BY SEAN DONOVAN
Moods in the Miami Dolphins locker room were high following a 23-10 season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Winning the first game of the year would have most feeling good, but one notable Miami Dolphin wasn't as elated as his teammates. Wide receiver Mike Wallace, whom the Dolphins gave a 5-year, $60 million contract this past March, was reportedly despondent shortly after the game.
"I don't feel like talking, man," Wallace said when approached by reporters, according to the Miami Herald.
Wallace was not targeted in the first half on Sunday. He then only recorded one catch for 15 yards in four second-half targets. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed him twice on deep passes, the type of play he was brought in to complete.
"Ask coach," he said when asked about his usage in the game. "It's not my game plan."
The Dolphins brought in the former Pittsburgh Steeler to help the offense be more vertical, and if that means opening up space for other players to make plays, so be it. It's an attitude that head coach Joe Philbin has long held about his receiver personnel.
"We’re going to do whatever to move the ball effectively," Philbin said last season. "We don’t necessarily think in terms of this guy is our one, this guy is our two, and this guy is our three."
It looks like Wallace may not be fully on board with that philosophy quite yet, but as a professional, you'd expect Wallace to be up to speed by now. There's being frustrated after a game, then there's making waves after the first game with the team that gave you $60 million.
Hopefully, the team can settle Wallace down and get him to start thinking about the collective team before next Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.
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