pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 76 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive with Ray Austin, Co-Founder and Commissioner of Fan Controlled Football

First, tell me how you got started in all of this?

Six years ago, after I was done with football, I became an actor in Chicago. I did that for 15 years – shows like Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Empire…. I ended up having a better acting career than football career!

I came up with the idea after for something new. I was watching a friend of mine’s semi-pro football game – I was in the stands and texted him. It’s semi-pro ball – so he’s there with his phone during the game! I’m watching the game and was just saying to myself how bad the coaches were. After the game I went down and talked to the players and asked the coach if I could have the guys run some plays. He said sure, so I texted them plays from the stands and watched them.

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EXCLUSIVE: Steelers Cornerback Stephen Denmark

First, what has been the offseason plan for you – how have you been preparing for the upcoming season?

Right now I’m training in Birmingham with Ha Ha Cinton Dix – he’s a friend and has shown me a lot. How to take care of my body and mastering my technique. Just on how to be a pro on and off the field. Making sure I’m 100% ready to go when the season starts.

What made you decide to sign with the Steelers as a free agent?

Well to be honest they were the only team to reach out sat the start. But William Gay went to my high school and I always watched and liked the Steelers because of him.

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Exclusive with Pittsburgh Native/Actor Joe Manganiello

First, any new projects you’re working on that fans should know about?

We just launched Shoplifters of the World – it just came out. It’s a period piece set in 1987 after the Smiths broke up. There’s an urban myth about a kid in Denver who holds up a radio station to impress a girl and won’t let them play anything but Smiths songs. I was inspired by the story and produced the film as an independent film. Me, my brother and a high school friend all worked on it and I play the DJ in the movie. We have 20 Smiths songs we use in the film – we showed it to Morrissey who loved the film too.

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Exclusive with Former Steeler Nose Tackle Mark Catano, 1984-1985

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

Well, after I signed with the Colts, I moved to Indianapolis and met my now ex-wife here. I have two daughters out here.

I did a couple of different jobs after the NFL. I worked at Marathon Petroleum but then went on disability.

Football injuries?

Yeah. some are. I had major neck surgery – a level three spinal fusion. They usually don’t do level threes but my neurosurgeon spoke with a couple other guys and they concurred that if I didn’t have it I’d just have to have others later. I had my C4 fused to my C5, C5 to C6, and C6 to C7. Eight plates and screws. I felt really good for two years after it but the last two have been really bad. My back’s a mess too. I applied for disability and usually they say it takes more than one try, but I got it on the first try. So I guess I’m pretty screwed up!

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Exclusive Interview: Steelers Tight End Henry Clement, 1960-1961

First, what have you been doing since your retirement from playing football?

I hung around the ‘Burgh after I was done. I worked for what was then Pittsburgh National Bank for a couple of years. One of my accounts I had then was a startup, and I ended up working with them. I knew the owner.

After that I started my own business with a couple of other guys – we repped industrial equipment. I started another business after that too but had to have all the assets sold – I got killed on that.

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EXCLUSIVE: Steelers Offensive Lineman Rashaad Coward

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing this offseason?

I’ve been training every day – focusing on position work. I trained a lot at WIN Performance in Illinois – working on ways to get stronger and more flexible.

How did the signing happen with the Steelers – what do you think brought that on?

My agents called me earlier in the day and told me they had no deals for me but that they may try and talk to Pittsburgh. I didn’t know what to say then. But then they called me back and told me they were just playing – that Pittsburgh offered me a deal. They were so childish – playing games with me!

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Bill Johnson, 1995-1996

First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself now?

I’m living in Arizona now- living the dream. I can’t ask for no more than this. I’ll be 52 this year – and right now I’m sitting in my garage, drinking Miller Lite and smoking my cigar. Sometimes I watch my neighbors kids – block off the street and let them play ball. And now I’m just looking forward to football season starting up again.

Was the post-NFL adjustment tough for you?

It was easier for me than it was for most guys. The reason is I listened to the guy that represented me. I wasn’t hard-headed – I listened to his advice and stayed financially sound. I wish more guys would have taken his advice. It was mostly about making paper – I had no complaints with him. He kept me responsible. I’m one person. Why do I need five damn cars right?

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Exclusive with James Everett aka RouteGod

First, let me know how you got involved in training NFL player like Cam Sutton and Diontae Johnson?

It started off with training myself. I wanted to be better and looked at how others were doing it. I used my phone to video myself and others – watched how they were doing it and built my training that way. Other guys saw how I was doing it and asked to work with me. I said “Sure, come on. Let’s do it!”

Someone gave me the idea – they told me I gained a lot of knowledge and people were getting a lot out of what I was doing. They thought I should try to make it a career – to take it to the next level.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Terence Garvin, 2013-2015

First, what have you been up to this season – still trying to get back into the NFL?

I was in the XFL before COVID – I just bought a house in Pittsburgh and have been involved in real estate. Yeah, I’ve been hanging out and staying in shape and trying to figure things out – staying healthy.

I’d love to get back in. But it’s definitely a business. It’s not always easy to get back in – I did well in the XFL and made some plays. I’m staying in shape. But maybe at the age of 29 teams figure they could give guys less money and a good player versus giving someone like me who may be better but who you’d have to pay a little more. That’s my guess as to why I haven’t been signed. It’s not my decision I guess.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Richard Bell, 1990

First, congratulations on the appoint to Chief of Police in West Covina. How did you get involved in law enforcement?

Well it’s a long but good story. I met Darryl Strawberry when I was playing in Pittsburgh and he was in town for a game- it turned out his grandmother and my wife’s grandmother were sisters. Meeting him was kind of a big deal to me. When I was finished in Pittsburgh after the ’90 season I ended up going to church with Darryl’s brother, who was a police officer.

I was always interested in becoming a police officer so I asked him how he get started in the process, and he got me in contact with the folks in Los Angeles that he knew on the force. I got through everything in the process to becoming an officer there but I failed the medical – and that disqualified me from becoming an officer.

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