Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Cavon Walker

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First, what made you decide to choose the Steelers as a team to sign with after the XFL experience – you had some choices?

I just feel like my XFL experience and previous NFL experience helped me show teams that I have what it takes to make it in the NFL. I think they can see what they have in me and know I can help.

As for Pittsburgh, they have a great defensive line coach and great front – and a great tradition. I was excited to sign with them,

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Walter Rasby, 1994, 2004-2005

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

Well, right now I’m doing some real estate work, like a lot of guys end up doing. That, as well as some logistics investment in things like trucking. I kind of always wanted to do real estate since I retired. I ran for the hills for a while when the recession hit – its an eat what you kill job and there wasn’t much to eat then!

Why both lines of work?

Well, with logistics, I just always wanted multiple sources of income. And even in a recession, if you’re positioned correctly you’ll always have work. No matter what, goods always have to be delivered by someone.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, 2012-2017

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First off, tell us what’s going on with you now and what’s next?

Well  I’m at a crossroads. It’s been 26 years of coaching and I’m 52 now. I’ve been afforded some time while I’m still under contract to think about what’s next and to make up some lost time with my family. I’ve watched more soccer and golf games lately than I had over the last 20 years. My parents are in Orlando and they aren’t doing so great so it’s good to be close to them too. So, it’s been really nice not to have to jump into anything. I love coaching and if the right thing comes along sure, but for right now I’m enjoying my time with my family.

Obviously your father was a big influence on you as  coach – who else influenced that style as well and how?

Well my father always reminded me of how fortunate I was to grow up with it as a kid and he was right. The memories of being there at camp in Latrobe as a kid and on the sidelines for things like the Immaculate Reception.

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Exclusive with former Steelers Kicker Roy Gerela, 1971-1978

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First, let us what did you do after your NFL career and why?

After football, I went into the insurance business in Pittsburgh for four years, then I coached at Duquesne University and Baldwin High School.

Then an opportunity came up for me to coach at my alma mater, New Mexico State. I coached the tight ends and special teams for six years. Then the head coach got heart problems and had to bail – he had to retire.

I stayed in the area and got my Masters Degree in Educational Diagnostics and coached and taught at a local high school. I coached there for a while then went back to New Mexico State and coached there again. I coached 10 years in high school and 10 years at New Mexico State.

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Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker Tuzar Skipper

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First, tell me what you’re working on this offseason to get ready for the new season?

Yeah – the mental aspect of the game. I was lacking a bit of the mental side of the game so I’m digging into the playbook now and making sure I understand what I’m doing on every play – and  that I know what the other positions are doing to.

Tomlin talked to me. I have to be in the right place at all times – I have to be on it every play and show them I can be more consistent. I’m in the film room constantly now getting better at it.

And of course, always working on the physical part of the game.

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In His Own Words: Marvin Cobb

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I am responding to your invitation to write something for your blog, and I want to thank you for providing this opportunity. 

As you know, I was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 11th round of the 1975 draft.  I was told I would have gone higher in the NFL draft if the California Angels hadn’t already drafted me in the 7th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft.  

What no one knew at the time was an injury I developed from throwing curve balls as a little league pitcher. I played shortstop in high school and at USC, and quickly discovered that the harder I threw the ball to first base, the less my arm hurt. I didn’t think my arm would hold up at the major league level, and that’s why I signed with the Bengals instead of the Angels.

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Exclusive with former Steelers offensive lineman Matt Anderson, 2002

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First, what have you been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, I have five kids, four that are in sports. It’s definitely been busy – a busy part of the season for us. I work for Farmer’s Insurance – I manage the retirement investment business for most of the Southern United States.

I run around a lot but I also get to work out of the house and be around the for the kids – get to take them to school. So that’s fun for me. I always wanted to have more fun where I am now that where I was before, and I think I’m doing that.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Kendrell Bell, 2001-2004

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

Well, I had no plan really coming out of the NFL. I have four boys and am still married. I had a football camp but when all the kids started adding up it kind of fell through the cracks. I’m trying to repurpose it now. I couldn’t really focus a lot on it with so much going on.

Now, my dad-to-day is taking the kids to soccer, Boy Scouts, and that stuff. They go to private school, so it’s pretty hands-on. I’m a bus driver essentially!

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Vince Czepukaitis on BLVCKOPS and upcoming Pro Athlete VC SpeedBuild pitch competition

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First, tell me a bit about BLVCKOPS  – what it is and what you do for athletes?

The purpose behind the company is to assist athletes with the successful transition to a new career after sports. We work with the NBA and NFL player associations and leagues to help players create businesses they are passionate about. We assist them by giving them the roadmap to explore those ideas and to actually do it.

And you have the SpeedBuild Challenge coming up in March – what is that?

SpeedBuild was developed around getting entry level information to players on how startups and the business world in general work for players. We just did a program for the Miami Dolphins in fact – for 41 of their players.

The one in March is for players we’ll invite to the event – it offers them an opportunity – like a hackathon – to stand up as a team and as individuals to pitch a business idea – like Shark Tank.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Chaplain Hollis Haff, 1974-1989

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First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself as of late?

Well, I’m just back from my 50-year anniversary cruise, so I am totally relaxed!

I’m still working full-time at the New Community Church. I was the founding pastor but in ’98 I decided to step down and lead the pastor discipleship at the church. i was going in too many directions and wanted to get back to what I was doing when I was with the Steelers and Pirates.

I still work with some of those guys I worked with then and started a citywide discipleship forum to raise awareness on how  to train pastors and ministry leaders on the best strategies. We just finished our first year and I work closely with Leo Wisnewski – he’s a local guy who want to Penn State.  I also work with Tunch Ilkin and Jon Kolb but they don’t have as much time to give – they have so many other things going on.

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