First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?
After football I spent most of my time raising my daughter. My wife had some health issues – so I helped take care of her and homeschooled my daughter. I was a field-trip dad – going with other homeschooled kids. I did that until she was a Senior, then we moved to Arizona where she went to high school her Senior year.
When I stopped playing I remodeled some houses – but I didn’t know what else to do. I was too young to retire. I grew up around the tire business. So when I turned 50 I got my CDL license. On my way to Minneapolis one day I sat next to the owner of a trucking company and went to work for him. I’ve done that for four years now and will probably stop soon and find that next thing to so. But I am determined not to stop doing something – I’m too young!
How hard was the adjustment for you to post-NFL life?
You start playing when you’re around nine years old. So in my case I played from nine to 32. During that time you’re told where to be, when to get there and what to do when you are there. After 20-to-25 years that stops. You don’t have that structure anymore. And you miss that comradery to from the locker room. Being with so many different guys from different backgrounds – there’s nothing else like it. It’s not like reality. It’s the best job in the world, but then it all changes.
Were you surprised when Cleveland drafted you?
I wasn’t surprised no. I was invited to the Blue-Gray All Star Game and to the combine. Bill Belichick and Mike Lombardi came to see me at Northern Iowa and worked me out for what felt like four hours! Then we watched film. I played inside linebacker my Senior year – so they didn’t have film of me playing defensive line that year, so they had a lot of questions for me.
You played a lot of nosetackle – what are your thoughts on the fact less teams are using nosetackles now?
I played all along the line but I did play nosetackle – that 3-technique yeah. Reggie White used to say “Athletes play defensive end. Real men play defensive tackle!” Guys today still have to be big and physical – I have a friend in Baltimore who tells me how much bigger and stronger guys are today. But I do think that physical style of play is missing in today’s NFL. Most guys don’t want to be very physical anymore.
Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland do. Schwartz was an intern in Cleveland and Baltimore when I was there – so you can see he buys into that physical philosophy.
Were there guys that helped mentor you in Cleveland?
It was a unique situation then – Michael Dean Perry was holding out so I didn’t get the chance to meet him until much later. We were all young on the defensive line – rookies and second-year guys only.
I do remember on Saturdays we had to bring in the donuts and breakfasts for pre-game walk-throughs. One day we messed up breakfast and Bilichick said he was going to fine us. I thought he was kidding until I saw my next paycheck!
But Clay Matthews and Mike Johnson did help. Clay was in his 14th year and Mike was in his ninth. I figured if those guys could play that long they must be doing something right! Clay showed me how to pick up tendencies on film and to know when to take chances based on what I saw. And how to stay in shape.
When Michael Dean Perry came back I was able to see his explosiveness. He was off the charts. And when the lights came on on gamedays he turned it on. I tried to match that intensity.
I saw you never missed a game over your 10 year career – pretty amazing for a defensive lineman! What do you attribute that to?
I was a small town kid from Iowa! I grew up with good food and was blessed by God. Even now, I have some aches and pains but I’m not limited at all.
My dad was like that – he never missed a day of work. He’d tell me you may not feel your best but if you can walk you can do your job and be accountable. Part of the NFL is just being available and accountable. I played hard and was available, and I didn’t make mistakes. I played fullback, on special teams… Belichick liked that I could do all of that.
I remember once in minicamp – it started to rain and some of the players said they figured practice was canceled. Bill stopped the meeting and asked everyone if they thought they’d cancel the games if it started raining? I had that attitude – I was going to give it my all no matter what.
How did you guys prepare for those Steelers rivalry games?
Oh yeah! You learn about the rivalry day one! The cities are less than three hours away from one another. We had people in Ohio that were Steelers fans and people in Western PA that were Browns fans. The intensity was real! It didn’t matter what the records were, the games were always close and came down to one or two plays.
Who were some of the guys you liked facing most in those games?
Dermontti Dawson was a Hall of Fame center. He wasn’t big but he was quick. He could snap the ball and lock down a lineman with Foster coming at you downhill. Then Haselrig, Strelczyk, Love, Jackson, Searcy…I remember them all by name still!
And not to give any objection to Bettis, but I tell anyone that Barry Foster was the best Steelers back I saw. He was so physical – he had a good run for three or four years. When you played Pittsburgh, you knew you’d be sore the next day!
Any plays or moments stand out most to you in those games?
In ’93, Pittsburgh was trying to ice the game and ran their bread-and-butter play – where the offensive guard and tackle change positions basically as the guard pulls around the tackle. As a defensive tackle you have to be ready – you have two options to defend it. One – you can run as fast as you can upfield and try to beat the tackle’s block. Or. you can try and step forward and club the tackle to get upfield. Well, I was ready for it and beat the tackle’s block and stopped them to force fourth down. The Steelers punted. The guy that was supposed to be on special teams for us got hurt, so I ran off field before I realized I needed to get back for special teams. I ended up making two blocks on the punt return – one on the punter which people make fun of – and Eric Metcalf returned the punt for a touchdown – his second of the day!
Another not so good memory is from ’94. We made the playoffs but Pittsburgh beat us twice that season. In the playoff game we got hammered. I remember it was third and short on one play and I saw Dawson and Haselrig hunkering down. I got on all fours – and it ended up being a trap play. I ran right past the block and play and Foster ran it for a long touchdown.
What was it like when you returned to the team after it moved to Baltimore?
It was difficult. I was in Denver the year before and they cut me. I came back and it was in Baltimore now. I know Modell moved the team due to money issues – but when he moved they didn’t even have any money at first to field a practice squad! But the Baltimore fans embraced us. I was glad to go back to the team. Larry Webster was suspended and Ozzie Newsome reached out to my agent and they signed me. I was happy to get my career back on track. I grew a lot as a man and learned how to become a better man and leader.
As a player, do you think the rivalry was more heated between players or fans?
Back then we didn’t hate the other guys. We didn’t want to injure anyone – we were competitors and all had families. But we did want to make the other guys quit! You want to impose your will on them – to look across the line and see they quit.
Today it’s hard to build a dynasty – you could do that then. With no free agency you kept players longer. It was unfair to the players of course but it was better for the rivalries – you played each other longer – you knew those other guys. You don’t see those rivalries like that today for the most part.
I’ll tell you about Pittsburgh – they’ve only had three head coaches since 1969. Look at Carolina – I think they had five or six in six years! You have to have that trust in the guy you hired and have that stability. They may not have won Super Bowls lately, but they are always in the mix and able to make a run. Baltimore too. And Cleveland is trying to figure that out now.
Do you root now for Cleveland or Baltimore?
I don’t have a favorite team at all. My generation – you were either a Steelers or Cowboys fan. I grew up a Steelers fan. I don’t have any team allegiances now. The only games I really watch are some high school games, and if I know the family, maybe a college game or two. But I don’t watch football much at all anymore. I like teaching it more. Some people tell me I should coach – but I don’t know. That takes a lot of time out of your life!