Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, can you let us know a little about your path post-NFL?

I worked for my former coach at Notre Dame, Bob McBride after the NFL. He had a trucking company and I was the salesperson for the Midwest section of the country. They hauled steel out of Chicago. A couple of years later I got homesick and my family called me to tell me my mother was ill, so I moved back home to Natick.

I entered my family’s painting business and was involved in that for a few years then opened up my own restaurant. A drive-in.

So you were busy! Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?

It wasn’t that hard at all. We didn’t make the money then that the players make today. They make four or five million a year then have to find a job somewhere to keep up their lifestyle. That is much more difficult than it was in my day. I made $17,00 a year. My first contract was $10,000  a year.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Frank Varrichione, Steelers OT, 1955-1960”

First, tell me a bit about what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my son – he’s into sports so I’m trying to make myself available to him. Spending time with my family and relaxing…

How hard was that post-NFL adjustment for you?

It was a little bit of an adjustment. My body was hurting so bad it didn’t matter. I loved the game but I was just hurting too bad. I knew it was time to hang it up. I’m a very family-oriented guy, so that was easy for me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers NT Casey Hampton, 2001-2012”

First, as you just recently retired, can you let us know what your next steps have been since your time in  the NFL?

I’m just catching up now to my family life. My wife waited for me for years while I was in the NFL…. I  just got married last year and have a newborn. I’m starting a new life…my wife and I are starting a business together but it’s still early to talk about that.

It’s officially my first year being retired, so I’m just getting done sitting on my butt and getting things done!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR Nate Washington, 2005-2008”

First, since your retirement from the NFL you’ve done some interesting things in terms of work and travel. Tell us a bit about those?

Well starting from the beginning…it was a journey since my time in the NFL. It took time to figure out what I wanted to do.

I took a couple of years after the NFL and traveled the world.  I went to twenty-eight different countries so far. During that time I had a good friend who ran a jewelry distribution company and I partnered with him. I’ve been learning that business for a year-and-a-half now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR David Gilreath, 2012-2013”

DeMarcus Ayers: “Coach Mann with his inspirational talks. He talked about guys in Tampa Bay who worked their way up the roster to start and contribute.”

C.J. Goodwin: Coach Mann was a great help. He was a blessing. He didn’t care if you were a first round pick or not – he sat you down and went over things with you like you were the number one guy.”

First, tell us a bit about how you ended up in Pittsburgh?

Well, I was drafted by the Rams as a junior out of college. I hurt my knee and I thought I was done, but they drafted me in the twenty-fifth round then. I played in the Blue-Gray game and they signed me after that. I played very little in preseason.. I got in shape and came back in time and played the Steelers that preseason in the last game.

I caught a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter of that game and remember running by Steelers Coach Buddy Parker and watching him throw his clipboard down as I ran by him. The next day me and Billy Ray Smith were in the hotel lobby getting ready to leave when a guy walked up to us and told us Pete Rozell wanted to talk to us, and that we should bring our playbooks. That was never a good thing. Turns out the Steelers traded for us.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Jimmy Orr, 1958-1960”

Why should Alan Faneca make the Hall of Fame? Let these former Steelers tell you:

Trai Essex: ” Watching film on Red was like watching art in motion.  I never knew o-linemen could have moves until I saw him spin of a d-linemen en route to cutting a linebacker in order to open up a screen pass that went to the house.  A great player and an even better leader.  He absolutely changed and elevated the ceiling of the impact a guard can have on the game.  #GOAT”

Continue reading “Former Steelers Discuss Why Alan Faneca Should Make the Hall of Fame”

First, can you let readers know what you’re doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Me and my buddy, I’ve been working with him. We’re doing training stuff – working as professional trainers for high school kids. We want to give them better training than what’s out there. Prepare them for college.

Coming from a small college like Villanova, you know how hard it is to make it in the NFL. What was the hardest adjustment for you?

It was very different for me as an undrafted free agent. I signed with New England first and I realized how much of a faster game it was and how much I needed to learn and the knowledge I needed to play faster. You think you know a lot about football then you get to the next level. I  learned a lot  but it seemed like so much information I needed to know. It was overwhelming. Studying a lot and learning the game like that – it felt new to me. I wasn’t playing as good football as I wanted really until I got to Pittsburgh. I wasn’t knowledgeable enough to play fast. The speed of the game is an issue because you need to know the playbook – you need to know that stuff to play faster. Otherwise you’re a step behind.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Ross Ventrone, Steelers Safety, 2013-2015, 2015-2016”

First – can you let us know what you’re doing with yourself now since your time in the NFL?’

I’m in Rockford, Michigan, north of Grand Rapids. I own a financial services company. I’ve been in financial services since I got out of football in 2000 and I started my own company in 2010.

I have a blended family – six kids, all out of K-12 except my youngest, who’s six years old.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Tight End Mitch Lyons, 1997-1999”

First, tell me a bit about your coaching work at Kansas State. How did you get started there?

Yeah I’m coaching at Kansas State – I’m the Passing Game Coordinator. A former teammate of mine became the head coach there and gave me an opportunity to coach there. I wanted to be able to help change lives. I wanted to be an inspiration to young guys – to help them avoid the mistakes I made as a young man.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR/KR Andre Coleman, 1997-1998”