condemn-mike-wallace-comments/) who'll start bitching at Bridgewater on the sidelines the very moment he doesn't throw him the ball. And better yet, picking up this 28 year-old goof troop who has worn out his welcome with the last two teams he's played for, will be the excuse not to take advantage for the second year in a row of a very deep WR draft class. Brilliant!

      What happened here is they had three primary needs -- wide receiver, cornerback and left guard -- one of which absolutely needed to be dealt with in free agency so that they could deal with the other two in the first couple rounds of the draft. They probably thought they could deal with guard and/or corner in free agency (Iupati, Boling, House, Culliver, etc.), but completely whiffed. So now their going at it from the other angle and trying to deal with the receiver now so they can go after the corner (and after what the Jets did in free agency, Waynes is heading right at them) and guard in the first couple of rounds of the draft. That's what Spielman does: he drafts for need, while successful teams draft the best available player.

      That's what sucks about the deal: Cooper or Parker might be the best value on the board by the time they pick and they'll pass because they acquired this 28 year-old one-trick pony of a WR and his piss-poor attitude. And as other commentators have propounded, Wallace isn't even conducive to Bridgewater's strengths as a QB. T-Bridge excels as an intermediate zone passer. Wallace is a vertical WR who won't go across the middle if you leave him a trail of Reese's Pieces there. If they wanted a "deep threat" so bad they should have made an offer for the guy the Dolphins got to replace Wallace -- Kenny Stills (younger, cheaper, more mature). Or how about draft Devin Smith or Phillip Dorsett in the second round (again, younger, cheaper, and already more mature than Wallace)?

      Not surprising though coming from the same guy who traded up in order to draft Patterson and tried to trade up last year for freaking Johnny Manziel! Clearly the less "Slick Rick" does the better off the team is.

      Spielman is what is holding this franchise back. He has got to go.

  • Horrible move. Why? They are already overpaying for an above average receiver.

    At least the other one seems to want to play for this team...

    • Spielman figures that paying the over-bloated salary of a disgruntled wide receiver compensates for them paying the over-bloated salary of a disgruntled running back. What can you say? The man's a genius.

  • Hard to believe they made the trade without checking in with him. If they arent requiring him to redo his deal he would be stupid to be upset about it. It's worth a shot bringing him in for a late pick, he'll like Norv's offense, very suited to his skill set.

    • I read that Wallace spent an hour on the phone with Spielman and Zimmer before trade went down.

    • Maybe, Spielman's going to do like what Philly. HC. Chip said about QB Sam Bradford..That he had offers for a 1st round...pick...right..!

  • If we traded for Evan Mathis- OG ...I would of understand that..! But this... I don't know..? Just hope it works out...especially for Rick Spielman..! Or Fans in Minnesota is going to hound his ass like a hound dog....Hope it works out Rick...!

    • Either way I'm standing with Slick Rick. The guy has built a more talented roster than I've seen since i was old enough to pay attention to football.

        • No I've always been with Rick. Frasier is the one I didn't like (as a head coach. He was a fine person).

          • c'mon, you have not always been with rick. i remember agreeing with you that he reached getting ponder, but later i told you he had improved, so keep him and see what happens. you kept calling him spielmullen

          • You're right I was upset with the Ponder pick but I'd have remembered calling him Speilmullen haha.

          • maybe it wasn't you with the spielmullen, but for sure you weren't happy with him. he's done better since the ponder reach. now jennings? idk

      • Spielman is doing a good job, although I am not a fan of this move. Hope it works out.

        Maybe Teddy just needs a bunch of #2 wideouts to choose from. Not all QB's need a clear cut #1.

        • Matt Price (Mnstorm99) Me too..! Nothing against Spielman...just not a fan of this move...AT ALL...

      • Systematically the move makes sense. Norv's offense works best with a vertical threat and Wallace is still one of the best in the league. Spielman is just trying to give the coaches the types of players they need to get things clicking. They need to make sure they have some playmakers if they are going to trade AD, so bringing in a Mike Wallace helps with that to. I don't love the move, but I get it and think it could work.

        • He may be doing that but good coaches adapt to their players not the other way around.

      • Can you please elucidate on your adoration for "Slick Rick" and what you think makes him so "slick"?

        "Slick Rick" has previously been fired by three different organizations... the Vikings have a record of 61-66-1 since "Slick Rick" came to Winter Park... in that same time they have drafted in the top ten three times and the top 12 five times... "Slick Rick" traded a first-round pick and two third-round picks for Jared Allen, and then turned around and gave up a fourth-round pick in that same draft to move up in the second-round to select Tyrell Johnson... "Slick Rick" traded with a division rival (the Lions) to drop out of the first-round and got nothing in return for it but a swapping of fourth-round picks (consequently, they used the Lions second-round pick to draft Chris Cook)... "Slick Rick" traded a third-round selection to move up in the second-round and selected Toby Gerhart (note: just a few picks later Dallas would trade a FOURTH-ROUND pick to move up in the second-round and select Sean Lee)... "Slick Rick" traded yet another third-round pick (honestly, what is it with this guy and third-round picks?) to reacquire Randy Moss (we know how that ended)... "Slick Rick" reached for Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick -- a move so embarrassing that the YouTube video of Jon Gruden cracking up after Spielman made the pick actually went viral (and again, we know how move ended)... For three years, "Slick Rick" refused to bring in any competition for Ponder (yet again, we know how that ended)... "Slick Rick" gave John Carlson $13 million guaranteed... "Slick Rick" has an obvious fetish for drafting multiple players from the same school every year... "Slick Rick" impulsively decided to cut Antoine Winfield (one of the classiest, hardest working and professional players to ever don a Vikings jersey) after PFF ranked him the number one overall cornerback because he didn't want to pay Winfield the incentives he EARNED and because he needed a couple extra million dollars to overpay Loadholdt's worthless ass... "Slick Rick" made Greg Jennings the fourth highest-paid WR after letting the Packers drive up price on him... "Slick Rick" traded half the Vikings draft picks -- in what everyone considered a very deep draft -- in order to draft a JUCO transfer WR who scored a Vince Young-like 9 on the Wonderlic test and is too obtuse to learn how to run routes (Patterson)... "Slick Rick" drafted Kalil, Greg Childs, took a backup TE (Ellison) in the fourth-round, a kicker in the fifth-round, a PUNTER in the fifth-round, a guard (Yankey) that isn't yet "strong enough" to play, well, guard, used a third-round pick on a "change of pace" RB (they had no idea at the time they drafted McKinnon that Peterson would get in the situation he did) and... wait for it... here it comes...

        "SLICK RICK" TRIED TO TRADE UP TO DRAFT JOHNNY "REHAB" MANZIEL LAST YEAR! (He didn't want the guy his offensive coordinator wanted, he wanted the guy who carries the Hazelden V.I.P. card around with him.)

        On the other hand, just to be fair, he rocked it getting a first and a third-round pick for Harvin. But, of course, that means he of all people ought to know the negative consequences of having an immature, disgruntled WR on the team...

        Like Mike Wallace.

        History and the facts make not an impression that there is anything the least bit "slick" about Rick Spielman. In fact, the evidence is overwhelmingly persuasive and inferential that Spieman hasn't the faintest clue what the hell he's doing.

        Just saying.

        • Well first off you need to remove over half your complaints anything before 2012(2011?) was under that pathetic "triangle of authority" we had and basically made by Childress.

          Second, you're ripping a few great moves. Trading up for Patterson wasn't a bad move at all. Look at his rookie season he was on the verge of becoming a star, apparently he clashed with Norv and or teddy which stunted his growth. As for Kalil I still like that pick, he was phenomenal as a rookie and solid until he injured his knee. With a fully healed knee and a real LG next to him I fully expect a rebound next season.

          Ellison whom you ripped is like Kleinsausser, a workhorse who doesn't get any credit, great pick. Greg Childs was a gamble but totally worth it in the 4th, it just didn't pan out.

          Winfield being cut wasn't a bad thing either. Sure he's a local favorite but I'm sorry he was old and at the end of his career. He couldn't get a job anywhere else if you didn't notice.

          His only real mistake was Ponder and that can be excused as good first ever draft pick and the fact that most quarterbacks bust.

          • Wow. I'm sure confused now.
            Both you, Skol and AFTER THOUGHT, have put together two very well thought out and compelling arguments.
            Is he 'Slick' or not?
            I'm confused but GREAT job to both you guys.

          • "Fran the man" you gotta love rhyming nicknames so "Slick Rick" should defiantly get your vote.

        • Zimmer is like a mad scientist as Johnson put it. Now he is running the show not Spealman. Wallace can run the slant better than any of our current receivers and one of the best deep threats in the league. Jennings has better hands and runs better routs.. They will make a fine pair of wr while Patterson develops. I like the move. Steve Johnson would of been a great pickup to. If he signs with the Pats he is my fantasy football sleeper.

      • Skol12
        Mar 13, 2015 at 9:33 pm
        Either way I’m standing with Slick Rick. The guy has built a more talented roster than I’ve seen since i was old enough to pay attention to football.

        VS........................VS...........................versus Round 1 Skol12 VS AFTER THOUGHT Begin...!

        AFTER THOUGHT
        Mar 14, 2015 at 3:59 am
        Can you please elucidate on your adoration for “Slick Rick” and what you think makes him so “slick”?

        “Slick Rick” has previously been fired by three different organizations… the Vikings have a record of 61-66-1 since “Slick Rick” came to Winter Park… in that same time they have drafted in the top ten three times and the top 12 five times… “Slick Rick” traded a first-round pick and two third-round picks for Jared Allen, and then turned around and gave up a fourth-round pick in that same draft to move up in the second-round to select Tyrell Johnson… “Slick Rick” traded with a division rival (the Lions) to drop out of the first-round and got nothing in return for it but a swapping of fourth-round picks (consequently, they used the Lions second-round pick to draft Chris Cook)… “Slick Rick” traded a third-round selection to move up in the second-round and selected Toby Gerhart (note: just a few picks later Dallas would trade a FOURTH-ROUND pick to move up in the second-round and select Sean Lee)… “Slick Rick” traded yet another third-round pick (honestly, what is it with this guy and third-round picks?) to reacquire Randy Moss (we know how that ended)… “Slick Rick” reached for Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick — a move so embarrassing that the YouTube video of Jon Gruden cracking up after Spielman made the pick actually went viral (and again, we know how move ended)… For three years, “Slick Rick” refused to bring in any competition for Ponder (yet again, we know how that ended)… “Slick Rick” gave John Carlson $13 million guaranteed… “Slick Rick” has an obvious fetish for drafting multiple players from the same school every year… “Slick Rick” impulsively decided to cut Antoine Winfield (one of the classiest, hardest working and professional players to ever don a Vikings jersey) after PFF ranked him the number one overall cornerback because he didn’t want to pay Winfield the incentives he EARNED and because he needed a couple extra million dollars to overpay Loadholdt’s worthless ass… “Slick Rick” made Greg Jennings the fourth highest-paid WR after letting the Packers drive up price on him… “Slick Rick” traded half the Vikings draft picks — in what everyone considered a very deep draft — in order to draft a JUCO transfer WR who scored a Vince Young-like 9 on the Wonderlic test and is too obtuse to learn how to run routes (Patterson)… “Slick Rick” drafted Kalil, Greg Childs, took a backup TE (Ellison) in the fourth-round, a kicker in the fifth-round, a PUNTER in the fifth-round, a guard (Yankey) that isn’t yet “strong enough” to play, well, guard, used a third-round pick on a “change of pace” RB (they had no idea at the time they drafted McKinnon that Peterson would get in the situation he did) and… wait for it… here it comes…

        “SLICK RICK” TRIED TO TRADE UP TO DRAFT JOHNNY “REHAB” MANZIEL LAST YEAR! (He didn’t want the guy his offensive coordinator wanted, he wanted the guy who carries the Hazelden V.I.P. card around with him.)

        On the other hand, just to be fair, he rocked it getting a first and a third-round pick for Harvin. But, of course, that means he of all people ought to know the negative consequences of having an immature, disgruntled WR on the team…

        Like Mike Wallace.

        History and the facts make not an impression that there is anything the least bit “slick” about Rick Spielman. In fact, the evidence is overwhelmingly persuasive and inferential that Spieman hasn’t the faintest clue what the hell he’s doing.

        • Round 2 Reply : Skol12 VS AFTER THOUGHT , Skol12
          Mar 14, 2015 at 9:23 am
          Well first off you need to remove over half your complaints anything before 2012(2011?) was under that pathetic “triangle of authority” we had and basically made by Childress.

          Second, you’re ripping a few great moves. Trading up for Patterson wasn’t a bad move at all. Look at his rookie season he was on the verge of becoming a star, apparently he clashed with Norv and or teddy which stunted his growth. As for Kalil I still like that pick, he was phenomenal as a rookie and solid until he injured his knee. With a fully healed knee and a real LG next to him I fully expect a rebound next season.

          Ellison whom you ripped is like Kleinsausser, a workhorse who doesn’t get any credit, great pick. Greg Childs was a gamble but totally worth it in the 4th, it just didn’t pan out.

          Winfield being cut wasn’t a bad thing either. Sure he’s a local favorite but I’m sorry he was old and at the end of his career. He couldn’t get a job anywhere else if you didn’t notice.

          His only real mistake was Ponder and that can be excused as good first ever draft pick and the fact that most quarterbacks bust.

          Where Are You?.....AFTER THOUGHT..! waiting for you on round 2....

  • adam, this is another reason, the dinner, to time stamp all headlines, other than when things get really busy

  • Wallace turned down more money from the Vikings in 2013, he didn’t want to be here. Now we trade for him, and he doesn’t want to be here. This is a guy who is a difficult personality when frustrated. I don’t want guys who don’t want to be here, especially at $9.9mm!

    I think the Viking’s correct play was to draft a WR who can grow along with Teddy (White, Cooper). This move seems out of character, at least the trade cost was low.

    • Really they are taking on less risk now than they would have two years ago. There is no guaranted money left after the trade, so its a year to year deal with no future cap hits if they cut him. They will just be out the draft pick if it doesn't work. Locker room chemistry is my biggest worry at the moment, but maybe he hits it off with Teddy and it works out.

    • Hey, Wallace may not want to be here, but at least his cap hit is less than Peterson's, and to the best of my knowledge he hasn't been arrested on felony charges lately. He also apparently doesn't "smoke a little weed" while out on bail, so he has that going for him as well. Admittedly, Peterson has set the bar pretty low, but there is no shortage of people who want to trip all over themselves apologizing for Peterson.

      Looking further at the positives, the Vikings had a critical need for a #1 receiver who can stretch the field (which is far more important than an aging, 2 down running back). Wallace fills that need. One of primary issues for Wallace in Miami is that Tannehill, the Dolphin QB, has no long ball worth speaking of. Bridgewater has a more than adequate long ball to take advantage of Wallace's strengths.

      If you look at a receiving core of Wallace and Johnson on the outside, Jennings can move to the slot, where he is more effective. That is a pretty nice receiver package for Norv's vertical passing attack. It opens up the short passing attack, and also makes for some nice running lanes...for Jerick McKinnon. Wallace will likely be much happier once he catches a couple of bombs from Teddy.

      Fixing the receiver position gives the Vikings more flexibility in addressing left guard, corner back, line backer, and maybe even safety in the draft. If Michael Johnson signs up to fix right defensive end, things are starting to look pretty good,

      Acquiring Wallace for a 5th rounder is a cheap price to pay for this scenario, and if he doesn't work out he can be cut at the end of the season with no dead money on his contract.

      This is why Slick Rick is a GM in the NFL.

  • Hopefully this turns out better than a craigslist missed connections post. I imagine at least a couple more of those deep passes hitting this season.

  • I am amazed at how this trade has brought out the trolls!

    I personally love this off season (potentially). It hurts to miss out on Boling, but adding Wallace is ballsy. Diva? Yes, but not Harvinesque. We needed a deep threat for Norv - we got the best one. Get over our Minnesotaness from 2 years ago - Jennings was proven wrong about Ponder. We are not some backwater. We have a high number of Fortune 500 companies per capita, we are the cultural center for a large geographic region, we are national leaders in advertising. We are the 14th largest media market. This place is a great place to live, and passionate about sports.

    So Wallace chose Miami over Ponder and Musgrave? Wouldn't you? Get over it. Winning matters. You think Wallace would complain if Brady or Rodgers were throwing him the ball, or Wilson - all northern climates? Every player makes money, maybe doesn't have the success they want, and appreciates the chance to be good again. If you're Wallace, how could you not love playing for Norv? Not to mention Teddy?

    Anyways, good for the Vikes for loading up on players who can make something special happen.

    • OK, I think you went a little over board on your "Minnesota is not a backwater speech". Yeah, it is not North/South Dakota or (gasp) Green Bay. It is not a bad place to live (I have been here 30+ years.) It is also not South Beach or LA.

      One of the reasons Wallace has concerns about being here is that he has asthma, and the cold weather makes it worse. When he was in Pittsburgh, he had to take medication to treat it, and will likely have to do the same here for some home games this year, and also for late season away games at Green Bay and Chicago. All medications have side affects, and it is not as simple as just pop a pill and no worries.

      In short, Wallace has valid concerns about playing here, while Peterson is the actual spoiled diva in the house.