Raven Nation??

The topic is of course just your classic attention grabber, as you'll find my intent of this post isn't to actually accuse this board of being infiltrated by actual raven fans posing as steeler fans just to get kicks, I'm beyond thinking in conspiracy theories at this point.

But, this whole wallace thing has truly brought out the worst in some on this board. Some posters have become so incredible that as soon as I see they're name on a post I just skip right past. Why are people not using their heads? Why can't people look at past occurences that are similar in the leauge...or on our own team more importantly. Case and fact: One Hines Ward retired legend to the very end around here to be beloved for all time in Pittsburgh lore more than likely. People to the very end thought the steelers treated him unfairly in not giving him one more year just out of good faith, yet, Hines held out into preseaon I believe for reasons exactly similar to Wallace's.

Yet here we are, I come on here to speak my mind on steeler topics but also love to get the general feel of what steeler nation is thinking. Every topic on here about Wallace is almost dominated by posts of people not liking Wallace, not minding if he's traded etc.... that seems to be the consensus around here and I truly hope that's not how all steeler fans feel because if you actually sit back and think about it....you realize if (you're a decent thinker at all) that if you base your disliking of Wallace on anything other than "I've met him" then your just speculating. There's the dont like him because he's a diva crowd, yet he's never acted like one on the field I've never witnessed him blow up at Ben or anyone on the side line or call out anyone to the media. Players at every posistion for every team ask for more money when they can, because they have lawyers and agents telling them " Hey this is how it works you have to get your money while you can" because that IS how it works, that does not immedaitly make them DIVAS.

I've heard some say they've never liked him, I don't get that at all. So you don't like the 3rd round pick that came from nowhere to calm the panic that was going about in steeler nation over losing holmes? The guy that every steeler fan would clamer about being so rare because he was a rookie on the STEELERS and was producing so well. Some say the if he didnt have 4.2 speed he wouldnt be in the NFL. His biggest attribute is his speed which is a BIG thing because he's probably the fastest player in the NFL, so you cant really just say take that away and he's nothing....because it's a big something to take away and thats just unfair, but I bet alot of receivers would say one of the harder cathces to make is when your running a streak and you have to look back and adjust and catch it over your shoulder .....and Wallace makes a living doing it so he has to have decent hands. Keyshawn Johnson still takes **** to this day for not being able to make that catch consistantly.

Wallace is a special player,and my true thought, what i really feel in my gut is that he isnt going anywhere unless some team(REDSKINS REDSKINS REDSKINS) pay him the fitzgerald money, and no one truly knows if he REALLY thinks he's worth it, but I think the steelers will give him a contract like that of Vincent Jackson, or he'll leave next year when a team shells out big bucks for him which they will because he is no doubt valued within the leauge by other teams. Those teams are just doing the same thing the steelers did with the wait and see approach, teams are going to wait to see what the steelers do with wallace and hope they get a chance at saigning him next year and not losing a draft pick in the process. Just don;t know where all the Wallace hate comes from with steeler fans. I love the guy and will until he's actually gone or actually does something bad to the steelers. Sorry for the rant its just frustrating.

 

ahhh give us a break we are just fans that is what fans do...when he signs back with us he will be the greatest ever....if he sits out or leaves he will be the worst it is just a fan thing

 

Aye. I've also found some of the threads about Wallace surprising in their tone. But at the same time, off season is usually dead (or at least on the old forum it was). We've got something to get our teeth into, and the MB is at least keeping relatively fresh. I do understand your frustration, though, bw17.

 

BW17, this is well stated. I don't think it's any secret that I am not a big Mike Wallace fan at this point. I may even be one of those posters who you decide to skip over when you see my name, but I have well thought out reasons as to why I'm not high on Mike Wallace. His speed is undeniable and he is a tremendous weapon. He is not the kind of overall receiver at this point in his career that he seems to think he is, however. Maybe he can develop into that kind of receiver. If he stays with the Steelers, I certainly hope he does. If he goes somewhere else, I hope his best years are behind him.

Anyway, that's what makes the world go 'round. We can all have various and differing opinions but at the end of the day we are all vested in the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers' organization. We'll have opinions, sometimes strong ones, on individual players and situtations but we all want the Steelers to move forward and win more Super Bowls. In the end, we'll trust the FO to make the right personnel decistions and they always seem to. In the meantime, we'll debate and discuss vigorously the players that make up that personnel pool. That's what makes us the most well-informed and intelligent fans in all of football.

 

Glad you got that off your chest... Your biotching kinda sounds like another poster *cough* <that steeler fan in the bluegrass state> *cough* who is so in love with the starting QB of the Steelers that his mancrush hinders any ability for him to be objective about one Ben Rottenbooger. There are extremes on both sides of any debate and usually reality ostensibly lives somewhere in between the vocal extremes. Relax and enjoy the ride - it's just a message board for folks to share their opinions.

 

Wallace sitting out compared to Hines is a little different situation though. Hines at that point in his career deserved every penny for what he can bring to the table, I had no problem with him holding out.

Wallace has not devloped enough to sit out and demand Larry Fitzgerald money yet. Just listen to Pittsburgh sports talk, the writeres in the lockerrom will tell you something in Wallace changed this year. He was starting to get a big head and was becoming jealous of other teammates success.

I really don't care oneway or the other, I'm just saying that the people on the message board aren't just making up reasons to crticize Wallace.

 

So hating Wallace for any reason other than "I've met him" is speculation? That makes no sense. Here are the reasons I dislike him as a player, none of which are speculation, they are my observations based on me watching him during games.

-Wallace is a one trick pony. His entire game revolves around his speed. He has no other NFL caliber skills.
-He is holding out after only 3 years
-When in traffic, he cannot catch the ball. If he can't get open, he is completely useless as a player (goes right back to my first point).
-When we need that one catch to keep the game alive, Wallace will never be the guy to make that catch because his only ability is to go deep and rarely will a 4th and 3 be a deep pass.
-He completely disappeared for the second half of last season. Reasons are numerous such as Ben's injury, but top WR's in the NFL produce no matter what (goes back to my first point).

The main reason I dislike Wallace and no longer want him on the team for any amount of money is that his speed (and there is no denying his speed) and the fact that he is a serious deep threat, causes Ben to want to constantly throw deep. Ben is below average when throwing deep, and throwing deep is a low success play at the best of times. Without Wallace, we would still go deep on occasion to Brown or Sanders, but it wouldn't be constant like it has been the last few years. Ben constantly going deep is the biggest reason our offence has been inconsistent. If Wallace was gone, we could get back to Steeler football, a good running game and short to medium passes, with the occasional deep ball. Look at what Brady does every year and he rarely goes deep. Peyton Manning doesn't throw deep that often either.

 

another Wallace thread lol how many is this now .. #20 ? How can it be so tough to just make 1 thread about 1 player instead of making 20 threads about 1 player

 

If we did that this board would appear to be dead. It's the off-season, why not make 20 threads about the same guy?

 

Yeah, I echo this and I dislike Wallace too....

 

I am comfused by the title of this thread. Please explain.

Anyways, the Mike wallace should stay or go debate will probably be determined by whether Todd Haley thinks the deep ball action is warranted in his new system that he will be implementing. Getting back to running the football and having a more open playbook will make it demanding for Mike to become more than just the one trick pony that he has been up to now.
I like Wallace but if he thinks he's getting Larry Fitzgerald type money then he won't be employed by the Steelers very long.

 

Hmm... I wonder why nobody has posted anything about Mike Wallace and his lack of interest from the rest of the NFL. Somebody should start a Wallace thread...

 

The OP is trying to say that a bunch of Ravens fans have infiltrated the board and are starting threads just to cause controversy, or at least it seems that way by how many negative post about Wallace there have been on the board. In other words if you aren't wearing rose colored glasses and offer an opinion that deviates from the "all is well" "we are the best" party line then you are a Ravens fan or a troll. Or at least that is my take on it.

SInce i am spouting off I might as well give my two cents on the Mike Wallace controversy or lack thereof. I think that Mike does want to get paid but he also wants/wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. So in my opinion the 100 million comment or whatever amount it was, was an attempt to scare off teams that might be willing to give up that 1st round pick to make an offer. He wanted to stay in Pittsburgh so he made it seem like he wanted a huge amount of cash and teams stayed away. Now with the trade rumors and the reports of his wanting x amount of dollars or so his agent says, I think they are trying to get that all important second contract with some nice cash but no where near what the reports are. That way when they do come down to a reasonable rate they look like the good guys. That is my opinion on the contract stuff.

As far as his skills go I think he did sort of take it easy in the second half of the season, I would defend him but the wild card game, watching a guy who played with Hines Ward just watch as Redman ran by and didn't try to get up field and make a block just showed me he lacked some kind of desire that game. As far as his skills go in my mind another player who is woefully under utilized in the Arians system and didn't develop his skills beyond the blazing speed. I think he could be more than just the deep threat but it will take work and it is my hope that Haley works with all of them.

 

I actually like Wallace. I thought Hines was mentoring him and he was going to be one of those players who was good but down to earth. I think I was wrong. What you wrote is the way I see it to but when you tell people that, they look at you like you have 2 heads.

And for the record, calling a Steeler fan a Raven, is a good way to get some knots on your head.

 

Very nice points from some of you. tho, I have to wonder if some of you read it in it's entirety or just scimmed it? I wouldn't blame you it was long as hell and I'm no great writer so I'm sometimes not successful in getting my point aross. The first paragraph of my OP goes unedited and I'm confused as to how people didn't realize that the RAVENS NATION thing was just to get people to read my 5 paragraph post lol. And I clearly stated that I WASN'T intending to say that you were raven fans hidden in steeler colors, and WASN'T trying to create conspiricy theories. I hate the ravens far to much to ever ACTUALLY accuse a steeler fan of such things. Just a bad joke I guess.

And to KNOX I dont know the other poster your referring to? Unless it's that pimply dan guy, which I'm also in the dark about the story of that guy.

Also, I want to ask? Haven't we as steeler fans watched enough games to have literally witnessed that Wallace isn't a one trick pony? His "one trick" leads itself right into another one the "hitch" if his one trick is running really fast right by people....then he can also bust out the stop and turn around for a 10-15 yard gain....which I've seen him do...isn't that a second trick? I've seen him catch a drag and turn up field and score...isn't that another trick? what about when Ben hits him on the out route by the sideline? Or the slant? skinny post? I've witnessed him do all of these things...maybe he isnt as good at them as running a streak obviously, but he does do all those things. So how does a reciver who can have success running almost 6 different routes be a "one trick pony"?

Also please dont accuse me of wearing "rose" colored glasses. I just like to analyze things look at it from all angles and come up with my own true thoughts on the matter after I've taken into account all the things I think need to be. My opinons never come straight from ESPN or the inside "beat
" writers from the gazette or trib.....tho I do read their articles.

SHANER, I see what you're getting at but I did say if you base your "dislike" and saw in your post you used the word 'hate" so my position would still stand. I do find it a little lame to hate a person for criticisms you have of them as a sports player or artist etc. What I mean is i have no examples of Wallace being a bad person. No blow ups to the media or coaches or teammates, no public complaining about the amount of catches he was getting at the end of last year....except apparently from bouchette or some other pittsburgh writer....that is by definition speculation. Add one more: watch the Wallace catch against the packers(not superbowl) if you think he NEVER makes a clutch or desparetly needed catch.

 

A bit OT, but I seem to recall there were a lot of posts on the then-forum that disagreed with you. Hines isn't bigger than the team, etc. Yes, it was probably more of a detailed argument, given Ward's record to that date, but there were still calls to drop him.

 

Don't pay any attention to obnoxious he is just a Ben hater....he could be talking about anyone

 

So now Wallace is responsible for Ben making poor decisions on where to throw the football. Just when I thought I heard it all

 

I'm kind of hoping what caused people (me included) to have a few knocks on Ben and Mike Wallace may very well have been a function of coaching ( a previous OC), or a lack thereof.

Maybe, with any luck, with proper coaching, Ben learns to check down, receivers learn to make hot reads and Wallace learns a little more than he knows now. Personally, I think both Ben and Mike have the potential to be something greater with better coaching.

 

This may be one of the most profound points that have been made in this whole Wallace debate. Maybe Haley can bring out the best in both Ben and Wallace. If Wallace sticks around, I sure hope so.

 

this thread should get erased they're shouldn't be any titles in the main forum that begin with "raven" .. only exception would be " Steelers crush the rats in their first meeting" that'll be accepted.. Raven nation sounds like they're invading our board

 

I'm not a Wallace hater, however, unless like some have stated that his posturing is for show, I'm not happy with his course of action. Yes, Hines was once in the same position but, for me, it is different because Hines had earned my respect and, in my opinion, was realistic and straight forward about what he wanted. I would hope, as a team, we want to keep every weapon we have available. Call Wallace a "one trick pony" if you want but the man is a weapon and one that teams would love to have. You can argue that no team has shown willingness to take Wallace but I can promise if the price was right there would be plenty of interest there. Besides, how come I never hear anyone complain about the guy that is a great route runner (Hines). Aren't some of those guys nothing more than a "one trick pony"? All I really know is that Wallace is FAST and any team that faces us has to respect that he can get behind them. Takes some stress of the other receivers!

 

Are you saying Hines was a 'one trick pony'? Doesnt look like a one trick pony to me. And since this was a 'raven' post, the first video is a raven one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfM6VLqh95M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIeEXzhs ... re=related

 

No hate on Wallace, here...
I tend to agree with the poster who said that "one trick pony", and "Ben throwing the deep ball", had a lot to do with our dearly departed O.c> ...
We`ll see what Haley can do with `em.
I`ve seen Mike take a few slant routes for 40 yards after he catches the ball.
But, Shadow.... DAMN I`m gonna miss Hines!
Thanx for reminding me why, with a couple good youtube tributes.
I would say it`s a shame, that Wallace will never be him....
But, WHO COULD BE?!?!?!
All he did was break Stallworth, and Swanns` records, and knock the defenders he played against, into next week!!!!
I don`t care who is catching the ball next year, they can not live up to the way Hines showed them how to play the game, although I hope they all do their best!
I still don`t like the fact that Wallace is playing "hardball", with the contract, but I can`t blame him.
It`s the nature of the beast, right now, and I am sure we are sincere about wanting to keep him, but he is gonna have to recognize that our resources are limited right now, and we will pay him well, when we can afford it, as long as he continues to be a "team player", in the meantime.
If not...
Don`t let the door hit ya... NO ONE is irreplaceable in the `Burgh!!!