Wide receiver Mike Wallace didn’t get the deal that he wanted from the Steelers this offseason and the potential free agent is still looking for a long-term deal with the team.
Wallace admitted that his contract situation is on his mind as he plays this season, but he’s adamant that it isn’t the biggest motivating factor for him.
“You’re playing to get to the Super Bowl. If I look at it like I’m playing for a contract, I don’t think I’ll do well. It will be too much on me, I’ll be trying too hard,” Wallace said, via Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’m looking at it as we’re just trying to win ball games, and I’m just trying to do what I can do to get my team to the playoffs and Super Bowl.”
Wallace’s desire to get to the Super Bowl isn’t totally separate from Wallace’s individual goals. The wideout knows that being a productive player on a good team can lead to the riches he was looking for during the offseason.
“I’ve got a ways to go but, one day, I want to get me one of those gold jackets,” Wallace said. “I’ve got to keep scoring touchdowns, and I’ve got to keep making plays. If I can do that, I’ll get what I want to get. It’s not about money; it’s about being the best you can be.”
Wallace has 21 catches for 345 yards and four touchdowns on the year, a decent start for him but not enough to keep the Steelers from losing three of their first five games. That’s not an obvious path to the Super Bowl, although there’s still plenty of time for things to move in the right direction.