First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since you stopped playing football?
Since I’ve been done playing, the majority of my work feeding my family now has been in commercial real estate in Arizona and Utah. We’ve been spending our time between these two areas.
We need to bunker down now though. My kids are four and one – they are getting to be school age. So we need to settle on one area. I’ve also been involved in some start-up companies. Just trying to stay busy and active.
Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult for you?
I think it is a struggle, yes. It is difficult. For me, the challenge came with the fact my identity was as a football player and that association with that world. Being a part of a billion dollar business, doing interviews and having thousands of fans care about what you are doing – you get a sense of importance.
When you remove yourself from that you have to have a good foundation of who you are outside of football and need to have a plan for what’s next. Even if you do it’s still a tough transition.
I had success in other ways but I still felt a little lost. It took me years to get over it to be honest – to adapt and change my personality to adjust to things. It takes time. You spend so much time and have so much history doing something you love. The value you bring and the connections you make all change.
When you first got into the league, were there guys that helped you adjust to the NFL on and off the field?
Jarrett Johnson – he was great. That whole rookie class was great. Haloti Ngata and Ray Lewis – they were amazing leaders.
Jarrett was there for me from a psychological standpoint. We were all trying to figure it out for ourselves. Our job is to make the team and get better. The coaches and trainers are there to help you. As a young player, what the veterans can do that is most helpful is to basically tell you you can do this. Jarrett had me over for dinner and we’d talk about what I was going through and talk. Sometimes an extended hand is all you need.
Jarrett and I -we played the same position. We were competitors that way. But he didn’t care. He supported me anyway.
Were you ready for the Steelers-Ravens rivalry?
I don’t think I knew, no. When you’re on a new team it takes time to understand the rivalries. You need to see them through your own eyes – the way the fans and players react.
My first game in Pittsburgh, I felt like it was damn cool. If I didn’t play for the Ravens I thought I would have loved to play there. The music and fans, and personalities of the players were awesome.
After that first experience I looked forward to those games every year. What a cool rivalry. Those were some good games and battles. We played as hard as you could every game. But there was just something different about those games. It was a mindset. It wasn’t about effort – it just was more physical and heated. The Ravens could have been a much better team and it wouldn’t have mattered – it still would have come down to the wire.
Were there players you lined up against that you remember most?
Marcus Gilbert was a good battle. When you play guys twice a year you get to know guys very well. When you play against guys consistently, it’s funny, you start to gain respect for each other. It’s not just an in-and-out game where you try and dominate the other guy. Some players when they see guys repeatedly they get more heated, but I just gained more respect for them and had more fun.
Any memories stand out most to you from those games?
My first sack on Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. I was so happy. I watched so much film of Ben and heard so much about him. Brady, Roethlisberger….there’s an allure about guys like them. To finally get a sack on them was like a dream. It felt like a video game.
I always had fun with the song too – Renegade. It was like a momentum-builder for me as well. It always came on at the perfect time – around the third quarter when we were all heavy. You saw the towels going – it was a cool moment when you’re on the field seeing it.
One other memory that stands out was the overtime interception I had in Baltimore my rookie season. Dennis Dixon was the quarterback and it was a huge play for me and a big game. We went on to win the game because of it. It was a big deal for me. It felt like it was all in slo-motion as it was happening.
I remember afterwards Ray Lewis came over and gave me a big headbutt. It was the hardest hit I took all year! What an animal.
I remember talking to other players about those big moments that made them feel like they “made it”. Was this the one for you?
It was a huge moment for me yeah. That’s when you start seeing the vets looking at you as an equal. Making a play like that to help win a big game was badass. That was the first moment I was introduced to the rivalry in the right way!
You left Baltimore to a rival team in Cleveland – why, and how strange was that for you?
It was difficult. I guess the way I felt was that Cleveland was the only team that gave me the contract I felt I deserved. The situation – I was so anxious to be that guy I overlooked the fact it was a rivalry of the Ravens. I felt like I was graduating high school when I signed with Cleveland. I overlooked everything else and was excited to play against my old team. I would rather have stayed but they really didn’t present me with an opportunity to do so.
I did have an amazing time there in Baltimore though and am thankful to the front office and team. But when it came down to it it was like “See you later.” There was no talk of staying. I was excited to go to Cleveland and try to prove myself there.
How was Cleveland different from Baltimore?
It was very different. It was difficult to gain momentum there. I didn’t have a great first year, then had a great second season and then had a bad third year. There were a lot of challenges in Cleveland that I didn’t have to face in Baltimore. I didn’t rush the passer as much in Cleveland and that was my forte’. The coaches didn’t always put you in positions that were set up best for you. I had three different coaches, three different defenses and we had three different quarterbacks over those three years. It’s difficult to find your stride with so much turnover.
I could have also done better. Not to make excuses. When each coach came in they didn’t care what you had done. They’d come in and flip everyone on their head to see who’s who. I don’t blame them – it’s not always a bad thing to do. But every team needs those core guys who are respected as leaders and we didn’t get a chance for much of that.
Do you stay in touch with either team much now and root for any one team?
I want to be more engaged now and have better relationships with them again. I put it all aside for a couple of years when I retired, but now I’m watching games again and paying more attention. I just want to see good football and see the guys I like play well. I want to see good people succeed.
So does that mean you’d even root for some Steelers players?
Ha yeah! I’d root for Steelers players yes. Haden – I love Joe. And Schobert – he was a total stud in Cleveland. I would love to see them ball out!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
