First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?
Since ’98 I’ve been retired. I was in a car accident when I played for Kansas City that was career-ending – I broke my arm, had internal bleeding and a concussion. What’s crazy is I was number 57. Derrick Thomas was later killed in a car accident – he was number 58. And Wayne Simmons also died in an accident – he was number 59. We all had lockers next to one another.
Wow. So what did you do after that?
I went to Canada and tried playing there for a short bit but that didn’t work out. I came back to Charlotte but I started having post-concussion issues – we just didn’t know that’s what it was at the time. I went to a behavioral center – I was misdiagnosed as bipolar and with early dementia symptoms. For a decade I was being medicated unnecessarily. Then I saw a guy I played with – Bryan DeMarco – on TV – on ESPN – talking about being homeless and his symptoms. He was a second-rounder – how could he have been homeless? I realized then his symptoms were the same ones I was having.
After seeing that I went to another medical center and was diagnosed correctly. It took years to get to being ok.
After that I coached high school and took courses from the NFL Players Trust and did some entrepreneurial work, and then took more courses to get certified in culinary and nutrition.
How did you get over those years of being misdiagnosed?
My family saw it early – and my friends did too. I wasn’t aware of what was happening to me. It took two years to accept what was happening to me. I should never have been medicated.
I went later on to a place that worked with me on neural feedback. 24 tests – two times a week I went. After the first few tests my hearing and eyesight starting coming back – sounds and colors became more vibrant. I could talk to people and look them in the eyes and not forget what I was saying,
So now I’m at a new normal. I’m slowing things down. I have great friends and neighbors that have helped me through it. I moved back to my old neighborhood I grew up in. Now, it’s about nutrition.
How has that helped?
Nutrition is a big part of it. That brain-gut connection. That was explained in the worker’s comp lawsuit. The medication messed up my digestive system and caused more issues. That’s why I took the nutrition class – so I could cook for myself and my daughter in a way that’s safer and better for both of us.
Looking back, what caused you to sign with the Steelers in ’94?
Pittsburgh was my favorite team growing up. My agent knew Bill Nunn and actually paid to fly me up to Pittsburgh for a workout after camp started. It was a rainy day and they said it wasn’t good to run in, but I said I’d run anyway. My time was good enough I guess for them to bring other guys out for a second run and to work me out more.
They told me afterwards that they had enough linebackers, but if something opened up they’d let me know. Well, a linebacker broke his arm in camp, and they brought me in. I played well enough in camp to stay on the team.
Who helped mentor you when you got there?
Greg Lloyd took me under his wing – he brought me along on an appearance he had at a hospital. Myron Bell was a rookie too and he and I hit it off. He actually moved to Charlotte later on – his sister and mine both go to the same church.
Patrick Scott too – all the linebackers were really nice. All good guys.
Yancey Thigpen and I had the same agent – so he introduced me to many of the guys and took me to his place to stay and showed me around the city. But after that Myron and I hung out a lot together.
As far as making the team – who helped you with “on-field” ways to make the team?
Levon Kirkland and Chad Brown helped – Levon especially. I was signed later – two weeks into camp. So I was trying to pick up stuff that other guys already knew. Levon helped me catch up. Dom Capers tried to help too, but Levon was the most helpful.
I was able to come in though and just play. I was able to read and react well while I was learning the playbook and played well on special teams.
Any memories stand out most to you of your time there?
I just remember that experience of walking into the stadium for the first time.
My first practice I didn’t know if it was tackle or tag-off. There was a counter play run, and Dermontti Dawson pulled and I reacted quickly and hit Dermontti and put him on his back and went for the tackle. Everyone screamed “No! No!” That was the Steelers way I thought, but it was tag-off not tackle. I think they appreciated though that I could read the play quickly and react.
Patrick Scott – P-Scott – he gave me a hard time too on the scout team. And Leon Searcy got mad at me because I was physical in practice – he always wanted to put me on my butt on every play.
What happened after the season was over?
They told me it was a numbers game. Barry Foster came back to the team and when that happened they had to release me.
What do you think now about the changes of the NFL has made to the game?
My hat is off to the changes – especially with the health concerns and the cutting down of the hitting and contact in practice. I’m glad they are taking care of players. I’d love to play now – the way they take care of players and the concussion issues is very different.
I remember when I was in court for workers comp and my lawyer was discussing my concussion issues. He talked about the various concussions I had on different teams I played for. I didn’t even remember most of them.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
