First, what have you been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?
I have two rental properties that make me a few dollars, but I’m really trying to find my way. The transition has been rough – it’s been the toughest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. I’m trying to find something that fits- a career or business.
Did you get any help via the NFLPA or NFL?
I did go to some stuff the NFLPA put on – I went to a career fair in Orlando. But to be honest, there were no opportunities for anything that could pay the bills. Nothing that would be worthwhile. It was almost a slap in the face, to be honest.
I’ve looked at other ideas. I’m into cars but there’s not much money in that. I’m into trucking – I have my CBL. I’m looking at the idea of driving for somebody or owning my own dump truck company. Something like that.
Any mentors help shape how you approached life and the game?
I spent most of my time with the Titans – I didn’t get to know the Steelers linemen as much though Ramon Foster was from Tennessee too. I got hurt in camp in New York so didn’t stay there long either.
I was a fan of Derrick Morgan in Tennessee. He was very professional – was always about business on and off the field. He could balance hard work and joking around. I didn’t really meet a lot of guys that were done in the NFL unless they were really successful – and they just gave you generic advice like save your money. You don’t get the real truth from guys going what I’m going through now until you’re really in it.
This past year has been tough. The guys I have spoken to – it’s tough for all of them. You just can’t prepare for it. Mentally, it’s just very hard.
Your brother also played for the Steelers – any overlap there?
He was there while I was still in Tennessee. He was doing real good there but then he tore his MCL and had to sit out the season. He came back the next season but Le’Veon came back and they drafted other guys and he got cut.
Did your dad’s success as a musician influence you both at all?
My dad was popular for his house music – he was doing that even before I was born. But I’m not gifted in music – no way. shape, or form! I have no clue about music outside of listening to it. He got his PhD and is a principal for a school and still does his music on the side.
As a son of a musician – how did you and your brother get so involved in football?
Growing up my brother was the one who played – I hated it. I wanted no part of it. I liked skateboarding, motorbikes, rollerblading – outdoors stuff like that. That was my thing. But my parents got divorced and we went with my mother and moved in with my grandmother. I didn’t know anyone there so I signed up for football. I didn’t know anything about it at all. I remember as a junior seeing a kid on our team get all this attention – he was on the cover of local magazines and sites like Rivals. Everyone knew him. But I didn’t know anything about recruiting – none of that stuck with me.
My senior year I played defensive end and I went to some of the football camps in Illinois and faced these massive guys – five-star kids. I was like, “Holy shit!” I had no form or technique and was overlooked by the division one schools.
The coach at Juliette Junior College told me that if I played there, he’d move me to offensive line and if I could get to 285 pounds, he’d get me where I wanted to go. I was 225 pounds then. There was a kid though – Eric Smalls – he was a monster. I started working out with him every day, non-stop. Eventually I got up to 320 pounds – and it was pure muscle. I looked more like a bodybuilder than a lineman. I got offers from schools afterwards – Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona. But I remembered that kid I played with in high school who was on the cover of the magazines who was at Louisville. I didn’t know much about how it worked – but I called Louisville and said I wanted to play there, and that’s where I ended up.
And after being drafted by Tennessee, you ended up later signing with the Steelers in free agency. How did that occur?
After my rookie contract I signed a two-year contract with the Titans. But they drafted a guy in the third round who got a big signing bonus and went with him. Whisenhunt was the coach – I loved Munchak when he was there – he and Matthews I respected greatly. But I and others didn’t like or respect Whisenhunt, to be honest. I was cut after the fourth preseason game and ended up sitting for four weeks. I traveled from team to team and workout to workout before I finally got to Pittsburgh. Mike Munchak was there and he was familiar with me and knew my work ethic. he told me it would be good for me to be in Pittsburgh. This was after Beachum tore his ACL and they had started Villanueva. They needed another guy so they signed me.
Any good memories of playing in Pittsburgh?
The offensive line room yeah. I came from a place that was uptight and used to getting its ass kicked to a place where guys were laughing together and enjoying each other’s company. It was a good environment and all of the guys loved Mike Munchak – and they were all good at what they did. Mike respected us and we respected him and were able to get better because of him. He never tried to kill you – he respected you. It was good to be on a team that went out looking to kick someone’s ass – not get its ass kicked.
Any advice for guys entering the game today after your experiences in the NFL?
There’s no offseason. Don’t let up – keep training and working and finding what interests you. Of course, take a little time off – give your body a rest. But don’t just hang out and party. Focus on what makes you money and learn what interests you. Take advantage of the time and intern and find something you can do after football.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
