Wide receiver Mike Wallace is now on his fourth team in five years which is not the type of track record you want to build in the NFL. But despite being allowed to walk in free agency by the Pittsburgh Steelers, traded by the Miami Dolphins and released by the Minnesota Vikings, Wallace still blames everyone else.
The 29-year-old pass catcher was cut earlier this month following a very disappointing season in which he caught just 39 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. Looking back, Wallace has failed to reach the same heights of his early Pittsburgh days when he posted back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in 2010-2011. He hasn't crossed the 1,000-yard mark since and has seen his reception totals dip in three straight seasons. He also hasn't posted more than 13 yards per catch in any of the previous four seasons.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had said he hoped Wallace would remain on the roster after the season ended, but with an expensive cap hit, general manager Rick Spielman clearly didn't think it was worth it. The speedster has since signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
At his introductory press conference yesterday, Wallace ripped his former teammate and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
"When this process started, I knew that I wasn't going back to Minnesota," Wallace said. "I was like, 'I need a good quarterback. I need a quarterback who I know that is proven and can get things done.' And (Baltimore's Joe) Flacco, he's always been that guy. I've always loved his deep ball."
No, Bridgewater did not take a similar leap as Oakland's Derek Carr or Jacksonville's Blake Bortles in Year 2. The Minnesota QB's aversion to throwing deep - his 7.23 yards per pass attempt ranked just 17th in the league - has been well documented. But he did complete 65.3 percent of his passes while again showcasing poise in the pocket and an understanding of the offense on an 11-5 playoff team. That's more than we can say for fellow 2014 first-rounder Johnny Manziel. Wallace is being a bit harsh in his criticism.
It's not as if the wide receiver has been putting up big numbers either. Wallace posted a career low 12.1 yards per catch this past season. Perhaps he should look in the mirror before blaming his next quarterback.
For more, follow Brandon Katz on Twitter: @Great_Katzby
