Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, can you tell us how you’re preparing in the offseason for camp?

Really, right now I’m studying the playbook and making sure I’m confident and acclimated with the offense. I wake up early every morning to stay on the training camp schedule then go out in the afternoon to work when it’s hot, to make sure I’m acclimated to the heat.

Are you working with a trainer or anyone else?

No – I think it’s key to work on your own – to have that self-discipline of getting that work in

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Running Back Mataeo Durant”

First, can you tell me a bit about what you’re doing with yourself now – your work with students and your foundation?

Well, right now I’m the Dean at a local high school here in Saginaw, Michigan. I started here a couple of years ago.

My foundation was started by me and my wife because of our personal experiences we had. We lost four children due to miscarriages and two due to ectopic pregnancies. We’ve dealt with that over the past four years. We did have one successful pregnancy – we have a daughter who is five years old.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Ronald Stanley, 2005-2007”

First off, why sign with the Steelers last season – and what did they tell you when they signed you?

I was with the Chargers for one-and-a-half years and learned so much there from the coaches and players. I was seven-to-eight weeks out of the league when the Steelers’ front office  called. I had a workout for the Packers before that. I thought the Steelers wanted me to come in for a workout first, but my agent said “No.” They wanted to sign me outright.

I’ll be honest, I’ve been blown away ever since. When I signed there one guy helped me right away – we had related journeys. John Leglue asked me if I needed help and we got to know each other. He’s a genuine guy that helped me.

I really mean this. Every team does things their own way – they do things differently. But there are so many great people in this organization – Kevin and Tomlin and now a new GM in Omar. They are all first class people and know how to treat players even though I’m not a quarterback or first round pick.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Nate Gilliam”

First, can you let me know how the offseason is going?

It’s going well. Going in to camp I’m working on my pass rushing moves and making sure to be in shape. We were told to come back in the best shape of our lives so I’m enjoying and hating doing that at the same time!

I was always told that conditioning is one of the biggest separators in sports. My basketball coach had the hardest conditioning programs I had ever seen, We’d have running ladders where we ran five sets – the first set had to be done in nine seconds, the second in 21, and so on…

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Outside Linebacker Delontae Scott”

First, can you tell me a bit about what you did after football?

Well, when I got cut from Pittsburgh I moved to Connecticut. One of the coaches from Pittsburgh went on to coach the Connecticut team in the Continental League and talked me in to coming up and playing for them.

I did pretty well there – I was the MVP there for three of the four seasons there. I ended up settling in Connecticut. I was from Pittsburgh originally. But I liked Connecticut. I had two kids – a son and a daughter.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Fran Mallick, 1965”

First, how has the offseason been going? Still working out at the Minnesota farm?

Yeah I’m back at the house in Minnesota. I have my trainer and doctors out here and a nice workout routine. It’s a nice home base here.

A big difference since last time we spoke pre-Covid. What’s been the biggest thing for you in terms of how things have changed for you?

The biggest thing was playing and getting experience. I was fortunate to get the chance to start some games. Every game I play I try to take something away from it and become a better player. Technique, learning about the player I play against – just something to make me a better player.

I’m an especially self-analyzing player – I never just take what the coaches or other players say about me. I have my own system for taking my own notes to see where I struggled and did well.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman J. C. Hassenauer”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?

I work for Eli Lilly in their Oncology Division. When I finished playing I thought I’d go the coaching route and coached with Coach Rodriguez for a year at Glenville State. But I realized after that that coaching wasn’t for me. I wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice away from my family that I saw coaching took.

I was dating my now wife then. She was in Glenville but I saw her more playing for the Steelers than I did coaching for Glenville State. So after that I looked for that competitiveness I loved in football in sales. I sold ads for Fox television before taking a job with Merck, then moved on here to Eli Lilly where I’ve been now for over 20 years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Chris George, 1996-1997”