First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?
I’m retired now. I worked at UVEX for 15 years then went to work for United American Sales as their VP of Sales. We sold all types of safety equipment – hard hats, respiratory equipment, protective clothing – all sorts of safety supplies.
Was the post-football adjustment difficult?
It was and it wasn’t. I worked after football selling insurance. What was difficult was finding what to do next. I did research on a new career and looked into sales. I ended up calling people to try and get jobs. I sent my resume to a number of places and followed up with phone calls until I found a job. That took a while.
Stepping back, how did you find yourself in Pittsburgh after your NFL career? Anyone mentor you when you started your career?
I was a blue collar player – I played defensive line in college but in the Hula Bowl they had me play linebacker and I was the MVP of the game. My stock skyrocketed and that’s how I got drafted in the fifth round by Detroit.
There were a couple of other Penn State players there in Detroit that helped me get used to things. But I had a bad break that season. The last preseason game I tore my hamstring and knee and ended up on IR.
The second season we had a new coach and I was released. Then my NFL journey began. I went to New Orleans and then the Jets for five years then I played out my option in New York. It wasn’t easy, that NFL lifestyle of going from one place to the next.
How did you handle that?
I had to have a belief in myself. You just have to keep going. I knew I could play but the injury was a setback. I had to get myself back to the point where I was before the injury and for a while the injury took some of my speed away.
After that how did you land in Pittsburgh?
I was with the Jets for five years when the Maulers called. Their linebacker coach called me and I decided to go and play there. I started there right after the Jets’ season ended since the USFL started in the Spring. So it was a full year of playing.
Rollie Dotsch was my linebackers coach in Detroit before he went to Pittsburgh. He told me they were actually considering signing me when a linebacker there got hurt, but I had signed with New Orleans already.
What was the biggest difference playing in the USFL versus the NFL for you?
The biggest difference was living back in Pittsburgh. After college I lived in Detroit, New Orleans and New York but we always kept our home in Pittsburgh and rented it out. Playing in Pittsburgh was cool – playing near home and Peters Township. It was a different world to be able to live at home and play football. To be able to be close to friends and family was awesome.
My family and friends actually had a banner for me – The Crosby Crazies!
I looked at the Maulers as a way to extend my career. Of course it only ended up lasting one year, then I went and played for Philadelphia.
How did the Maulers handle starting off as a new team in a new league? What was that like?
It was interesting. We had guys who got into fights – one guy broke his jaw in a fight with a teammate. It was like The Longest Yard for a while there at first.
We practiced at Baldwin High School. Coming from the facilities we had in the NFL, practicing at a high school stood out to me.
We actually found out the Maulers closed up shop when we went to practice at Baldwin and the doors were all locked. We couldn’t get in. We finally saw a sign on the door that told us we all should go home. Later we learned they auctioned off all of our helmets and equipment. Then we knew it was over and they folded. I wanted my shirt too!
Any game memories stand out?
That first game we played Birmingham at Three Rivers Stadium. It was our only sell-out, and that’s because the fans came mostly to boo Cliff Stoudt. We had to duck because fans were throwing beer cans at him during warmups.
I actually felt bad for him. Cliff came up to me at the game and told me “These are your fans now.” I laugh at it now but I felt terrible for him then.
How did the coaching staff and owners put all these different pieces together year one?
They signed some free agents like Mike Rozier who was a Heisman Trophy winner. They brought in Jerry Holmes and Sam Clancy too. They brought in a number of key guys the coaches knew and trusted and just plugged them in. The rest of the guys were talented guys too. I always believed there was enough talent for two leagues if they could just make a second one last. There are too many guys who just don’t get a fair look – I think it’s important to the game to have a second league for guys like that to get opportunities.
Anyway, we did a lot of scrimmaging. But the key was the coaches brought in guys they knew and plugged them right in as starters. To be honest I didn’t really have to compete for a job. You didn’t have to unless you really didn’t meet expectations – and they’d give you a lot of time to do so.
Heddleston was a good GM too. They did a lot of film study on the guys they brought in.
And how are you doing now?
I’ve had two ankle and knee replacements. I’m beat up now. I’ll tell you – getting old ain’t for sissies!