The Minnesota Vikings have released wide receiver Mike Wallace, the team announced on Tuesday. Wallace has had an up-and-down career in the NFL and failed to really catch on with the Vikings. He signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2013, but was traded to the Vikings in 2015.
Mike Wallace released by Vikings after rough 2015 season
Wallace had just 473 yards despite playing in 16 games.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Wallace was set to have a base salary of $11.45 million this season, and the same number again next year. The Vikings could not keep him at that salary after he did so little as a receiver in 2015. With Teddy Bridgewater coming into his own as the starting quarterback, Wallace played in all 16 games and caught just 39 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns.
The wide receiver hasn’t reached the heights of his 2010 season, his second in the league, when he had 10 touchdowns and 1,257 yards as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2014, his last year with the Dolphins, he had 862 yards and 10 touchdowns, which is why the Vikings were willing to take on his contract.
However, Wallace will be 30 years old when the 2016 season gets underway. He will surely have some suitors on the free agent market, but it’s doubtful he’ll find a deal that will pay him anything near the $11.45 million he was set to make next season. In seven years in the league, Wallace has caught 414 passes for 6,307 yards and 49 touchdowns.
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