First, can you let me know what you’ve been ups to since your NFL playing days?
I just won a championship last year in Toronto in the CFL – I retired after that. I had an interception and some tackles so I left on a good note. I never won a championship before.
Now, I’m coaching high school football at my alma mater, Los Alamitos in California. I’m working with the kids and showing them how to navigate all the things I had to as a kid. The football part will always be there – the hard work and practice. But the off-field distractions – mental focus, staying healthy and taking care of your body – that is what I am trying to help them with most. I want to help them get ready for that next step – college. I’m helping them to understand the mental aspect of the game to help them prepare.
As a coach, who influenced your style and approach?
The coaches who understand that there is more than one way to get the job done. Back in the day it was more about there being just one way to get the job done. But that doesn’t work for everyone. I want to give guys the freedom to be their best instead of forcing them into cookie-cutter processes. I think it’s better to help them in whatever way they are best at instead of asking them to be like this person or that person.
Carnell Lake was definitely like that. Will Sullivan – Darrelle Revis’ trainer who I worked with – he was like that. Josh Bell in Toronto – they all taught you in different ways according to what you did best. Greg Brown at South Carolina and Ryan Walters at Purdue too.
Did you know Pittsburgh had interest in you when they drafted you?
I was recruited by Carnell Lake to go to UCLA. He was a great coach and player and followed my career in college. I wanted to go to UCLA because of him but he then left for the Steelers, so I went to Arizona.
I did a top 30 visit there and with 15 total teams. I had no idea where I was going to get drafted. After the third or fourth round I wasn’t sure if I was going to get drafted at all. I was stressing but was happy when he called me and they drafted me.
I was upset at getting drafted so late but was happy to go to Pittsburgh. That was the year they had a record number of underclassmen in the draft – I wasn’t even invited to the combine. I had a great pro day though and that’s why I had so many team visits – they wanted to get see me. It was cool to get those free trips – Uber Blacks, free hotels…
Did anyone take you under their wing as a rookie?
For sure – I was locked in with the draft class – we were all close. Shazier, Big Dan… it was a close, young group. Will Gay helped me a lot – and Troy was a great leader as well. There were a lot of good guys. AB – he helped guide me too and showed me what it took to make it at that level and what it took to become great and taught me what he could.
It was rocky though too – there were a lot of 11 and 12-year vets on their way out and some were less receptive to help. But Will was definitely helpful and showed me how to succeed – the importance of special teams and making plays.
What enabled you to make the team on the practice squad that year?
I was disappointed that I didn’t make the team. I was disappointed to be on the practice squad and didn’t consider it making the team. I think that derailed me. I had a good camp but then got injured – that was my first-ever knee injury. That’s when I learned about the business side of football. I hurt my meniscus – it wasn’t very serious but it came at the worst time – during training camp.
The staff encouraged me to come back as soon as I could and that once I did I’d be on the active roster. I came back two weeks after my surgery and wasn’t fully healed. I was placed on the practice squad and couldn’t practice the first week due to the injury. I was on and off again after that due to my knee swelling up. They finally released me after week six.
I tell people now – don’t rush back. I wish I hadn’t rushed back and had protected myself and got healthy first. They’ll judge you either way. It’s only a disadvantage to come back too early.
What were some of the practice squad matchups like before they released you?
Going up against AB – I know a lot of people have things to say about him, but he was very helpful. I felt like I was sharpening my tools guarding him. You had to be patient with him and use your hands and be physical in press coverage. You had to maintain your leverage and not play one-on-one – it’s an 11-on-11 game. It doesn’t matter who you are up against – you have to do your job and know where your help is.
I had the most success against him when I was being physical. Of course he had his counters – he’s a great receiver. You just had to try and take one thing away from him – you couldn’t take everything away from a guy like him.
Any memories stand out most of your time there?
Being around the guys – it was a cool group and a great organization. Tomlin was a great coach – it was a great culture with LeBeau, Peazy, Lake… they hired their own guys and that’s why they keep that culture. The owners care a lot – they are invested in you instead of seeing you as just business ventures. They conversed with the players and welcomed and greeted you with smiles.
What does that mean to you as a player?
When you get to the NFL you realize how much of a business it is. The community and even the country – so many are invested in the Steelers. Seeing the owners talk and be around you – it makes you feel more important – like you’re part of the scheme and culture. I felt like they cared about us as people. That increased your self-value and makes you want to play harder for them.
Any other memories stand out?
Practicing in the rain and going out with the guys. The vets knew how to party – they played hard and worked harder. It was a great energy – especially the DB room. I wish I had stayed longer. They brought me back the next season but I had a blood clot in my shoulder and didn’t pass my physical.
How do you manage moving around across so many different teams throughout your career – how do you cope with that stress?
It was my dream to play football. Whatever happened in the teams I played for, I had success there before I was let go. It wasn’t due to effort – I always had faith another team would pick me up. I stayed in shape and knew an opportunity would come – whether it was the CFL or NFL. I knew an opportunity would come. I was always ready for the next opportunity – I stayed in shape and knew most of what happened wasn’t in my control.
In KC I had a blood clot that ended up getting me released. The Raiders – I tore my meniscus. Pittsburgh….
Was it worse getting released due to those health issues?
I never felt not good enough – I got cut due to things that weren’t controllable. If I had been beaten a lot and gotten cut because of that I would have quit a long time ago. But I always had success on the guys on those teams and kept my confidence. It was hard – I wish I was able to stay healthy but I couldn’t control that. I just worked hard and stayed ready for another opportunity.
Was it vindicating going out winning a championship?
All that work led me to a championship with the Argos – that was like validation for me that I could be successful. That helped me to retire, knowing I could contribute in a big way to a championship. That’s why i retired when I did – it was easier after that. Validation after all I went through.
All those things you can’t control – I still went into things with a different mindset in Toronto. I sacrificed to help support the other younger guys on the team. I did what they needed me to do – I was 31 years old – to help the younger guys play a bigger role. I put the team first and it came full circle. I got the opportunity to make a big play in the Grey Cup. I wish things went better in the NFL but it ended up the way it was meant to be. My path was my path and I have accepted that.
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