When the Miami Dolphins signed new wide receiver Mike Wallace to a lucrative five year contract worth over $60 million, it was clear that they were not the only team chasing after the former Pittsburgh Steelers deep threat. According to multiple sources, Wallace chose the Dolphins over teams including the Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks. While those other teams may have given him a better chance at winning now, Wallace chose the Dolphins for two simple reasons.
He hates cold weather and he loves warm weather.
According to his father, Mike Wallace Sr., the talented receiver chose the Dolphins instead of accepting higher offers from other teams. The reasoning why is quite obvious, at least according to dad.
“The [Vikings] had come to the point where they were telling him, ‘You don’t have to live here, just be here during the season,’ ” Wallace’s father, Mike Jr., said by phone this week, according to the Miami Herald. “He wanted to get out of that snow and cold weather.”
I get it. Pittsburgh is cold. So is Minnesota, St. Louis and Seattle, at least in comparison to Miami. But, unlike in Pittsburgh and Seattle, Wallace could have played his home games indoors had he chosen with St. Louis or Minnesota. And, yes, while the Vikings play in the NFC North against cold weather outdoor teams including the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, the Rams play in the NFC West, which includes a possible cold weather game against the Seahawks in the division, but also games against the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals.
Now, take a look at the Dolphins. Yes, the majority of their home games will be played under very favorable circumstances, provided you love the heat and humidity and enjoy playing in front of small, quiet crowds. But, they reside in the AFC East, which includes the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets. Playing on the road against any of those teams in November or December can be far from ideal for a player who hates the cold.
Therefore, it appears as if the young Wallace was either in need of a geography lesson or NFL divisional breakdown lesson before signing his big free agent contract. He will still have to play in nearly as many cold games with the Dolphins as he has in the past with the Steelers.
After all, Pittsburgh isn’t cold for every home game, is it?
This article is pointless and just sounds like someone who is mad that Wallace didn’t sign with their favorite team. Playing against cold weather teams and living in them are WAY different. The majority of his time will be spent in warm weather bottom line, there is no comparison and certainly no reason to bash his geography skills. I would think it would be a major inconveinence to play for a cold climate team and live in a warm weather city…crazy thought in my opinion.
Dumba**… he probably meant to say he rather live in Miami…
Look where the article came from…boston. Its just some patriot fan trying to make wallace look bad
I think this article is spot-on. Even in Pittsburgh it’s not uncomfortably cold til the last 3 games of the season at most. Then you go anywhere you want! I can barely believe any person is stupid enough to arrange their entire life around weather, especially when you have no control of the season travel schedule, and 100% control during the winter months. He just sounds like a total dumba** to me…