Select meat is usually not considered great meat.....not near enough marbling and the animals will usually be much older - both leading to tough meat.
if the center was pink then you prolly cooked it to med or medwell - again both would cause meat to tighten up.
one thing you have to know about resting is the meat will continue to cook. If you take it off at med the steak will cook to medwell. Although, if you take it off at rare the steak will not cook nearly as much resting due to the lack of trapped heat within the steak.
stick with Choice or better meat...CAB (certified angus beef) is recommended.
Got it, thanks.

