All Articles – Page 79 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive: John Boccacino of Buffalo Rumblings

First, you’ve been winning a lot of close games this season against good teams – what’s been that big difference for you guys this year?

I just think it’s all about Josh Allen. He was the most scrutinized and criticized Buffalo player going into this year. Was he good enough was the question. A lot of the time he carried the day last year but then he’d make a bonehead play – like that reckless backward pass in the playoffs. But then he’d come back and make a great pass to John Brown. He was just too up and down.

So what’s changed?

This year his mechanics have changed – he worked hard in the offseason with quarterback guru Jordan Palmer. Palmer filmed him in 15 different camera angles to look at his mechanics and learned that Josh Allen wasn’t using his hips properly when he threw the ball – his shoulders and arms beat his hips when he released the ball which accounted for many of the poor and under-thrown passes.

Continue reading “Exclusive: John Boccacino of Buffalo Rumblings”

Exclusive with Inaugural NFL Hall of Fan member Rick Holman

First, tell me about how the nomination into the Ford Fan Hall of Fame got started?

Well, before the last home game in 2012, I got an email from Steelers Nation Unite telling me that I was one of 12 people to have attended every game that year. You had to check in with the Steelers app – like an “I’m here” thing, and they can track to see you went to the games.

Well, I had pneumonia but I had to go. They wanted us to go down on the field for a drawing -one of us would win a trip to the Super Bowl. I was sick – I wasn’t supposed to go out for more than 30 minutes, but I had a streak of 17 years – never missing a preseason, regular season or playoff game at Heinz Field. It was at 183 games. The last game I missed was at Three Rivers.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Inaugural NFL Hall of Fan member Rick Holman”

Exclusive with former Steelers Safety Cornell Gowdy, 1987-1988

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

Well, I’m currently the sale manager for a Toyota dealership. I’ve been doing that for four years now. I’m hoping to get back to the NFL as a scout. I did that for 15 years or so. I spoke with my former GM in New Orleans who was associated with the AAF now, but they were still figuring out their scouting process.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Safety Cornell Gowdy, 1987-1988”

Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Cody Wallace, 2013-2016

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

Well, I partnered with my brother-in-law to start up a termite inspection company in California. It was a funny thing to jump into I know. It’s what my brother-in-law was doing for the last 15 years but was working for someone else and wanted to be a manger. We were chatting about what to do next after my knee wasn’t healing well enough after my injury for me to play again. We opened our doors last August and we now have 15 guys working for us already.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Cody Wallace, 2013-2016”

Exclusive with Pittsburgh Artist Cody Sabol

First, can you tell us how you got started in speed painting and what exactly speed painting is?

I started in college. I played football in college and was looking for other things to do besides playing football and studying in a small school town in Kentucky. Drawing was always a hobby for me. I started hanging out with some local musicians and painted while they did their thing. It turned into speed painting – it just became this weird thing. It was like a performance art thing keeping up with them.

Over time, it took off. I saw speed painting before but I never thought to do it myself. I looked it up on Youtube to learn how, like everyone does these days. I worked at it every day – it was a natural growth. I got better at it over time and found my own style.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Pittsburgh Artist Cody Sabol”

Exclusive with Aaron Lesher of Hogs Haven

First, coming off a couple of wins, well-rested and Alex Smith playing good football, you feel good about Monday’s game – especially with the Steelers being less rested?

The rest is a good thing but I think it would be much different if the game were being played Sunday instead of Monday. I watched the Baltimore game Wednesday – I think the score made the game look closer than it was.

Pittsburgh is coached extremely well – they are a lot more talented than Washington in just about every area. So while the rest is one area you can look at and draw a conclusion that it’s a big advantage for Washington, I think the pedigree and leadership in Pittsburgh makes it less of a difference-maker. I would like to think it would – maybe if it were the Lions – but not with the Steelers. They do things right – Tomlin will have them ready for Washington.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Aaron Lesher of Hogs Haven”

Exclusive with former Steelers Defensive Back Jason Simmons, 1998-2001

First, you’ve been the defensive backs coach for Green Bay for a number of years now. Can you tell us how you got started there?

I played for Dom Capers in Houston and he told me then I should coach when I was done playing. After I retired I took a couple of years off then in 2011 I took advantage of an internship opportunity at Green Bay, The next year a new entry level position opened up and I got my feet wet there.

Now, I’m at Carolina, coaching their secondary.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Defensive Back Jason Simmons, 1998-2001”

Exclusive with ESPN’s John Buccigross

First off, what have you been working on lately – where can fans find you and your work and what;’s next?

My primary ESPN job is SportsCenter. 11 PM Eastern time. I went to ESPN in September 2019 hoping to make the transition to a play-by-play broadcaster. I would like to still make that transition. But I love doing SportsCenter and doing the show and it is the highlight of my day.

I spoke to Vito Stellino recently who talked about how the fun of covering sports has diminished for him – it being so hard to really get one on one time to get to know athletes. Basically, that now it’s all about the press conference. Do you feel the same way? How do you cut through that to really get to know athletes today?

I can understand that sentiment. At least when it comes to hockey, I’ve been able to cultivate and maintain lots of relationships in the game so I can get plenty of on-on-one time with players and coaches. That’s probably the product of my position in the company I work for, I admit. Part of it is also income and class. There was a time athletes and journalists probably made similar money. Or at least in the same neighborhood. Now obviously that is not the case. Money and status has become the primary value in America. That is not a good thing.

Continue reading “Exclusive with ESPN’s John Buccigross”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Punter Mark Royals, 1992-1994

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

When you’re done with what you’ve been doing your whole life, it can be daunting finding out what’s next for you. Not everyone walks away from the game with gobs of cash.

Figuring that out was a bit of a challenge for me. It took four years for me to really make it in the NFL so I had some time to prepare for life after football early on. After football I did some interesting work on the TV and radio – everyone wants the next popular player who retires – they jump to the head of the train.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Punter Mark Royals, 1992-1994”

Exclusive with former Ravens Wide Receiver Mark Clayton

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

I just started doing some part-time coaching for a high school here in Fort Worth, Texas. Before that I was just hanging out with the kids, really. A whole lot of nothing, really. I got involved with some businesses after a few years of taking it easy and resting – keeping the revenue stream going.

Any coaching influences form your playing days?

Brian Billick for sure. Steve Spurrier Jr. Danny Wyatt – my college receivers coach. Spurrier showed me how to have fun -just his approach to coaching. Wyatt was a technician – he showed me that every step mattered. And Brian Billick – he taught me how to be more responsible for my own development. He wasn’t a micro-manager. He expected you to do what you were supposed to do. He showed us what I meant to be responsible young men. That was huge for me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Ravens Wide Receiver Mark Clayton”