First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?
Mostly I’ve been in real estate now. I coached some high school too before I transitioned to real estate. My high school coach was still there and had me come in to coach, which I loved. I was around the game my whole life and loved being around the game as a coach and wanted to give back to the kids in my community.
How hard was the post-NFL transition for you?
I didn’t want to go the traditional route after football. After coaching I decided I wanted to do something outside of athletics. It was tough to be around football – I played since I was eight years old and adjusting to a whole new life was really tough, I won’t lie. After a while I didn’t even want to think about football. It took a while to get accustomed to life after football.
Any coaching lessons stand out to you as a coach?
All my coaches were great, but the one that stands out is Al Golden at Temple. Just his philosophy and work ethic. He shaped our lives at Temple – he prepared us for life after football. Looking back, I can see now the reasons for the things he did and told us. Be early. No jewelry. Dress appropriately and be on time. Set goals. Looking back, I am so appreciative of that. He really shaped us for life after football.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh?
It’s funny. That was the year of the lockout. After the draft was over my twin brother and I just waited around. Normally after the draft that’s when you get calls as free agents, but that didn’t happen due to the lockout. So we were in limbo until August. My brother and I just kept working out, trying to stay in shape.
Then in August my bother and I were called by Ken Dorsey in Green Bay and we went in to training camp there. But there was no rookie camp or anything – we went straight to training camp and were expected to compete for jobs against guys like BJ Raji, TJ Long… It was tough. We came close though – we were part of their last cuts. I was told I’d have had a spot on the roster if we had more time.
The good thing is we got some film on us. Green Bay ran a similar defense as the Steelers, and I think the Steelers saw some of that film and called me and two other guys in for a workout. I was the smallest of the three, but the other two were out of shape. One guy was partying in Miami the night before. So I knew I had it. Kevin Colbert and his son were both there watching me and told me I was the smallest guy but I worked hard and had the best workout. It’s funny because Colbert’s son ended up driving me to practice when I first got there.
Anyone help you out the most when you got there?
They gave me a furnished apartment and I could walk to the facility from there. I could have bought a car – Colbert told me I should with the money I was making – but I didn’t want to.
I stayed with Cam Heyward for a while at first in his apartment. That was for a month or so, then I went and stayed with Steve McLendon for about half the season at his house. They were all very accommodating. They were just a different team – I was so thankful to be signed by them. They were just the best guys – every day a different guy would approach me and asked if I needed anything.
Charlie Batch gave me his number the first day I got there and told me if I needed anything to call him. Ziggy Hood, Hampton, Keisel – they were all helpful. Ike Taylor drove me around in his Hummer many times. And Dick LeBeau was the greatest – funny and such a great defensive coordinator.
How were Cam and Steve as roommates?
Cam was serious – laid back but very serious. I remember when we had our defensive line dinner and Cam had to pay. It was over $20,000! He was so mad – we had steak, scallops, shrimp, Louis XIII – it was one of the best dinners I have ever had. And it was free!
For you!
Ha yeah – for me!
Steve was serious too – he had his family over a lot. He was a funny, giving guy. I had the entire top floor of the house to myself when I was there.
Anything stand out about your time on the practice squad?
We were tough at Temple. I knew they were serious when they told me to put my mouthguard in! If we beat the Broncos in the playoffs I would have played that next game, they told me, since we had a few guys injured on the defensive line.
Any off-field memories stand out?
We all loved to play Call of Duty. Hines sucked at it though – he was the worst ever but you could never tell him that!
Troy was the only player with two lockers – and one was full only with Head & Shoulders – top to bottom!
We’d all go to hockey games together too. James Harrison never really talked to me – not in a bad way – he just never had much to say. But I remember all going out to a bar after a hockey game and his only words ever to me were ‘Eli, you better take this shot!” I didn’t even know he knew my name.
What happened after that season?
I went to play for the Falcons the next year, and then the Bears. But that Steelers squad was the best team I was ever on. Just the names on that roster – the long list of great players and guys – that defense was legit. One memory that comes up was when we were all hanging out watching a football game and one of the guys broke their leg. We were all oohing and aahing when Brett got up and yelled “Man up! This is football!” Everyone just stopped after that.
That’s the part I miss the most – just being around those guys and being around greatness like that.
What do you think of the way the game has changed today – especially as a defensive lineman?
You have to be much faster now – and as a lineman you have to be able to play three-to-four downs. You have to be able to do more than when I played.
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