Minnesota Vikings HC on WR Mike Wallace: ‘I’d like him back’
By Adam Carlson
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer recently told reporters that he’d like to have wide receiver Mike Wallace back with the team for the 2016 season.
The Minnesota Vikings had a pretty successful 2015 season. They won the NFC North division and hosted a Wild Card game in the NFL playoffs. Sadly, an early exit from the postseason has the team already looking forward to 2016 and trying to assemble the best possible team to put on the field.
One of the biggest question marks for 2016 for the Vikings revolves around wide receiver Mike Wallace. The pass catcher will turn 30 years old in August and is scheduled to make a hefty $11.5 million next season. Looking back on his numbers for the year, keeping him around doesn’t make a lot of sense for Minnesota. In his first year with the Vikings, he caught 39 passes for 473 yards and 2 touchdowns, making him a top candidate for release during the offseason.
However, there is a chance he could stay with the team. Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer recently spoke on Vikings.com about how much he enjoys having Wallace on the team and how the season didn’t go the way the team or Wallace had planned.
"“I was disappointed and really — I’m disappointed more so that it wasn’t the season that he wanted or we wanted,” Zimmer said. “I say this from my heart, I love this kid, I love the way he works, I love the way he competes. I texted him last night basically and told him the same thing. I said, ‘You know, I know this wasn’t exactly how we planned it out,’ ” Zimmer said. “But I love him as a person, a competitor, a football player and I’m disappointed that it didn’t pan out the way I envisioned it and that really and honestly, he’s always going to be one of my kind of guys. I like this kid.”"
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As likable as Wallace is, and no matter how hard of a worker he is, there is a point where production has to match the salary. The only way the former Steelers and Dolphins wide receiver stays with the Minnesota Vikings is if the team truly believes that he can reach that point in the Vikings passing game.
Zimmer was asked about whether or not Mike Wallace would return to the team next year, but the answer was both encouraging and discouraging at the same time.
"“I don’t know. Those are all things we have to determine here in the next week moving forward,” Zimmer said. “I would like him back. I love the kid. I love his heart,” Zimmer said. “He just went and worked every day and tried to get guys better. He loves it here, he loves Teddy. If it can get worked out, I’d like to have him back.”"
What do you think? Should Mike Wallace return to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2016 season or should the team release the pass catcher to free up cap room for a different player? Let us know your thoughts on the situation in the comments below.