First, what you have you been up to since football?
Now that I’m retired my three boys run me ragged. One’s a Freshman in college, one’s a Senior in high school and one’s an eighth-grader.
I have my farm I work on and do sports radio as well. It’s just two hours a day so that’s easy – I work on the farm in the mornings then go into town and do the radio show. I’m not very good but it’s just like talking about sports in a bar anyway. It’s like I’m sitting on a barstool talking sports, which I do anyway! I’m lucky and blessed to have all of this.
Was the post-NFL adjustment tough?
I was ready for it to be over. It went from rolling over and going to practice to aches and pains every day. I have great memories of those Steelers-Ravens games but I couldn’t play one or two plays now.
You started off with the Bengals and then Philadelphia before Baltimore – how did you end up with the Ravens?
I was drafted in the sixth round by the Bengals but I never passed the eye test. I was short and stubby and most teams liked those 6’4″ guys.
The Bengals put me on the practice squad – I was just trying to fit in and make the team as a rookie. The Eagles picked me up from the practice squad and I played four games that season. The next season the Eagles wanted to put me on the practice squad after they drafted a defensive lineman, but the Ravens wanted to pick me up and place me on their practice squad. I chose the Ravens even though the Eagles offered me more because I was a big fan of the Ravens’ defense.
Who were your mentors there?
Tony Siragusa – horrible how we just lost him. I learned a lot from him. I was 270 pounds when I was signed by the Ravens and 310 after that first season. Goose taught me that if I can keep guys off Ray Lewis so he could make plays, I’d have a long career.
He was never selfish. The door was always open and he was one of the smartest players I was ever around. He was so good at pre-snap reads. He meant a lot to me – it was a grind playing football but he kept it fun. I tried to do that too – to work hard but have fun.
Especially then with nose tackles being a bit more rare as the 3-4 wasn’t as widely utilized, did you talk to other nose tackles including guys like Hampton and Hoke?
I had a lot of respect for those two yeah. We’re double-teamed on every play – you have to respect guys that play the position. The best ever was Ted Washington who played briefly in Cleveland. I always gravitated to those guys pre-game and post-game. You have to respect those guys.
You mentioned before you were undersized – how did you become so successful and last so long in the NFL?
I was a big wrestler in college – the was my favorite sport. I was a three-time Oklahoma state champion. As a noseguard, that two-gapping work was a lot like wrestling. Keeping an even weight on both feet – that’s like a wrestling match. Staying anchored and understanding how to use balance and leverage – that’s all wrestling and a big reason why I was able to play for 13 years in the NFL.
What were your early experiences with those Steelers-Ravens games?
I hated Hartings, Faneca and Kemoeatu. But I respected them too. Those games were a lot of fun. Billick would show that clip from Goodfellas – where Ray Liotta hits those guys talking trash. But he didn’t have to rile us up for those games.
And going up against Mark Bruener too – I respected him but hated him with a passion!
What do you think of how the fans adopted that hatred between the team – did they hate each other more than the players did?
When we went to Heinz Field I would love to see the middle fingers and Terrible Towels when we’d pass that McDonalds on the hill. I wanted that environment – I love crazy. Seeing the fans go crazy, it was like a big fight. Every play mattered.
I remember the fans loved that sandwich in Pittsburgh – Primantis, where they put everything on it. You had to be sick to live in Pittsburgh!
Ever have one?
No – I went there once to see it, but I never ate one no!
Any memories stand out most?
I’ll never forget how bad the field was then and the long cleats we had to wear.
Also – one play where Bettis was going down and I dug my facemark into his kidney. It was a cheap shot, really. After the game I went up to him and told him I was sorry for the cheap shot, and he said “Yeah, that was a cheap shot!” I told him I was never going to apologize after that!
Most of the guys didn’t talk much but they played hard every play. There was a thumb in your eye every now and then – stuff like that. But it wasn’t really cheap. We just looked for every edge since we were all so even otherwise.
And you always had to have your head on a swivel with Hines after that Ed Reed hit too. I remember that. And telling the guys that if Polamalu ever got the ball to tackle him by his damn hair!
Oh – and of course Porter calling out Lewis and going on the bus. I thought we were all going to kill Porter then!
Any of those matchups stand out to you most?
Rob Burnett and Mark Bruener used to go at it. That was a heavyweight battle every game. The Steelers always had physical, hard-nosed tight ends. Some tight ends would engage you but man, Bruener tried to blow you off the line.
Do you watch the NFL now – any thoughts on how it’s changed?
I’m a fantasy football geek now! But it’s hard to take any Steelers guys!
I’m all for safety and everything, but it used to be more of a grown man’s game. You can’t hit each other the way you used to. I always felt a big hit was a bigger momentum turner than a turnover. Ray would want a big hit – not to hurt you but to make an impression. Now, you can’t do that. They’ve taken a lot of the venom out of the game.
I still love the game though. It’s sad to see many of the older guys go. I don’t watch all of the games but I watch the Ravens-Steelers games. They are always tough and they remind me of my best memories playing football. I always hated the Steelers but I have great respect for them.
Was it sad to see Ben retire – one of those older guys leaving the game?
It is sad seeing him go. I enjoyed playing against him – he was always a good talker. When Haloti Ngata broke his nose he thought it was me. He yelled at me “Damn it Kelly – you broke my nose!”
And Cowher on the sidelines glaring at us with his headset on his shoulders. They got us more than we got them but they were always great games.