The NFL's new legal tampering window is little more than six hours old and according to the Miami Herald the Patriots have already made some overtures toward soon-to-be-Steelers free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace.
The Herald indicates that "multiple teams" have already shown an interest in the Pittsburgh speedy deep threat. Citing an agent, though not Wallace's, the report the Herald says the Patriots are indeed one of those teams.
Speculation heading into free agency was that one of New England's top needs this offseason – as it has been a for few years now – was for an outside receiver to add to Tom Brady's already impressive list of offensive options. Wallace would fill that bill, although he would clearly come at a steep price as one of the premier young free agents set to hit the open market when free agency begins at 4 p.m. on March 12.
The 6-0, 199-pound, 26-year-old pass catcher has had at least 60 catches and eight touchdowns in each of the last three seasons in Pittsburgh. Through four NFL campaigns he averages 17.2 yards a catch on 235 receptions, although he averaged a career-low 13.1 a catch last fall that was well down from a career-best 21.0 yards per catch during a 1,200-yard sophomore season in 2010.
What do you think of the Patriots reported interest in Wallace? Is it real or simply some sort of smokescreen? Could Wallace actually end up in New England? Let us know with a comment below!
