First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?
I work now at Yavapai Junior College in their foundation – it’s a separate entity there. I do their fundraising for scholarships for student athletes. I was poking for a career change and just stumbled on to it really. But I love my role here – I’m a one man operation so I can create and design my own thing.
Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?
It was definitely hard. You go from a structured environment like the NFL for so long then you’re cut loose and left to your own devices. I had some money saved up so I could take my time find something without struggling. It took some time but I found something now that I really like.
Who helped mentor you when you got into the league with the Rams?
We had a team full of Hall of Famers then! Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk – Williams on defense… We had a lot of veterans and I just looked to fit in. It was a fun experience. We blew it that first year – we lost in the finals in overtime. But it was a great time and I learned so much over those four years. All of those guys – plus Henry Ellard as my receivers coach – I watched and learned what it took to be great. The effort and the time they took. They went after it and I tried to emulate what they did.
Why sign with the Steelers in 2009?
Opportunity! I was in Detroit the year before and then was a free agent and Pittsburgh came calling. I always had a thing for Pittsburgh – I loved their style of play. I told my agent “Let’s do it.” He was a bit wary of signing with the Steelers – he wasn’t keen on it. He told me it was hard for free agents to make the team – that they like to build from within.
But I went and took the physical and signed a one-year deal. I was injured the year before so I think some there were worried that I wasn’t healthy.
Anyone welcome you in the most?
I was around the rookies mostly – I was there kind of on a tryout phase at first. They had me staying in the apartments where the rookies stayed. Troy welcomed me a lot. I didn’t want for anything. I just wish I had more time there. It was a great team atmosphere. I spent a lot of time with Mike Wallace – he stayed in the same apartment complex as me at the time then found his own apartment. He was a good guy – he had that Louisiana accent and was a fun guy. That was the good thing about the NFL – you met guys from across the country and learned a lot about them.
Any fun on-field memories?
When I got there I didn’t look at the roster. But I saw that they had a lot of young talent they were trying to build on. During camp I started to feel like a longshot to make the team – I wasn’t getting many reps and being a veteran, you know what that means. But then some guys got injured and I started making plays and ended up having a great camp.
I felt good going in. But I was told before the season started what my role was – and that was a letdown. I was told I’d be more of a safety net for Hines, who was getting older, and for younger guys like Limas Sweed if they weren’t producing. So I ended up not dressing more than I dressed for games.
It was a down year for me because of that. I enjoy competing. That was a team I definitely wish I was drafted to – it’s a team that builds you up as a younger player.
Did you like that role as a menor after being mentored by such great players yourself?
I did like being a mentor – I did some of that in Detroit to – they had a young team. And Mike was such a great guy. I worked with him a lot on showing him how to slow his game down and stop sometimes to catch and come back for passes. He was so fast it wasn’t easy at first. But I got to see him exceed expectations and have a great career. That was fun to see.
Any fun memories off the field?
One I like to tell. Me, Mike Wallace and Keiwan Ratliff went to the store – I was a big gamer and wanted to get the Madden game. We got to the store and Mike and Keiwan waited outside while I got the game. The guy at the store told me it was the last one they had and went to go get it. The guy behind me was mad – he wanted the game and actually offered to buy it from me, but I said “No.” I wanted the game.
Well, the worker there was taking a long time to get the game and the guy behind me was just getting angrier. You can tell he was about to do something – to try and take it from me – when Mike and Keiwan came inside. I finally got the game and we all left.
Well, as I’m telling Mike and Keiwan about the guy we look back and he’s down the street robbing someone else – some random guy. The guy is showing him his empty pockets showing he had nothing to steal. It was down the street so we couldn’t tell what he was saying. Then the guy saw us and walked away.
So the next day all the players are making fun of me after Mike and Keiwan told them all the story. They were laughing at me for almost getting robbed for a Madden game!
I loved it there in Pittsburgh. I wish I was there longer – it was only for nine months – one season. But it was a great time.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
