First, can you tell us a bit about what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
Since football, you can say I’ve become an addicted entrepreneur. I’ve started up many businesses – sport facilities, I was a successful sports agent, opened up a transportation company and car business. I’ve had several endeavors and am still busy running those day-to-day operations.
How was that post-NFL transition for you?
It was a smooth transition for me – only because I was prepared for it. The NFL is a revolving door – all who go in come out. You have to understand that going in.
Everybody goes in wanting longevity and has goals of being a starter, Pro Bowl player … everyone sets some goals for their career. Not everyone thinks about what happens afterwards. I was fortunate to play for 10 years and was able to walk away on my own accord.
Were you surprised to be drafted by the Bengals?
I was surprised at the time. I hadn’t worked out for them. I didn’t even know who the coach was. I was surprised because I didn’t think they needed a wide receiver. They had Eddie Brown who just had a Rookie-of-the-Year season and Cris Collinsworth. It was a head-scratcher for me.
What did they tell you – did it become evident quickly what the plan was?
They were moving to the West Coast offense. They were transitioning from the run game to a more pass-first, play action game. They went from old school to modern day football. They had a vision and anticipated the move to a more pass-friendly NFL. They wanted to put more pressure on defenses by forcing mismatches with three good receivers.
Were you aware of the Steelers-Bengals rivalry then?
No question – I was from Cleveland! I grew up in Cleveland and totally understood the trifecta then of the Steelers-Bengals-Browns rivalries. It was never a surprise whatever happened when those teams played each other. It didn’t matter who played who it was always a dogfight.
Were you hoping maybe to go to Cleveland in the draft?
I would have loved to go to Cleveland but I knew the chances were slim. I was slotted to get drafted in the first round. The Browns didn’t have a first round pick that season, so I didn’t want to go to Cleveland in the second round! Cleveland ended up getting Webster Slaughter round two and he was a good receiver and good guy – it worked out for them. Houston too – they got Givens round two as well.
Were there good personal rivalries you had with any of the Steelers players?
Oh yeah, the biggest person was Rod Woodson. He presented a different type of challenge for us. We had Hanford Dixon, Minnifield in our division and I practiced against Eric Thomas and Billups in practice every day. Rod was special – he had no weaknesses. Hanford wasn’t exceptionally fast and Minnifield was smaller. You know how the NFL works – it’s all about attacking and exploiting weaknesses. But with Rod there weren’t any!
How did you work against him then?
We did a lot of runs at him – we forced him to support the run so we could use play action after. In those days separation as a receiver meant you had one or two yards. Not like today when you’re open now even if you’re covered because the quarterbacks are so good.
Rod, we knew we’d have few opportunities against him. So we knew we had to make the best of what we got when we got chances. We didn’t try for 10 yard passes. When we went at him we went for chunk plays and touchdowns. It didn’t always work of course.
Any fun moments about those rivalry games?
I’ll tell you, the funniest thing was Bubby Brister. It was comical trying to figure what the hell he would do next. Most of the time you gameplan on what your team can do. But with the Steelers it was rare – we’d gameplan knowing Bubby would make that one big mistake that would help our team. Not to knock Bubby too much, but it was the funniest thing.
Back then it wasn’t as much of a rivalry to be honest. We had their number then. The rivalry was more between us and Cleveland. Those Steelers teams were coming off those 70’s and 80’s championship years but they weren’t like those teams then.
Any moments stand out most for you?
I caught my first touchdown versus the Steelers. It wasn’t a special play – it was a zone defense and I just caught a slant after Boomer audibled to the play. Just a basic throw and catch – but it was a highlight for me as it was my first NFL touchdown. You think about that moment a lot – what jumps and flips you’d do in those moments. But it happened so quickly I forgot to do all of that!
Any other moments stand out?
One unfortunate one was when Icky Woods injured his knee. Everett hit him and tore his ACL.
Unlike the Cleveland games, those games weren’t personal. It was personal between Cleveland and us – they matched wits and players with us. They had Bernie, we had Boomer…. Pittsburgh just struggled then because they didn’t have that quarterback. They had some very good players but didn’t have a championship caliber team then.
What do you think about the rivalry today between the Steelers and Bengals?
There is no damn rivalry now. Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati nearly every damn game. Those games are like homecoming games. I do the post-game coverage for the Bengals and its hard to say but it would be an insult to the coaches and fans to compare the games now versus those games then.
Is the gap closing with Burrow and an improving Bengals team?
I think the gap is closing, no question. But more because Pittsburgh is transitioning from a post-Ben team.. I think it’s more about that than the Bengals.
There is a more competitive balance happening, but Pittsburgh has had their way with the Bengals for years. Frankly, it pisses me off. It’s embarrassing. They’d have just as many fans coming to games here as we had, to see Pittsburgh beat us in lopsided games. I do think there’s hope that it’s changing.
I look at some groups and fans that criticize Tomlin. It’s amazing that people criticize him. If anyone knew how much we clamor to have someone like that here.
The Steelers franchise just breeds success. The bar in Pittsburgh isn’t to win games or make it to a Super Bowl. It’s to win a Super Bowl. Here, the expectations don’t exist. We don’t have a bar. I say it with regret, but it doesn’t exist. It’s a team that’s constantly rebuilding – like I-75 – it’s forever under construction.
Hopeful at all?
I think about the rivalry and do look forward to getting it back. The triangle we had with the Browns and Steelers – once the Browns moved and came back the rivalry was broken – it’s not there as much. I’d love to see the Bengals start winning consistently and bring that rivalry back.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
