First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL and about your new music career?

I have to say I have a lot going on! On my music, I’m working with Nikodmus – we formed a rap group called FaceCard Bosses. We’re working with Master T – he’s a veteran n that game. We met through family members and starting creating together and the vibe was good.

I’m also working on after school programs with two other former players – Julius Williams and Brandon Lane. Me and Julius played at Jacksonville together and we always talked about wanting to give back. We got together with Brandon and we all got along like family.

It’s in the second term now – we run six-week programs for kids. The parents love the transformation they see in the kids. It’s one hour in the classroom and one n the gym or outside. We teach integrity, leadership, branding – all those things that kids need to understand before they’re 15. It all starts now. We help them understand that process. It’s like a crash course in the NFL experience.

We also do to the Battle in the Trenches group. We do free camps – seven a year – and work with about 700 kids. We go to rural areas and do about 2 1/2 hour programs on mentorship and coaching. These are for kids who can’t afford it.

We’re also working with the NFLPA to do transition programs for former players too. And I Dare You – personal training programs that are specialized – we do those Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I’m keeping busy!

Much of that is coaching work! Any coaches and influences that have affected you most?

All of my greatest coaches taught discipline – not just in sports but in terms of life and how you act in life. They taught me how to stay focused and understand that the picture is bigger than just you. LeBeau, my college coach… they taught family morals and characteristics. To be a solid, good person. It’s never just about sports. It’s about being a good person. Coaches are like your second family anyway – they’re an extension of your family. We learn many of our values from them.

Tell us about your arrival in Pittsburgh – were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers or disappointed to come to a team with an already deep secondary? 

I was excited to get the possibility to live my dream.  To play in the NFL. Regardless of the team – its the experience you appreciate. I’d rather have gotten drafted by my favorite team but I was excited to go to Pittsburgh. I was actually supposed to get drafted in the second round. Bill Cowher called me and said they were going to take me but they chose to use their second-pick to trade up for Santonio Holmes. But he said if I was still there he’d come get me and he did. It was good to be so close to home so my family didn’t have to travel very far.

Who helped mentor you as a rookie there?

The organization was on a whole different level from other teams. It worked on a family basis – it was like a big family. Everyone helps you regardless of their position. That’s  why they win so much. Deshea. Troy, Clark, Ike – all were great guys. All of them helped.

How did they help you most?

The biggest thing was with patience. They always told me I needed to be patient – they saw my talent and that my time would come. Some too on watching film – but when you come from a top D1 school, you get how to do that already. There are a few bells and whistles to that you learn but you mostly know it.

How frustrating was it for you though over time when you didn’t get your chance to start?

I was one of the better DB’s there so it was – you can ask the coaches. It was just a conflict thing. Troy and I were the same style of player. And how the defense was designed, I was too aggressive as a free safety for Dick LeBeau. It was a successful defense, but he wanted a stay at home guy. In my second year when the job was up for battle, I was making plays all through camp -I think I led the team in interceptions in camp. But patience was the issue. I couldn’t stay back. I was a ballhhawk in college – and you’re the player they draft. I can’t try not to make plays. That hindered my play in Pittsburgh.

After Pittsburgh, other teams tried to put me in the box as a safety. But I was a natural free safety. My situation made my decision to play the game for me. I have to be me and I couldn’t turn it off.

Tell me a bit about the humor and funny experience in camp?

We had less harassment type of guys and more guys that did a lot of joking. We did have one time where a rookie may have gotten a bit out of line and we had to give him the cold plunge. We picked him up and he went deep sea diving in the cold tub. Other than that it was just jokes mostly – making fun of each other’s appearances, etc.

How hard was it after Pittsburgh, moving around a lot throughout the NFL?

There’s nothing like calling a place home. I was blessed to have three years in Pittsburgh. After that, bouncing around – it got to the point where I just wanted to call some place home. I never got to that situation though.

How much did that New England guarantee affect you in Pittsburgh?

It was blown out of proportion. If you listened to my exact words I said that “If we stop them from getting big plays we’ll win the game.” All the political correctness stuff in football hurts the game I think. There’s not a player anywhere that doesn’t want to win – that says “I think I’m gong to lose.” It’s baffling to me. The whole point is to win the game.

But it didn’t affect me at all with the coaches. I was always one of the best DB’s where I went. I was at ease with the situation. The bottom line was that I was just too aggressive.

Any sense of revenge being on the Green Bay team that beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl?

I was on IR after a teammate rolled up on my ankle. It was a great time going to the Super Bowl and getting my second ring, but I was pissed I couldn’t play. I still did my part on the sidelines – you can do things off the field to help the team. I talked to Starks and Peppers, reminding them of how good they were and that they had the talent to win.

It was a little bit of revenge yeah. I wanted to be there. I wanted to win, but it was a bit deeper for me.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Being on the Steelers was a great time. I grew up in Ohio and half my family were Browns fans and half Steelers fans.  Steelers nation was amazing – that nature of football was great. I just want to thank all of the Steelers fans who still reach out to me. I had a great time there.

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