First off, what’s your plan now – I see you’re doing a lot of media work?
I’m now doing a lot of media stuff, yeah. I broke my foot the year before the Steelers traded for me and I was still working to nurse that fully back to health. I’m just seeing what this offseason will look like for me.
Are you interested in doing more media and did you get any training to do so?
Definitely. I think my knowledge of the game gives me a great way to work in the media. I never thought about coaching but I want to bring my expertise to the media space. I can speak to what situational things teams and players go through throughout the season. As a veteran player I have a good understanding of that.
I did do the NFL Bootcamp – that helped me get my feet wet, practicing calling games and working in the media.
You’re a veteran player known for helping mentor young players – but when you first came in the league did you have any mentors?
I didn’t have a mentor when I came into the league. Jacksonville was a very young team – they drafted me and Marquis Lee and Allen Hurns was there too as a rookie undrafted free agent – we all got a lot of snaps as rookies. Cecil Shorts was the most veteran receiver and he was a four-year vet. So I didn’t have a lot of mentors as a young player.
That’s why when I had younger players around me later on in my career I tried to take them under my wings and give them leadership. I did that with Calvin Austin and George Pickens in Pittsburgh, with Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson in L.A. and in Detroit last season with Amon St. Brown and Jameson Williams. I think they had respect for me and my career – I didn’t have too much pride to see them get most of the reps and to help them out with advice – I was ok doing whatever it took to help those guys – from feedback to getting them water when they came to the sidelines.
Were you surprised when you were traded to the Steelers?
I wasn’t, no. The Steelers always liked veteran players – I think that is part of their secret sauce to being winners. They like veterans because they know how to steer things back in the right direction when things go South. Young teams and players don’t always know how to deal with adversity. Pittsburgh has always like to bring in vets to steer things back in the right direction.
How did you work with those younger Steelers receivers?
I created relationships with George, Diontae and Calvin. They trusted me and what I went through as a player. I was able to have those tough conversations with them – I could establish that trust. I related to those guys. I was injured early in my career like Calvin was, so I could talk to him about that. George was a great athlete who had size and could stretch the field – that was my style of play. And I could talk to ‘Tae about the expectations of being a number one receiver and how to handle those.
But it wasn’t an ideal situation for them when they fired the offensive coordinator then went through different quarterbacks. I was proud though that we were still able to overcome all of that and make the playoffs as a wild card team.
Are the negative stories around George and Diontae unfair from your experience with them?
I’m excited for them to have different experiences. Not to reinvent themselves, but to establish themselves differently. I hate the bad press George has gotten – whether warranted or not. His talent was unnoticed too often considering the circumstances he was playing under with the quarterbacks and offensive coordinator. But he still made a number of big plays. I think he’s primed to have a big year in Dallas.
‘Tae – it was a tough year for him last year. He was traded twice and that’s not easy. I’m excited for both of those guys to start the year off in different places. They are really good dudes.
What should we expect from Calvin Austin – what are your thoughts on what he brings?
People should be excited. Calvin puts in the work to be the best he can be. He’s played a lot more football now and I think that will propel him for bigger things this year. He got his feet wet now in the offense and I think he can take the next step in the offense with a veteran quarterback like Rodgers. He has great work habits and works on fine-tuning his efficiencies. He’s a hell of a player.
Was it tough coming in knowing you weren’t going to get a ton of snaps and chances to catch the ball?
It wasn’t hard for me. I wanted to contribute to a culture that appreciated me doing whatever it took to win. Diontae and George needed the ball – I didn’t want to be another guy on the team demanding the ball. I wanted to add to the cohesion, not create a lack of it. I wanted to be beneficial to the team – for the team to be successful. My morale wasn’t affected by getting the ball – it was affected by winning.
Did the Steelers talk to you before they traded for you to gauge interest?
I didn’t talk to them, no, but I was excited to play for them and Coach Tomlin.
What stands out most to you about that team and season?
How we handled adversity. The Vegas flight where we had an emergency landing and it threw our whole week off. Injuries and changes to quarterbacks and the firing of our offensive coordinator. We never backed down. I think we underachieved, but getting into that position I think was a testament to the culture of the team. We were trying to figure out our identity on offense while dealing with that adversity.
How did the receivers room deal with the changes – was there a lot of frustration?
Yeah there was a lot of frustration. I tried to talk to the receivers and told them to control what they could control and make the job as easy as possible for the quarterbacks and offensive coordinator. There wasn’t space to be frustrated – the games were too important.
But frustration happens for a lot of reasons. Contract situations, quarterback changes and offensive coordinator changes – and being such a run-first team – that contributed a lot to the frustration of the receivers. When you can’t meet your goals and expectations as a player with all of those things happening that are out of your control, it gets frustrating – especially when you know there’s money and contract situations on the line. It’s hard to taper that frustration at times. It was hard for them for sure.
What were some of the fun moments there that stand out for you?
I won’t lie – there’s nothing more fun than flying to Seattle needing a win and getting it. When it’s all on the line and you have to win. Winning is exciting. Going to Baltimore week 17 needing a win and winning the game against a division rival – I think about those wins.
And sitting on the plane next to TJ Watt and bonding with him… my locker was next to Elandon Roberts and we were both new so we bonded too. And Joey Porter and Pat Freiermuth were Penn State guys too, so we had a lot in common.
Are you actively trying to get back to the NFL?
If it’s the right situation sure. I had calls earlier but I want the right situation for me and my family. I’m going into year 12 – winning is top of my list. It takes the right situation now – but I am ready. I had fewer opportunities in Detroit last year but when given the chance I made plays. I’m ready if the right opportunity comes or doesn’t come – I’m mentally in the right situation with my media work if I play or don’t play.
Lastly, as a 12-year vet, what advice have you found yourself giving most to the younger guys coming up in the NFL that you’ve played with?
I tell them to keep the main thing their main thing. Focus on your strengths and your role in the scheme you are in. When you have time you can focus on things like how you are at the line of scrimmage and the top of routes. But at the end of the day it’s a league where you change teams and coaches so you have to understand what you do and don’t do well and tailor your game to your strengths. I was a big basketball guy growing up and I liken it to picking the right spot on the court. I was a big, fast guy that can shift and change speed at the line of scrimmage or downfield – that was my advantage. You have to understand what your role is in the NFL and focus on improving that and doing that to the best of your ability.