First, can you let us know what you have been up to since your playing days?
Right now I’m enjoying being a father. I have five boys – four play football and one plays basketball. My two oldest are at Wyoming and two are in high school. That’s my priority right now.
How has the post-NFL transition been for you? I know some have an easier time than others.
I’m still making the transition, ever since I retired really. I had my ups and downs but as long as I have my priorities in order and have a good solid spiritual relationship in order, I am ok.
But you are right, it is an easier transition for some than others.
You started off in Dallas – who helped mentor you there and elsewhere as a young player and how?
Michael Irvin. His leadership that he displayed when I was a rookie there in ’92 – the energy he brought to the locker room and hard work he displayed on the practice field and even after practice. Just seeing him doing those things and what it took to be great. I filed all that away. It was a valuable piece in the development of my career. His leadership and the way he worked – I took many of those values and qualities from him.
How difficult was the situation for you in Dallas considering what happened with the misdiagnosed appendicitis situation?
Misdiagnosed yes. Kevin O’Neill the trainer then just didn’t care. For two days I complained and nothing was done. On the third day he gave me a map to the hospital and had me drive there. My appendix ruptured and that caused other problems as well that caused me to miss an entire season.
Do you feel in an odd way that ended up helping your career by ultimately having you land in Jacksonville?
I don’t no. The situation was terrible. I had to fight through it and found myself struggling physically and mentally. I lost 30 pounds – I was at 5% body fat so it was all muscle I lost. It took a physical toll and mental toll. I lost confidence – I didn’t think I could make it back from that.
I got cut by Philly after that and sat out the entire ’94 season at home. I was watching and wishing and wondering “Why me?” My dad finally talked to me and said “Son, why not you? Everyone has a different path.” He asked me if I was going to quit or step up to the plate.
I took his advice and went to Jacksonville for a tryout. I made the team and the rest is history.
What was it like joining an expansion team like the Jaguars and how did you land on the team?
The team was full of guys with familiar issues – guys that didn’t fit in with other teams. Everyone was getting another opportunity. It was a revolving door at first and I didn’t want to be a part of that. After Dallas and Philly I knew I had a new shot and wanted to make it stick.
I made the team as a fifth wide receiver. I knew from my experience playing behind Michael Irvin in Dallas that I would have to make the team on special teams play. I ended up being one of their top special teams players the first eight games. Then after some injuries happened I was given an opportunity to play wide receiver and started making some plays.
Were you initially prepared for the AFC North intensity and competitiveness? What was different for you about playing in that division?
I was ready for that. I played in Dallas when it was the black and blue division. I knew Pittsburgh was a black and blue team too. They would hit you too – you knew you were in a physical game when you played them.
So I was prepared for it. Also, Dallas had a lot of pressure on them to win a Super Bowl. I put that same kind of pressure on myself to keep my job.
Any fun memories from those Steelers games stand out to you?
I caught my first touchdown pass against the Steelers. I was the third receiver and I think it went for at least 40 yards. But, it was called back. Still, it caught the eyes of the Jacksonville coaches. That helped me to earn another contract. I was on a one-year contract then and when you can make plays against a division rival they pay attention to that.
Who were the guys you lined up verses Pittsburgh that you remember most and why?
Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake – two Hall of Fame type guys. I was able to have some success against those types of players. When you can do that that raises some eyebrows. The team was looking for playmakers who could win us games and I was able to have success against them.
You personally had a lot of success those years – even against Woodson and Lake. Why was that?
I just think knowing I finally had an opportunity to succeed – that made me successful. I never had a chance early on in my career. Just having a little bit of success helped me to have confidence and led to more success.
They were tough battles but I won more than half of them. Catching and blocking – I was able to have success. I think I always had the physical ability but having had to rebuild my mental toughness after the illness really helped me. I was able to be mentally tough after that against those guys.
Any thoughts now on the Jaguars and the Steelers-Jaguars games? The Jaguars often seem to give the Steelers fits still…why do you think that is?
In the early days of the Jaguars’ existence Tom Coughlin built the team specifically to beat the Steelers. We established our identity – it was “Whatever it takes to beat the Steelers.” I think it’s carried over through the years. That has remained for some reason – we get up for those Steelers games even though we’re not even in the same division anymore.
Was there a “blueprint” Coughlin used for that success?
Oh yeah! Run the ball! I’ll never forget him telling us we needed to run the ball, control the clock and play great defense against the run. That’s what he preached to us and I think what they try to do – even now.
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