First off, what happened after you were released in 2002?
After I got released Pittsburgh offered me a spot on the practice squad. I didn’t choose it – build I wish I would have. Erik Totten, me and James Harrison were all released on the same day. Harrison and I went to the movies after and ran into each other there. We were so damn depressed – we ended up watching different movies. He and Erik decided to stay on sign with the practice squad – but I had an offer to sign with Cincinnati. I was from Dayton and was raising my younger brother at the time so I signed with them.
Harrison went on to become a Super Bowl champion. Who knows – if I stayed maybe I would have worked my way up the team too.
What did the team say to you when they let you go?
I was a seventh round pick – I was 7A and Brett Keisel was 7B. He ended up being a 10-year guy. I started off on fire in Spring and Summer camp and OTAs. Even in camp – but somewhere along with way I had a nagging injury and got treatment. I couldn’t run as fast as I could – but I hid the injury from the team. I was afraid I wouldn’t get reps if I said anything, I was starting to earn respect from the team and didn’t want to lose that.
Cowher – I couldn’t tell if he liked me or not. Tim Lewis on the other hand – he was hard on me. He was trying to see how tough I was, I think. The players told me that if he didn’t like me he wouldn’t waste his time on me.
Dewayne Washington and Chad Scott were veterans and helped – they weren’t worried about their jobs. Deshea too. Hank Poteat – not so much, He kept to himself – it was the last year of his contract – it was a pivotal year for him. But no one felt sorry for anyone there. It was a business.
Chad liked me – during the rookie show I imitated him. Before practice and games he would talk himself up. “This must be my money day!” “Gotta get my money! It’s payday!” That resonated with me – I was the same way. I liked to talk myself up too. But it was hilarious – everyone cracked up when I imitated him.
Did anyone try to help?
It was a great locker room. Deshea Townsend was the best small corner I ever saw and Chad Scott was a first round pick. Dewyane Washington was a veteran – a technician and Lee Flowers was so smart – he was the field general. I was trying to figure out where I fit in.
I played in two preseason games – it wasn’t the greatest showing. The injury slowed me down and by the third game I couldn’t play.
The guys knew I could play – but I had to prove myself still. That’s why they offered me a spot on the practice squad. But I was taking care of my brother since college – I had legal custody of him. The plan was to have him come to Pittsburgh but when I was released I just figured I’d continue to raise him in Cincinnati.
Did you play the Steelers as a Bengal?
I made the active roster yes and saw all of those guys I was with in camp. It was surreal being on the other side. They were happy for me and cheered me on. I always had an affinity for the Steelers after they drafted me even though I was from Dayton.
Any moments there stand out?
Larry Foote was my roommate – he was a great guy.
One piercing moment was in the film room. The eye in the sky don’t lie, they say. You’re in front of everyone in the film room and any bad play or decision you make gets seen by everyone in the room. Well, on one play I took a bad angle. Tim Lewis made me feel like crap in front of everyone for a while. “Did they teach you that in Cincinnati? I know Rick Minter didn’t teach you that!” Would Chad Scott or Dewayne Washington do that? No! This will get you sent back to Cincinnati!”
The ironic thing too was, Mike Tomlin was my coach in Cincinnati. I think Tim was just trying to give me a thick skin. I don’t know.
Also – my first day of training camp I went up against Plaxico Burress who was a big up-and-comer – a great player. It was like I was up against Michael Jordan! I was confident and pressed him and covered him in a fade and defended the pass. They guys told me that if I could do that I would make the team.
In training camp I went up against Burress again – Maddox was the quarterback. I hated going against Maddox – he was so unassumingly good. He didn’t have a strong arm and he was built like an insurance agent – but he always threw a perfect ball. You could be a step late in college but not in the NFL against guys like Maddox. But on that play I got an interception.
Later on the paper printed a photo of the play and an article on me talking about how I could help on special teams since I was a special teams captain in college, and talked about me taking care of my brother. I put the photo in my locker but someone threw it away – they didn’t want me getting a big head.
You got into coaching after football – how did that happen?
I always felt like a natural coach – I could get points across and had the knowledge – I was a good player’s coach. I was always a rah-rah guy and the captain on the teams I played on. I was accountable and had integrity as a player.
After I ended my career in 2012 in Canada, I was burnt out by football. I decided to become a group home provider for foster care boys. I did that for a while and treated it like I would a football team. I was the general manager and needed coaches, to create schedules…..I always did it with football in mind. Even the language I used centered around football.
After a few years I asked the local high school if they needed help – I wanted to volunteer and help with drills….my kids were playing football. I had played for great coaches – Mike Tomlin, Rex Ryan, Jumbo Fisher, Rick Minter, Wink and Don Martindale…I spoke the language they spoke.
So after four years I volunteered and then the next year they hired me to coach there. I stayed there for a couple of years then coached a semi-pro team in Dayton. I couldn’t afford to do what many of my friends did after college – I couldn’t afford to be a graduate assistant at a college first.
Do you still enjoy the game today?
I’m still a fan. It’s a different game in terms of physicality – but it’s a growing sport and it’s protecting players more now. You want guys playing longer – and it doesn’t take away from the integrity of the game.
When I played the fifth defensive back and sixth back weren’t every down guys – they were specialty guys who only played in certain packages. Now they play all the time. That gives guys like I was the opportunity to get on the field. I like that.
Guys today also have greater access to film – they can see things in real time on their phones and tablets.
I also like seeing college kids have the chance to learn how to be a free agent and negotiate while in college due to NIL. I wish we had that and social media when I was in college!
What stands out to you when you look back on your career?
I didn’t have an illustrious NFL career but I met so many great guys. The guys in Pittsburgh – Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward – they took us out and hung out with us. They didn’t look down on us as rookies.
Ward, Kordell and Bettis invited us to go out with them to a bar to watch the Mike Tyson fight – they rented a room. There were some Pirates there – and Michael Jordan was in town for the Mario Lemieux golf tournament and he joined us! Me, Antwaan Randle El and Lee Mays were in shock when he walked in. Antwaan was from Chicago – he lost it. But we were all trying to play it cool – we were professional athletes too!
After that we all went out and had beers together and talked. The next day he Jerome and Hines invited us to play golf and Jordan came with us and we all hung out together. I called my friends in Dayton and told them I hung out with Michael Jordan. They were like “No way!”
My trainer when I trained in L.A. was Charles Glass – he was a world class body-builder. When I trained there right after me he worked with Magic Johnson – and before me he worked with Kobe Bryan and Lisa Leslie. They all cheered for me when I worked out and gave us advice.
Those experiences were so special. I wasn’t a Hall of Famer but I was in heaven.
Now, I have two sons that are playing in college. Reggie Powers is my stepson and he’s playing safety for Oklahoma. My other son – Caleb Clark-Glover is a defensive back at Marshall. It’s the coolest thing to see them now, and them knowing they can make it to the NFL because their dad did it!