The Vikings never considered keeping Mike Wallace under a contract situation that called for them to pay him $11.5 million in 2016. So moments ago, they made it official by waiving Wallace.
There is no dead money absorbed in the deal, meaning the Vikings just chopped off $11.5 million against their cap. And all it cost the m was a receiver who caught only 39 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vikings took a chance on Wallace last year when they acquired him in a trade with Miami. But the risk was significantly reduced by the fact that the two sides could part after one season with no dead money going on the books.
Wallace arrived with baggage as a malcontent in Miami, but he showed no signs of that as a Viking. He was professional in the locker room, never complained about his limited role and usually was the last player to leave the practice field after catching extra passes on the Juggs machine.
But Wallace also never clicked with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. And when big plays did present themselves, Bridgewater often misfired when Wallace was open.
Coach Mike Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman both praised Wallace's professionalism and spoke about the possibility of bringing Wallace back. But the understanding was always that it wouldn't be as one of the league's highest-paid receivers.
Anything is possible, but it's difficult to imagine Wallace wanting to return to a run-oriented offense that he didn't mesh with.
The Vikings also announced they have released offensive tackle Austin Wentworth. Wentworth appeared in seven games as an undrafted rookie in 2014. He did not play last season.
