Larry Brown Sports

Mike Wallace is one of the best free agents in the NFL this offseason, and there are very few people who feel that he will sign a new deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As you know, Wallace held out last year before reporting to camp. He is looking for top dollar, and the Steelers may not be willing to give it to him.

Pittsburgh was, however, willing to throw a large chunk of cash at receiver Antonio Brown last season, signing him to a five-year extension worth $42.5 million. Brown, who has become a more reliable target for Ben Roethlisberger than Wallace, said the fact that he received a contract and Wallace didn’t created a bit of tension last season.

“Some bit of awkwardness,” Brown told 98.7 ESPN in New York. “You know, a guy who has been there longer than I and definitely wanting a deal, but you gotta not dwell on that and that kind of situation prohibits bad blood to a team where guys are there for themselves, and not buy into the team aspects and could definitely cause a drama within a team.”

As we have learned since the start of the offseason, the Steelers had their fair share of locker room issues last year. While it would probably be an exaggeration to say that Brown getting a contract over Wallace contributed to those problems, I’m sure it didn’t help.

That being said, football is a business. The Steelers obviously feel that Brown is reliable and has a bright future, even if his numbers were down in 2012 compared to 2011. Wallace is 26 and Brown is 24. Both are above-average receivers, so Pittsburgh would have to commit quite a bit of its bankroll to keep both. At this point, that seems unlikely.

Thanks to Sports Radio Interviews for the transcription

The NFL has implemented a number of new rules over the past several seasons, most of which attempt to place an emphasis on player safety. If you watched Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Steelers, you may have found yourself thinking the league has to create a rule about throwing an opponent’s shoe. That’s right, a shoe-throwing regulation.

As you can see, Philadelphia defensive back Kurt Coleman tackled Steelers receiver Antonio Brown after Brown caught a pass for a big gain. He also removed Brown’s shoe and angrily tossed it toward the sidelines. A player’s shoe coming off on the field because of a tackle is not an uncommon occurrence, but I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a receiver forced to sit a play out because a defender hummed their shoe across the field.

Maybe Coleman was mad at Brown for making these comments about his teammate earlier in the week. Either way, I’m not sure he deserved the shoe throw.

The Eagles have one of the best starting cornerback duos in the NFL in Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. If you’re an opposing offensive coordinator or quarterback, those are certainly two guys you want to game plan around and be aware of at all times. Philadelphia’s nickel corner, rookie Brandon Boykin, does not carry the same reputation as his teammates, which is why Steelers receiver Antonio Brown recently referred to him as “the candy bar.”

“That’s the candy bar,” Brown said according to Observer-Reporter.com. “He’s given up a lot of plays. Whoever gets that guy definitely has to take advantage.”

Brown is referring to the fact that Boykin is sweet for giving up so many big plays this year, but it seems kind of lame to take a shot at a rookie fourth-rounder who is the third corner on his team. Does anyone expect him to be all that good?

Most NFL teams don’t have one great corner, let alone two or three. It would only make sense for the Steelers to go at Boykin, so I’m not sure if Brown is trying to intimidate the rookie or what. If he wants to prove something, he should focus on trying to get the best of Asomugha or Rodgers-Cromartie.

Helmet knock to Shutdown Corner

If Mike Wallace is widely considered to be one of the best receivers in the NFL, then Antonio Brown must be right up there with Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, if you believe Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb. Even though Wallace is one of the fastest players in the game and an unbelievable deep threat, Webb is more impressed by Wallace’s teammate, Antonio Brown.

“Every time somebody asks me [a question], they’re always talking about Mike Wallace,” Webb said on Wednesday when asked about having to cover Wallace. “But they have a guy No. 84 in Antonio Brown who is better than 17 [Wallace] in all aspects of the game. He’s a great returner, a great wide receiver.”

Through eight games, Wallace has 43 catches, 800 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Brown, on the other hand, is having a more modest season and has caught 34 passes for 431 yards and one touchdown.  Both receivers could turn out to be a huge part of the Pittsburgh offense for the coming years, but Wallace is obviously the superior talent at this point.  Unless you ask Webb.

As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted, Webb’s praise of Brown is likely due to a past experience; Webb was burned by Brown for a 58-yard pass last season in the playoffs.

Brown is emerging as a legitimate option for Ben Roethlisberger, but I wouldn’t go grabbing him ahead of Wallace in fantasy leagues next season.  In fact, I wouldn’t be drafting him ahead of about 30 other guys unless he absolutely tears it up over the final eight games.