First, tell me about your work in the XFL – your role that you had there?
Well, all is in flux now that the XFL shut down and is starting up again. I was the Manager of Football Operations and Player Personnel – I was the liaison between the league and head coaches. I did everything from help formulate the rules for the league to helping with the ramp-up operations – including R&D.
With player personnel, I helped set up the Summer Showcases, which were like our combines. We did some new things – GPS testing on specific football movements and one-on-ones and seven-on-sevens, so coaches could see the real football acumen of players. 30% of the players in the XFL came out of the showcases.
Anything else – that’s a big workload?
On the football ops side, I checked on the goalposts and hashmarks and made sure the refs were up-to-date with the rules. I checked on uniform regulations too. I basically was the converging pieces of the different silos of the organization. It was an all encompassing role.
Sam Schwartzstein and I used to bounce new rules ideas off each other early on – we created new rules – the Halo rule, changing how gunners handled punt returns, new overtime rules…my job was to work with the coaches to help them absorb the new rules.
I spoke to Sam on that – he mentioned coaches were very reluctant at first to work with the changes?
Helping to get the coaches’ buy-in was big – to get them to buy-in to the different tactics. You tinker with the game and it changes their gameplans. Touchbacks going to the 35, the new overtime rules, extra point changes – they had to reimagine the way they coached.
Changing the kickoffs was an awesome change – and I think the overtime rules would have been a big hit in the NFL.
Who helped mentor you in this role- where did you learn those skills?
Doug Whaley to be completely honest – I can’t put into words how he helped. I worked for him in the XFL. Oliver Luck too.
At Gateway, Terry Smith – I watched the way he ran things. I picked up a lot from him – how he managed different things. I even helped order buses for games when I was at Gateway.
At Penn State – I worked with the coaches to make sure they saw the right guys. The college world helped out it all together for me. James Franklin – watching how he ran the organization was impressive.
And of course Kevin Colbert when I played in Pittsburgh – the way he operated things. He was held in such high regard.
Let’s talk about Pittsburgh – what caused you to sign with them in free agency?
I was coming off of injury from Indianapolis. I was a free agent – coming back home to play under Tomlin and Colbert was a no-brainer. I was delighted to see how things worked there when I played. How they ran the team. There are 10 ways to skin a cat – seeing how the congruency of what they did – how things were consistent from the management to players – that philosophy was impressive.
Tell me more about that – what was impressive about it to you?
As a player form the city, I felt I understood the city and how the team’s culture was just like the city’s. It was classless – everyone talked to everyone. On some teams the GM’s don’t talk to most players, but in Pittsburgh Colbert played pool with the guys in the locker room. They were all on the same page. The culture was just like the city’s – you felt that all the way through the organization.
Did anyone help take you under their wing as a new player there?
Not really – I knew Ryan Mundy and I worked out with Ryan Clark in Arizona so I knew them well before I got there. It was just great seeing players being able to be themselves but still worked hard. It was the type of guys they brought in. There was respect from the management down to the players and coaches, and the respect was vice-versa.
Unfortunately injuries sidetracked your time there. How frustrating were those injuries for you?
Absolutely – it was frustrating. Injuries ended my career – I injured my hip and hamstring – as a speed guy that makes it hard.. I understood when they released me – I wasn’t surprised. It was disappointing though – like any other athlete I felt could still contribute -especially for my home team. They say you never want to meet your heroes – to pull back the curtain. But that’s not how I felt when I was in Pittsburgh.
Any guys you played with there stand out to you?
AB – the guy’s work ethic stood out to me. I remember we lost to Cincinnati week 15 – week 16 was meaningless – we were out of the playoffs. But he showed up that week and practiced hard – every route had to be precise and was at full speed.
Anything else stand out to you about your time in Pittsburgh?
When I got to the NFL the Rams were in flux – the same thing with the Colts. Everywhere I played the coaches were laying out new visions – they were program-building. Even at Penn State we were.
So, playing for the Steelers was cool. They were established – the vets knew the system – there was a continuity and consistency I hadn’t had a chance to really experience before. Watching Troy and Ryan in the defensive backfield together communicating,…The coaches let them be individuals but they were still all in the same mold of player – all worked hard and were accountable.
Tomlin challenged guys on the field and meeting room – he challenged guys – big name too – to step up. There was a lot of accountability expected of players, and a lot of challenges that were accepted. That was the environment – they respected each other but it was a competitive environment.
Lastly – what’s next for you?
I’m looking for a position in upper management = in operations. I want to use my experience – preferably in the NFL – that would be great. Things in the XFL were going great before Covid. Whether it’s for a team or league office, I just want to get another position. That’s my hope.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
