Exclusive with Former Ravens and Browns Tight End Darnell Dinkins

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First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

Well, I started a training business – ETHICS Training – helping a lot of kids get through high school and college.

Personally, I got married and have three kids. My daughter is a state champion volleyball player who was player of the week at Tulane twice now. My oldest son is getting offers from Pitt, Virginian and other schools – he’s a wide receiver and linebacker at North Allegheny. And my younger son is a sophomore and is already dunking – he’s already playing above the rim.

Tell me more about your training and coaching experience – what do you focus on?

I speak hope into kids and try to help change their mindsets. A lot of kids don’t see value in who they are. David in the Bible showed his value with the slingshot – I’m trying to show kids how they can find their own value as well.

Coaching at Rutgers was amazing. I also coached at Tampa Bay, then Rutgers where we won the Big East championship for the first time and sent a number of players to the NFL, including two tight ends that I worked with.

Faith seems to be a big driver in how you approach to coaching and life in general?

I see lots of kids try to mimic what they see on social media, and a lot of bulldozer parents who try to make their kids into something they’re not. You have to allow them to find themselves and become confident. To let God praise them and be who they are.

When I was at Pitt, I played linebacker, receiver, safety – they didn’t know where to play me. They couldn’t tell what value I brought to the team. Through the grace of God I endured – through faith. Walt Harris- who coached guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant-  said I showed him more perseverance and resilience than any player he coached.

I played semi-pro ball after college – I found myself in a room with a lot of other players and scouts – and one scout fell at my feet. He asked me for some game film when I picked him up. Like David did in his quiet time, when he made his slingshot, I made game film in the evenings. I cut the film on my own and was able to give that to him. I worked out from 12 am to two am and worked with kids in the juvenile system. All in my quiet time – as David did in his. I had to find my value and confidence in my ability – and that’s what I now try to teach to kids who are struggling. To speak the word of God and provide them with hope.

You played for both Baltimore and Cleveland – back to back. How was that experience like with the Ravens as the team you stuck around with first?

I got injured in Giants camp and the Ravens picked me up quickly – they wanted a guy who could set the edge and spell Todd Heap a bit. It was a great team – there was great talent on those teams – players on the top of their game. As a young guy I was in awe of their talent.  I watched how they prepared themselves as professionals. In college everything is regimented. In the NFL you’re treated like men in your downtime. You have to learn how to prepare on your own time. Watching those guys do that helped me to be a better player. I worked out a lot with Adalius Thomas and that helped.

Cleveland then picked me up and I helped spell Heiden and Winslow. We went 10-6 and started to gel as a team that year.

How did those two teams handle the Steelers rivalry differently from your perspective?

I think the history of the rivalry had a lot to do with it. Baltimore treated Pittsburgh like the tough friend it wanted to knock out. Both teams tried to knock each other out. We usually split the series. Baltimore wanted to be the rugged badasses and show Pittsburgh who was the best in the division.

Cleveland acted like Pittsburgh’s little brother.  They just wanted to make sure they had an opportunity to win late in the game. Their mindset was to try to deal with the negative things we knew would happen and try to make something happen in the fourth quarter. We weren’t as talented – we did all we could to stay in games.

Any memories stand out for you of your games against the Steelers?

Going up against guys like Porter, Harrison, Haggans – Polamalu and Clark – all those goes I had to block and run routes against inside the box. They were fast and violent. Harrison especially was so dominant. He had a low base – he was so physical and sturdy and had such strong legs. He’d explode on contact when he hit people.

Watching Josh Cribbs was amazing – what he could do. He was tremendous – I was in awe of him at times when he would have those big returns against the Steelers.

I also remember as a rookie in Baltimore. I was running a short route when I hard a big “Thud!”. I looked over and saw big Orlando Brown with his feet flying up in the air. Harrison came in off the edge and and laid into him. It was the most physical thing I think I ever saw.

In all of those games, I watched guys give it all they had all of the time. The games were just so violent. It was a great series to be a part of.

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