Saints' Lewis gets souvenir from Wallace

Published Oct. 1, 2013 4:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

Monday night's big win was tough on Saints cornerback and New Orleans native Keenan Lewis in a personal way as he faced off against his childhood best friend for the first time ever.

Lewis and Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace have been close since they were 5 years old, played together at O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans, then again as Pittsburgh Steelers for four seasons, up until last year.

"We talk every day. We're still brothers no matter what, but sometimes brothers fight as well, show a little blood," Lewis said before the game. "That's my brother. We did everything together, and it's feeling kind of weird having to go up against him."

The two long-time teammates left Pittsburgh in the same year and signed with New Orleans and Miami respectively.

Although it was hard for Lewis to view Wallace as the enemy initially, he's now relishing the taste of victory - and the souvenir he has to remember the game by.

"I'm just going to save this Wallace jersey, so I can remind him every time that he's at my house: the first time we went head-to-head, I got the victory." Lewis said, while triumphantly holding up the jersey Wallace wore during the game. "It was exciting. It was a great challenge. I knew it wasn't going to be easy - he's a great receiver. One of the best in the league, in my opinion, every year he's been here. I knew he was going to make his plays. It was a tough game."