First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your football days?
I’m invested in a company I’m launching – Kudosnacks.com – we’re partnered with the UFC. It’s a protein packed popcorn – healthy and vegan friendly. I’m getting into that now. It’s been my main focus – getting that off the ground.
I’m putting my kids through college as well and just trying to relax a bit.
How difficult was the post-NFL transition for you?
It wasn’t that hard. I’m an introvert at heart and like to do my own thing anyway. I was happy to ride into the sunset – that played well into my psyche. It was an adjustment for my family though. Having me at home more and spending more time with the kids – dropping them off at school … So I guess you can say it was a minor adjustment.
Were you surprised to be drafted by the Bengals?
It wasn’t my choice – I’ll tell you that! But the weird thing about it was that my running backs coach at the University of Washington was hired by the Bengals as their special teams coach. So I ended up where he went. I just figured that I was here now, so let’s make it work. I actually thought I was going to be drafted by the Saints, but I slipped into the second round.
Anyone help take you under their wing and mentor you once you got there?
There were good people there like Eric Bieniemy, Boomer Esiason and Carl Pickens. They showed me the ropes. They were solid veterans. It wasn’t so much what they showed me as what they told me – the information they gave me.
Boomer said something that stuck with me. He told me that he knew I was a first round talent, but it didn’t matter what round you’re drafted in, it’s what you do when you get there. That put my focus back on making a name for myself in the league. That always stuck with me – it helped me focus on where to put my energy.
Were you aware of the Steelers rivalry at the time?
Oh I was made aware! When I got there I looked over and saw guys like Lloyd and Kirkland and thought “Those are some pretty big boys! What the hell!” Then guys like Polamalu, Porter and that crew came in. It was always a heated matchup from day one. We could be having a terrible season but beating the Steelers was our Super Bowl!
Any of those moments stand out most to you?
You know what? It wasn’t so much in Cincinnati as it was in New England. I remember playing them in the regular season at Heinz Field when we were both undefeated. I pulled my hamstring the week before and couldn’t play in the game. We got our asses beat – they put one on us. But we got another opportunity in the AFC Championship game and we retuned the favor.
What changed in that second game?
I just think we knew it was all on the line. I was back and I just think we took their best shot. We learned from that and knew it would be physical. There wasn’t much finesse – it was just a physical game and we got it done.
What were the differences between those Bengals and Patriots teams, from your perspective?
It was really everything. In New England we had a bona fide quarterback that everyone rallied around. That we’d run through a brick wall for. And the 53 other guys were all locked in. We didn’t care what it looked like in New England – we just wanted to win the game. That’s what I was missing my whole career up to that point. Guys there were focused on winning, not outshining other guys. It was the Belichick culture. You check your attitudes at the door. The focus was on winning.
I heard a trivia question one morning on the radio asking who had the most rushing yards against the Steelers and I thought I heard the answer was that I ran for more yards against the Steelers than any other running back. I have no idea if that’s true {note- Dillon is actually fifth all-time against the Steelers}. Either way, I did my job against the Steelers. The funny thing is, I played well against them, whether it was with the Bengals or Patriots. It was always a slugfest – maybe their physical play matched my style.
We played in the snow and it was cold as hell. But those are some of the funnest games I played in. It boiled down to who wanted it more. They got the better of us a lot, but I’ll tell you what, we won some of those games as well. They weren’t all lopsided losses.
Any personal moments stand out most for you in those games?
It was either my rookie or second season. We were playing in the final game of the season and the Steelers needed to win the game to have a chance to make the playoffs. We were putting a whooping on them – in Pittsburgh. Then I heard one of the Steelers players tell me that we were acting like we were going to the playoffs. I don’t remember who it was, but I told him “You aren’t going either. You’re getting your asses kicked!” Everybody on offense in the huddle busted out laughing.
They always had a solid squad in Pittsburgh under Cowher. Nothing was ever easy against them.
What do you think of the rivalry between the teams today?
I think it’s more heated than ever – especially with the Burfict and Antonio Brown stuff. It all intensified one-hundred times more then – though that was a whole different level of craziness. Both teams are good now. You get the feeling those games will determine who wins the division.
Burfict stuff aside, when you played, was there animosity between the players like what the fans often had for one another?
During the game there’s lots of cussing back and forth. “F U. No, F U!” That was the norm. When the game was over though we shook hands and told each other “Good game”. No one carried it off the field.
Well, some did, like Joey!
Ha! I know who you are talking about – that’s really funny. Now Joey is my homeboy – we’re cool as hell. But I know what you are talking about, so yeah, maybe Joey!
Joey and I were always cool, but not during games. It was all friendly competition, but if you think he was taking it easy on me because we were cool, well, that’s not how it works. The beauty of the game is that after being gladiators on the field, we do have that friendship with some of those players after the game is over. “See you soon” after games – that’s usually how it went.