Coverage of wide receiver Mike Wallace’s move to Miami has focused on the impact that the wideout will have on the Dolphins offense, but Wallace believes there’s more to his job than just catching passes from Ryan Tannehill.
Wallace believes that his job extends beyond the tangible statistics on the field to the way he interacts and motivates his teammates off of it. While it wasn’t a role he found himself playing for the Steelers, Wallace wants to be a leader for the Dolphins.
“I just have to lead more, lead by example more, not just go out and think I can just play my game and that’ll be all I need to do,” Wallace said, via Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Out there [in Pittsburgh] we had so many great leaders that I really didn’t have to say too much, I really didn’t have to do too much, just go out and do my job. But here, I have to do my job and motivate at the same time.”
Wallace is extending his desire to be a leader beyond the team as well. Perkins reports he met with Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado last week to discuss ways that Wallace can impact the larger community during his time in Miami.
The Dolphins brought Wallace to town to help their offense. If he just does that, no one in Miami will complain. If he winds up boosting other parts of the team and city as well, though, he’ll turn out to be an even better investment.