Hoping for a big pay day this off-season, Wallace (hip) won’t risk playing in Sunday’s meaningless game

With nothing on the line and set for what he hopes is a big payday this off-season, wide receiver Mike Wallace will sit out the Steelers regular season finale vs the Cleveland Browns on Sunday with a hip injury.

Looking to become one of the games highest paid wide receivers, Wallace had a disappointing year from a big play standpoint as he averaged a career low 13.1 yards per catch and had just 9 catches of 20 + yards, which ranked 4th on the team. Averaging 21.0 yards per catch in 2010, Wallace had 26 catches of 20+ yards and last season Wallace had 18 catches of 20+ yards.

Wallace will finish the year with 64 receptions for 836 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Has Mike Wallace played his last game as a Steeler?

Most Likely…..The Steelers will make an attempt to resign Wallace but Wallace is said to have his sights set on testing the open market no matter what. The Steelers offered Wallace a deal similar to Antonio Brown’s 5 year, $42.5 million deal this past summer. Pittsburgh still values Wallace in the $42 to $45 million range.

With how he was used this year, those close to Wallace feel he would also like to move on. His agent Bus Cook had been seeking a monster figure of $27 to $30 million in guaranteed money for Wallace during talks between the two sides prior to Wallace sitting out training camp. The Steelers to no surprise were nowhere near that asking price which executives have called outrageous.

Agents I’ve heard from feel that the New York Jets are the ideal team that could throw big money at Wallace if Rex Ryan gets his way. Executives though see a great fit being in Indianapolis with Bruce Arians but there’s doubts the Colts will open the check book for Wallace.

With Wallace out, it should give Plaxico Burress a final opportunity to showcase himself on Sunday.