First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

Well, I’m retired now. After football I got into the commercial banking industry.

I got my degree in business at Notre Dame specializing in accounting. So making the transition to the business world really wasn’t that hard for me. My thing I always said and tried to teach to my kids was that football was something I did, not who I was. My thing was – I went to school and made it a point to get an education.

Noll always told us to get on with our life’s work in his subtle way when our time was done! He didn’t know what that was for me after I played of course. he just told us all to prepare for it so when the time comes we’d be prepared for it. That was reiterated a lot by Chuck Noll.

Were you surprised at getting drafted by the Steelers?

Playing for Notre Dame, we played a lot of major college programs. I played against a lot of those guys that were in the NFL.

Pittsburgh showed no interest before the draft. They were my favorite team growing up – I was a Kentucky kid so we always saw the AFC Central on tv. There wasn’t any cable then. And that was in the 80’s when the Steelers were really on the rise. They were my mother’s favorite team so I liked watching them play with her.

We didn’t have cable at Notre Dame either, but the coaches told us to be prepared to get a call during the draft. Tony Dungy called me – he let me know the Steelers were drafting me.

What did he say to you?

He said to be ready – that they liked my skillset. I played both cornerback and safety in college and they liked my versatility. I was excited – I looked forward to the opportunity tp match my skillsets with players at the pro level.

Anyone help mentor you in Pittsburgh – on and off the field?

Dwayne Woodruff – he played for over 10 years in Pittsburgh. He played for Louisville – being a Kentucky boy myself he took me under his wing. He showed me the ropes – what the expectations were of me.

More than anything, he showed me the mental aspects of the game. The big thing was that it was a business. You had to accept that. You were no longer just going out and preparing for games. Now it was a business. Some said the NFL stood for Not For Long. There were times that guys would make mistakes in practice – guys who were playing well beforehand – and it felt like after practice there was a cab waiting for them to take them to the airport because they were cut. It was that serious. I never looked at it that way before. You realize that it’s for real.

Today’s guys – they may have one day a week of two-a-days. They do that to soften the blow I know. But when I came through we did it six days a week. Now if they tweak an ankle or a hamstring they may be out a few weeks. Back then it was all about who could impose their will on the other person. I’m sure though that the guys before me said the same things about us too!

Any good memories stand out to you of your time there?

Well, what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room!

I do personally remember a preseason game we played versus Dallas in the old Texas Stadium. Dwayne was injured so I was starting. We were out on the field in the huddle – playing Dallas – America’s team – blah blah blah…

Well, we’re in the huddle and I’m with the first team defense. I look around and see guys like Tony Dorsett, Danny White, Too Tall Jones and Tom Landry on the sidelines – guys I used to watch on tv. I was telling the guys in the huddle who I saw there – “Hey there’s Tom Landry and Tony Dorsett!”

Well, Jack Lambert turned to me and yelled at me “Shut the hell up rook! Quit kissing these guys asses – you haven’t even played against them yet!” That brought me to reality. It was a business. Guys you admired on your way to get there are now on the opposing team. You better be prepared to kick their butt.

What happened after year one that caused you to get released?

What happened was I was in three car accidents in Pittsburgh. In three different carts in three different parts of the city I was rear-ended. I got bad whiplash. Needless to say a physical cornerback with bad whiplash is pretty much damaged goods. That was my downfall.

It was never that I wasn’t good enough. My body just couldn’t hold up.

What did the team say to you?

I talked to Tony and Dick Haley ended up being the one to call me when I was at home to tell me I was being released. I understood. It was upsetting but it was a business – I understood that.

How was Tony Dungy to play for?

Tony -he was just like you see when he’s on tv. He never raised his voice. He talked a lot about the mental aspects of the game. He told us it was one thing to make mistakes, but you needed to understand why you made them and have the mental recall for next time. When you are presented with that same situation you better not make that same mistake again. To make sure you get the game from the mental aspect.

There are a lot of talented guys that played in the NFL. But the guys who make the least mistakes are the ones who make it. There are a lot of talented guys who made too many mental mistakes and didn’t make it because of that,

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