pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 45 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive with Andrew Gardner, GM, Pittsburgh Thunderbirds Ultimate Frisbee Team

First, can you let me know how the Thunderbirds got started?

We became a professional team late 2014 and had our first season in 2015. The University of Pittsburgh won back-to-back national championships – they had some really good players. A lot of them played for us in 2015 through 2017. Pittsburgh was a hotbed for ultimate frisbee – Pitt was a perennial powerhouse.

Because of that it made sense to put a franchise here. I’m originally from Northeast Ohio – it was hard to move out here at first but I did and assimilated well. I know being from an area close to Cleveland we loved to “hate” Pittsburgh, but the people here are so nice and I adapted to the city. Now I’m a Black & Gold fan and got a job working for the Penguins.

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Exclusive with Former Bengals Safety/Kick Returner Tremain Mack

First, can you let me know how you got involved in coaching?

At the end of my career I went to Seattle to rehab my knees. But that took a lot longer than expected – for three years I couldn’t work. So I decided to give back to the community in the meantime – to do something with my time.

In my eagerness to stay busy I applied for a job at a local high school and they ended up hiring me as their baseball coach. Through the job I got involved with kids in the community – many had needs and lacked support so I dove into helping them out. I had a good relationship with the athletic director there. He left a year later to Mt. Ranier High School to coach his son then left. That left a job a opening that I applied for and I got the job. I became the football, baseball and basketball coach there.

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Exclusive with Former Bengals Defensive Back Louis Breeden

First, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I’ve been all over the place. I retired about nine years ago. After I was out of football I did the Bengals pre and post game shows on the radio and was a TV analyst for Louisville’s football games.

At the same time I had an advertising company that I ran for over 10 years.

Other than that I’ve been taking it easy. I was talking to Isaac Curtis – I feel every bone in my body these days – my body aches even just doing the little things!

How was that post-NFL adjustment for you?

I had some challenges over the past few years. I have atrial fibrillation and had two unsuccessful cardial ablations. I had the third a few months ago and I’ve felt the best I have in years – knock on wood. A lot of people have atrial fibrillation – I had mine for the last 30 years – after football. I had an irregular heartbeat but not symptoms until recently when it started to really bother me – that’s when it can be really dangerous.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Jeff Markland, 1988

First, can you tell us what you experienced after playing football and how you got involved in the church and with The Good News Community Church?

After football I went through a long period of addiction – I went to prison twice and suffered from a cocaine addiction. I had my recovery meetings at the church I am a pastor at now. The doors opened for me to stay there.

Why become a pastor?

I had been in the ministry beforehand actually. I worked with Sports World – they were the ones who worked with Pete Rozelle to get chaplains for each team. When we weren’t working with players we went to schools and prisons to help people there. That was right after football.

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Part 2: Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman, Coach Joe Greene, 1969-1981, 1987-1991

PART ONE

Part 2:

I wanted to talk to you about L.C. and some of those other guys. L.C. actually called me to talk about why he felt he should have made the Hall of Fame. Do you think he and others were overlooked?

Oh yeah, sure they were. But there’s a fine line from being a good, very good, great, and Hall of Fame player. What a Hall of Fame player is today gets muddled because of TV, newspapers and the internet. Guys see faces on screens and names that are out there more often and think they are great or Hall of Fame players. Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends – there’s no comparison to the numbers today versus guys 20-to-30 years ago. Now when people talk about quarterbacks no one says anything about Johnny Unitas, but I dare say no one was better than he was. Griese was an unbeaten quarterback and never threw more than 17 passes.

Continue reading “Part 2: Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman, Coach Joe Greene, 1969-1981, 1987-1991”

Part 1: Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman, Coach Joe Greene, 1969-1981, 1987-1991

First, can you tell me a bit about the impact North Texas had on you as a player – what made you such a good player there?

Well, you know Joe doesn’t like to talk about Joe!

Well, let’s start with North Texas then and what they did to help you?

North Texas didn’t let freshmen play at the varsity level when I was there as a freshman. I had a really good freshman coach – Ken Bahnsen. He put us through exercises and drills – a myriad of them that personally helped me to understand balance, quickness, and leverage. And explosiveness. Things like the 50-yard duck walk, where you put your hands between your knees and walk like ducks. The two-man sled we did as 100-yard relays – 50 yards at a time. All the sled drills, and practicing running to the ball.

Continue reading “Part 1: Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman, Coach Joe Greene, 1969-1981, 1987-1991”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Joe Kruger, 2014-2015

First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL?

After football I got into real estate at first then got my license as a mortgage loan officer. I focus on mortgages, commercial loans, construction loans, personal loans…anything. That’s what I’ve been doing the past four years. The loans are nationwide too – so I can help anyone out if they need it!

It’s been awesome – I enjoy it. It’s provided an opportunity for me to move forward after football.

Also, I left college as a Junior to declare for the draft, so I recently went back to school to finish my degree. Oh – and I got married last year too!

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Exclusive with NFL Agent Whitney Holtzman

First, what drove you to become an agent?

I find the political climate today so divisive. My goal is to make the world a better place and I’ve given up on politics as a way for that to happen. I see sports as a great unifier though. No matter what your background, most people see athletes in the same way. If LeBron James comes in and gives you advice, no matter what your background or political beliefs are, you’re drawn to that advice. So I’ve always seen sports as a positive way to support change.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Jerry Hillebrand, 1968-1970

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

Well after ball I went into the construction business with my brother. Then we decided to build a roller-skating rink and I ran that for a while. I did some development in Texas then just jumped around a bit so no one could catch up with me!

Was the transition from the NFL to post-NFL life tough for you?

You miss the fun you have playing. And most of all you miss your teammates. It seems wherever I went – the Giants, Steelers – I met some great people. That’s what you miss more than anything else.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman John Lott, 1987

First, let me know what you’re up to now?

Right now, I moved back to Texas. I have a ranch here. So that’s where I am. We were all let go by the Chargers and I had the opportunity to coach elsewhere but wanted to stay here in Texas. My son is an all-state tight end here playing at TCU. I missed so many of his games the last two years. He was a ballboy with me in San Diego – I missed him and my daughter. It gives me a chance to see her run track. I got to see her at homecoming – seeing things like that is important to me.

I did have the opportunity to coach for Mike T. But I didn’t know Mike well then and I was close to Ken Wisenhunt. Our wives are good friends and we had guys like Haggans, Porter and Faneca there in Arizona. But I did sit with those guys at the Hall of Fame ceremony – with Farrior, Mike Miller…of course I sat in the Steelers section!

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