pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 37 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Congratulations to Joe Haden on his Retirement:

Isaiah Johnson: “Joe Haden – he showed me how to be a leader – how he was able to do that for so long in the NFL. One thing I was just told a lot was to be a professional. To “Be you.” It’s easy to do in that environment. They helped show me how to be a professional.”

Kam Kelly: “When I got to the Steelers Joe Haden was my biggest mentor. He was a true pro – he studied and knew the game. He was invested in his career and I learned how to manage my time and approach to the game – on and off the field – from him.”

James Pierre: “Haden and Nelson for sure – I just want to learn all I can from them – and from any of the younger guys too. It doesn’t matter if they are younger or older – I just want to learn. With Haden and Nelson I want to see their film prep – how they watch film and dissect it – how they learn different things.”

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Congratulations to Steelers Linebacker James Farrior on his Hall of Fame Nomination

Alonzo Jackson: “Farrior taught me more of the X’s and O’s. Aaron, well, my locker was next to his. He was a great guy and a mentor on just how to live life. I don’t think he even knew how much of a mentor he was too people.”

Doug Whaley: “The one I think I was most excited about was getting James Farrior from the Jets. When he first got here it took time for him to transfer his skills from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. When I saw him in the first couple of practices, I was like…oooh no… Then, once he clicked, he was great. When we recruited him he came in and I think he really liked the guys in the locker room and the team chemistry.”

Kevin Spencer: “Heck, I had to throw Farrior off of special teams. He didn’t want to leave – he was indignant when I took him off.”

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Congratulations to Casey Hampton for his Hall of Fame Nomination

Cam Heyward: “Casey – you just can’t not get along with Casey, He never got enough respect for what he did there – he was one of the top five all-time Steelers because he kept it all together. He was the glue of that team – he knew how to bring the team together.”

James Farrior: “Casey Hampton was the first guy to walk up to me. He introduced himself and said he was number 98, and he was the one who was going to keep guys off my ass! I appreciated that and found out that that really was the case! He was the guy who kept people off my ass!”

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Exclusive with Former Oilers and Browns Running Back Lorenzo White

First, can you let us know about what you’ve been up to since football and how you’re doing?

I’m just taking it easy now. I had a remodeling business – I worked on homes and condos. That’s about it. Now I’m just back in Ft. Lauderdale taking it easy.

About how I’m doing. Whooo. I’m doing ok. I can’t complain! I take it one day at a time. I had a plan and did a few things after football. But my body said “That’s it!” There’s only so much you can do then.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Brandon Johnson, 2012

First, can you tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself since you retired from the NFL?

I started a company called Level Up – we do training, apparel and soon nutrition help for athletes. We’ll start with sports drinks soon – all our own stuff. I retired in 2013 and took an opportunity through the NFL Entrepreneur Program – in the Harvard Business School’s Entrepreneur program.

Was the post-NFL transition difficult – how did you work through it?

The transition was very tough. There’s nowhere else like the NFL – nothing with the perks the NFL offers. Two-to-three free meals a day. That may be the biggest thing I miss!

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Charlie Dickey, 1987

First, can you tell us how you got into coaching and what you enjoy most about it?

Well, I got started right after I was released by the Steelers. I had a feeling I was going to be released – I was on IR and knew it could happen. When I was released I tried to figure out what to do next. I graduated with a business degree but I didn’t want to go into business – I wanted to stick with what I loved to do – football.

I decided to stay close to the game. I loved the idea of coaching and wanted to have an impact on people’s lives like many coaches impacted me.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback D.J. Johnson, 1989-1993

What have you been up to in your post-NFL playing days and how did you get started?

When I was in Pittsburgh, I knew even then I wanted to get into broadcasting and acting. I was a Journalism major at Kentucky and always had an interest in doing both.

I got season tickets to the ballet when I was in Pittsburgh and took dance classes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.. I danced in college – I was the University of Kentucky’s first male dancer. I was in their dance ensemble and danced jazz, ballet and modern dance.

When I went to Atlanta I co-hosted a football show while I played, and then when I retired I worked locally covering Falcons games as a sideline reporter. Then one day I got a mind-blowing call out of nowhere – they wanted me to work as a sideline reporter for John Madden and Pat Summerall. I got to spend time on the road with those two.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Darrell Nelson, 1984-1985

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

Not much – working for Fedex now. I used to have two jobs – working for Fedex and an airline company. Now just working for Fedex. Heck, I’m shocked you were able to find me!

Was that post-NFL transition difficult for you?

It wasn’t really that hard, no. There was just no easy work for me to find after I left football. It was not my choice to leave football. I just had a bad agent that didn’t help me. When the Steelers released me I couldn’t even find him – he didn’t really help me at all. I should have fired him but I just didn’t know how it all really worked.

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Exclusive: Former Bengals Tight End Rodney Holman

First, what have you been up to since your time playing for the Bengals?

I took part in a coaching fellowship in New England under Pete Carroll. I did a little bit of coaching there then left and came back home to Louisiana. I got a call from Mike Ditka afterwards and he asked me to come in and work some with the Saints tight ends. I did that for a while then was hired as their position coach.

I went back after that to Cincinnati as their assistant strength coach – but when Marvin Lewis came in he overhauled the program. I was finishing my degree in the offseason anyway so I just ended up completing that.

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Steelers Players and Coaches on Emmanuel Sanders

WR Justin Brown: “AB and Sanders too. Just watching how everyone prepared was a huge help. They were all open and welcoming”

DB Walter McFadden: “Going up against AB and Emmanuel Sanders and working with them to get better. They were never too big to show you stuff and work with you.”

Scottie Montgomery: “The ability at the end to pit Antonio and Emmanuel against each other – to see their competitive natures was great to see. We had Hines and Mike Wallace there – we knew the makeup of the team. We lost Santonio and wanted guys we could build on.”

WR Markus Wheaton: “The wide receivers were a close knit group. AB, Sanders, and Cotchery – and myself and Justin Brown – we all talked in and out of meetings. On the football part, I latched on to Jerricho Cotchery. He was a veteran guy – he taught me the ropes. I’d watch him and AB and Sanders a lot.”

Trainer David Robinson: “A lot don’t know it but Emmanuel has a great work ethic. In the offseason he works out two-to-three times a day. He excels a lot in short areas with his quickness. He improved that part of his game and also excels on tracking deep balls. He and I watch a lot of film.”

WR Wes Lyons: “I thought Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders were a big help throughout camp my first year. We would study the playbook together every night when we went back to our rooms after practice. “