Mike Wallace: 'I Did Not Quit' in Miami
Mike Wallace, no longer a member of the Miami Dolphins after being traded to Minnesota for a mere fifth-rounder this summer, insists he never quit on his team in the Dolphins' season-ending loss to the Jets, as was reported, via CBS Sports:
"I did not quit," Wallace insisted. "It didn't happen like that. I don't remember what I said, but it wasn't anything like I am not playing. It definitely wasn't that. I would never quit on my teammates. Anybody who said I did wasn't there. The only ones who were there were coach Philbin and my assistant receivers coach. That's it. Anybody else is making it up. They have no idea.
"When they told me I wasn't playing in the second half, I wanted to knock over the Gatorade. I wanted to do this and do that, f--- this and f--- that. But I didn't do it. I know I was frustrated and said some things I shouldn't have said. But I never said I didn't want to play in the game."
Also in this feature on the speedy but polarizing wideout was the following quote, which stood out for a couple reasons.
"I make a lot of money. If you don't live up the expectations of that contract, people will have stuff to say. I was paid as an elite receiver and I didn't play elite. If I was a fan, and I saw a guy making that much money, I would expect him to be playing at a certain level. But it's a team game. Sometimes, it's not in your hands. People don't understand that from afar."
While he initially appears to admit his production wasn't what it should've been in Miami ("I didn't play elite") he goes on to deflect blame, saying "But it's a team game. Sometimes, it's not in your hands."
So whose hands is it in?
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