First, tell us about the post-playing adjustments and how you got started in coaching?
I started off coaching Little League for my two boys. I enjoyed that. Then in ’09 Scott Pioli was hired by the Chiefs and I asked if I could come in and do an internship. I liked that and what I was doing there. They hired me as their defensive line coach the next season there.
I liked teaching the guys how to be physically and mentally tough. I liked doing that.
How do you teach guys to be mentally tough?
You have to show them how to endure change – to deal with what you can’t control. No matter what – no excuses – just continue to work hard and grind. You have to show them they need to play through pain sometimes and to be mentally tough that way. It’s a mindset you have to instill in them.
Who have been your mentors over the years – and how?
Really it’s been a lot of other players. Mike Johnson, Clay Matthews, Frank Minnifield, Michael Dean Perry….they were those mentally tough guys. They worked hard and I learned a lot of that from them.
I went to Tennessee State University – we practiced two times a day – we had to be mentally tough there. We ran every day. In high school too. I practiced over three hours a day in high school since I played offense and defense – I’d start at 3:00 and get home after 7:00.
Want to coach again?
I’m done with coaching. I take my hat off to coaches – they put a lot of time into the gameplanning and watching film and getting guys ready to play. That’s a lot of time they out in. I didn’t like the game planning as much as I did working with guys on technique and how to be mentally tough. I liked seeing a guy evolve and go from being a zero to a 10.
You were drafted by Cleveland – were you surprised? Anyone help mentor you once you got there?
It was a big surprise. I was in a hotel in Dallas with my agent for the draft. I prayed the night before not to get drafted by Cleveland. They showed a lot of interest in me and I just remembered playing a Classic game there against Central State – how cold and dreary it was there.
When I got there Eddie Johnson taught me and Rob Burnett how to watch film. To watch for formations and sets – were the linemen sitting heavy or light, that kind of thing. He helped mentor me that way.
Frank Minnifield too – he showed me how to watch film too. He had a computer and would diagram routes. Clay and Mike Johnson worked out in the offseason and showed me how to work hard as well.
Do you remember your first experience in that Steelers rivalry?
In 1990 we knew the road had to go through Pittsburgh – they were tough to beat and if you wanted to win the division you had to beat them., We beat them at home that year and that’s when I learned about their history and the rivalry. I played some and remember running down the sidelines leading the cavalry on an interception for a touchdown.
How did Cleveland prepare for those games?
They were rivals so practices were more intense and more focused. We practiced at a more upbeat, fast tempo and at a higher level. The coaches would try to motivate us – to make it personal. They’d find film of what Pittsburgh did to other teams and what they said about any of us. Anything to add fuel to the fire to make it more personal.
Any favorite experiences of those Steelers-Browns games?
In 1994 a fan threw a Terrible Towel at Ernest Byner and I remember him stepping on it like a little kid. That was funny to me – he looked like a little kid doing it!
And there was one game we played at home and the defensive line just dominated them. We lost – it was a close game – our offense couldn’t do anything. But I remember Bill Belichick telling us that was the best game he ever saw the defensive line play.
Then the team left for Baltimore – how did you all take it?
It was out of the blue. It was shocking – we didn’t want to move. Cleveland was a great football city – we established ourselves there. We had family and friends there and Baltimore was a big unknown. But that’s part of the business I guess – you couldn’t control it.
Any good matchups on those Steelers teams for you personally?
Me and John Jackson – he was a tough guy to go up against. We had some good competitions, yeah.
You moved on then to New England – what made those teams so special and what do you remember most about that first Super Bowl win experience?
I remember being underdogs against Pittsburgh. Bill showed us tape of where we were counted out by everyone. He told us the hotel even had Pittsburgh jerseys ready for them because they expected them to win. That ignited us to be even hungrier to win. We all walked out on the field together on the opposite sideline and faced Pittsburgh when the game started to show we were all ready and united – I remember that.
What about Bill’s coaching made him so successful – especially against Pittsburgh?
Bill was just good at pushing people’s buttons – and the team’s. He would show us film of players talking bad about someone on the team. He would show us anything they said that was negative – that’s how he rolled. He would do anything to motivate you personally.
How about schematically?
He wanted guys to be mentally and physically tough. He would tell us that all the time – he would repeat it all the time. He kept telling it to you until that became who you were.
Schematically, on defense we had multiple fronts. It was hard to prepare for us – you never knew what package you’d see. On offense we did that too and mixed it up so you’d get different plays from the same personnel. We kept teams on their toes. But at the end of the day it still came back to beating the guy in front of you.
What do you think of the Browns-Steelers rivalry today?
I’m not involved but I’m not sure if the players understand the history of it. The game isn’t as physical so I’m not sure it’s the same kind of atmosphere when we played. It’s hard to say but based on the fact the game is less physical and teams can’t even practice as physical. I’d say it’s very different.