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Exclusive with Derrick Bell From FanNation’s All Steelers on the Steelers Draft

First, can you let us know how you get started covering the Steelers?

I got started on my own in 2011 – I started doing my own research on the draft and posting on Twitter. I did some editing a few years later – I got pushed into doing that more. It wasn’t something I naturally enjoyed but I took the leap and started writing for Steel City Blitz. I went from there to FanSided and gradually got better. Now, we’re also doing a podcast. It’s weird seeing this community that listens to me here.

Diving into the draft, where do you think it’s deepest relative to the Steelers needs?

I think cornerback is a need for the Steelers. This is the most exciting cornerback class I’ve seen since 2013. There are so many guys at the top of the draft like Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon….Gonzalez has a big, athletic frame … Witherspoon is more twitchy and likes to hit and excels in man coverage.

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Steelers Players, Coaches and Front Office Remember Dick Haley

Todd Haley:

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. I grew up with the NFL – it was my whole life. I’d watch Hall of Fame players every day with the Steelers – it was such a huge advantage seeing what great players did to be great. Lambert was always my idol – we’d fight as kids to see who would get to wash his car in camp.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Andre Lott, 2006

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

I’ve been here at the St. George Independent School for over 10 years now. I started as a fifth-grade associate then moved on to become the Dean of the Middle School, then five years ago I became the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach of the football team.

It’s been a great journey – it’s a great school.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Joe Cugliari, 1991

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

Well, I joined civilian life after playing. I went into business for myself – I got into mortgage banking, but in the mortgage crisis of 2008 I lost it all. I started over again and now I own Prantl’s Bakery and run that. I accumulated a number of properties that I manage as well – I have a portfolio of those I represent and manage those as well.

How did you get involved in all of that?

My major in college was in Business Administration. When I was handling commercial loans I noticed a lot of the calls I was getting were due to people mismanaging businesses. Over time I became as much of a business consultant as a lender – I helped out people in the position to get the loans by helping them fix their businesses.

I purchased and sold a few companies over the years – the bakery was one I bought and sold though because I enjoy the business.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Scout Bruce McNorton, 2000-2022

First off, how did you get into scouting?

It started with Kevin Colbert in Detroit when I was playing. We developed a friendship and after I was done playing I started coaching high school football. He and Ron Hughes then offered me a part-time job scouting there with the Lions and I did that for three years.

Why did you come on board with Pittsburgh?

When Kevin left for Pittsburgh he brought me with him. I think he liked that I offered my honest opinions and I liked that they accepted those, right or wrong. I knew what kind of person he was after being around him for so long.

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Exclusive with Pennsylvania Football History

First, how did you got started with the PA Football History site and your coverage of Pennsylvania high school football?

I started around 2012 – I originally did it as a site on my alma mater – I’m not sure what spurred me on to the idea. I dug into newspaper archives – online and physical – and kept going until I reached the point where I found everything I could. You never actually find everything of course – but I wanted to keep going. I had a desire to keep doing it – it was addictive.

Trying to cover the whole state was too big to do – so of course I figured, why not try it? Others have done similar things on a more regionalized or school-specific basis – I’m not the only one who does it generally. But my goal was to create a community where people with a similar interest could all join together. It may be a small group but it’s a lot of fun when you find a group with a similar interest. I joke that we”re like a 2023 ham radio group!

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Donald Evans, 1990-1993

First, can you let me know how you got started with Nehemiah Builders, Inc. and the Ram Athletic Foundation, Inc. – including your contributions to youth sports after your NFL career? What prompted you to start those endeavors?

After retiring from the NFL, I moved back to my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. My twin brother Ronald was in the construction business and a few of my family members were licensed general contractors. After working with family and learning the business, I decided to take classes to prepare for licensing.

After successfully becoming licensed, I started my own plan, design-build and renovation company. Coming from humble beginnings, my twin brother Ronald and I were the youngest of 18 children and my father passed when we were a year old. The poverty we endured compelled me to do better and be better. It is fulfilling to help others and give them an opportunity to excel and become their best self.

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Exclusive with Former Oilers Cornerback Cris Dishman

First, can you let us know about your coaching career -your start in the XFL and mentors/approach?

I’m the defensive backs coach now for the XFL’s New York Guardian team. It’s such a young league I don’t have much to talk about yet, but we’re looking for quality guys who may not all have been able to make it in the NFL but who have a fire and passion for the game.

The coaches that helped shape my coaching career were guys like Nick Saban, who helped show me technique and was very demanding. Phil Bennett as well – he was very family oriented. Pat Thomas coached the defensive backs with the Oilers and he and Rod Perry ended up giving me the techniques and drills that are the foundation for the drills I use today with my players. I had some great coaches over my career.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Lou Baldacci, 1956

First, can you let me know what you got into after football? Was the transition difficult?

I got into developing real estate – subdivisions and that kind of thing. My brother was involved in it and we both decided to form a company together.

I don’t remember the transition being difficult – it was seamless for me. After that first season with the Steelers I had to do my military service obligation and went into the Air Force. I was assigned to the Hamilton Air Force Base in San Francisco and ended up playing for their football team as well. Guys like Frank Speno, Bob McElwee and Charles Eckerly were all good players there too.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Michael Hinnant, 1988-1989

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

I work for a pharmaceutical company – Merck – as their operations manager. I’ve really been managing people since I stopped playing ball. I supervised group homes for kids and spent years in security first, since I had a criminal justice degree. I’ve been at Merck now for 19 years.

Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?

After I was released in my second year in Pittsburgh I started working in the criminal justice system, so I was able to transition in the offseason. I worked with court-adjudicated delinquents. That made the transition easy for me before I started getting into other things.

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