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Mike Wallace recently did an interview on Steelers.com with Teresa Varley and talked about his experience of getting drafted by the Steelers in 2009. Wallace ended up playing only four years with the Steelers as he got a lucrative contract with the Dolphins in March of 2013 via free agency. Things really didn't pan out for Wallace in Miami and he ended up playing just two seasons there, which followed with a season in Minnesota, two seasons in Baltimore and finished his career with a season in Philadelphia.
Wallace was at his best when he was with the Steelers and he had an interesting quote at the end of his interview with Varley.
"It meant everything to play for the Steelers," Wallace said. "I got to play for the pinnacle of NFL teams. Coach Tomlin was the best coach I ever had at any level. The most real coach, genuine coach. That is something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. That organization, the Rooney family. Everything. Once you go and play for other teams, there is nothing like playing for the Steelers. I can promise you that. People won't want to hear this, I loved playing in Baltimore. It was great. But nothing compares to playing for the Steelers. Not even close. The way they run the program, the way Coach and Kevin Colbert work together. The family environment, the love, the genuine feeling, you can't get that everywhere. I played for the best organization in sports and that is something I will carry with me forever in life."
When you read Wallace's statement that "once you go and play for other teams, there is nothing like playing for the Steelers," you can see why JuJu Smith-Schuster took less money to re-sign one year with the Steelers and why Tyson Alualu decided to not go to Jacksonville and re-sign with Pittsburgh. The same thing goes for Vince Williams and why he re-signed with the Steelers after getting other offers but realizing that Pittsburgh is the best place for him. Art Rooney, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin run a top-flight organization and players know that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.