First off, what have you been up to since just recently retiring? How is retirement going for you?
I’m just here building my businesses. Working with youth, spending time with my family….just enjoying life and helping the community grow.
I own training facilities in the Atlanta area – called the Legacy Sports Complex. It’s a multi-sport training facility for people anywhere from two years old to your grandmother and grandfather. We have specialists for every sport from lacrosse and basketball to football, tennis – everything.
What prompted that business for you?
I always had visions of being part of something like this. It’s why I invested as I did throughout my career and why I built the relationships I did. I wanted to build something for the community – to give people something I didn’t have growing up – access to pro and college athletes, nutritionists, recovery experts… we have after school programs and pick kids up from schools. I wanted to immerse myself in the community and schools to help kids realize their dreams – whether they are sports-related or other things.
You spent part of your childhood in Sierra Leone – how did that experience and background influence you growing up, and as a player and father?
It made me who I am. It’s the culmination of who I am. The culture helped teach me resiliency, wisdom and perspective. For that I am grateful. I got to go back to where my family was from – I’m first-generation born here. It’s a privilege to have had that experience to live there for a few years – it gave me a lot of perspective.
How helpful was being a high school quarterback and track athlete to you as a receiver and NFL player?
Being a multi-sport athlete gave me different points of view- it helped me to learn ho to be a master of the game versus specializing. I think that gave me an advantage – I learned that there were no limits for me. And it helped me understand how to learn different things. It helped give me a high athletic IQ – to take in things and apply them across your skillsets.
You were drafted by the Bengals and were there for four years – did anyone there help mentor you and take you under their wing?
It was a combination of a lot of teammates and coaches. There wasn’t one specific person. But guys like AJ Green, Marvin Jones, Brandon Tate – they taught me a lot. And the defensive guys too would give me gems and perspectives on things they’d see and help enlighten you on those.
What did they help you with most?
They showed me how to be a pro. In college I got the ball a lot – I rested a lot throughout the week. I had to learn how to practice and prepare and take care of my body in the NFL. Near the end of my rookie year it started clicking and I began to play at a high level.
Were you familiar with the Steelers rivalry – how did you get introduced to that rivalry? How did the Bengals prepare for those games?
Those were dogfights every time. The first time I played the Steelers it was a home game and the atmosphere was out of this world. It was so energetic. Guys were flying around. I was playing against guys I used to watch. I felt blessed to be able to do that and knew I had prepared the correct way.
Any moments and matchups in those games stand out most to you?
I played against them I think 10 times – and those games were always heated. I liked going up against Mike Mitchell – he was a great player. I liked how he played. He played like an asshole – and that’s what you need on defense. We’d try to fucking punk you and impose our will on you and he would do the same back. We both brought that lumber.
I remember the first time I played against Troy Polamalu. Growing up I always wanted to play against him. When I got on the field I was like “Oh shit. That’s Troy Polamalu!” A lot of guys don’t like to admit that feeling. But I love seeing great athletes and players and he was always one of my favorite players to watch. One time I tried to run him over and he just looked at me and smiled. His unassuming self. I just thought “Dude, you’re different!” He was a silent assassin out there.
You played in that 18-16 Steelers – Bengals playoff game and had a few receptions that game. What was the mood like after that game – it was so heated – how did the team handle that?
It was just one of those moments where you don’t understand how things can go that way so quickly. It just wasn’t meant for us that day – God didn’t have it in the cards for us. There are winners and losers every game and that game we were the losers. I just look at it like that. But it was tough. We had a good team that year.
You played for seven teams over your career – how hard is it moving around like that and how do you manage that
That’s the toughest part. I was told abruptly that Iw as traded – and it’s tough picking up your family and having to move away from all you have been accustomed to for years. It was tough. I never got to settle down after that – my ankle injury made it tough. That’s why I decided to start jumping into business. The NFL is a business and I saw how it was going to be in the NFL.
You may have been the most prolific passing receiver in NFL history! 7-8, 233 yards and four touchdowns. In fact you three a touchdown before you caught one! What do you attribute that to?
It’s pretty cool. I wanted to play quarterback in the NFL as a kid. My goal was to play in the NFL and I am grateful I got to experience all of my skillsets in the NFL in some shape or form. I wanted the world to see that I could throw, catch, run and return – I just wanted to be a great football player. I feel like I accomplished that. When I got opportunities I excelled – you can look at my target and catch ratios.
In the end I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play and for the fans who supported me. I wish peace and blessings to everyone.