First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
I’ve been doing air duct work now for 17 years. I started with a company in New Jersey after I retired from football then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and started my own business there. It’s a lucrative business – everyone needs duct cleaning at some point.
I also just started picking up golf – I started that about four years ago. I should have started picking that up sooner.
Was the post-NFL transition tough?
Well, I wasn’t there for too long, so it was easier for me. The money definitely is not the same as when you played. But my body is holding up – I know a lot of guys who are still very sore years after they stopped playing. I’m lucky to be very stable so far.
Looking back -were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers? What did they tell you about your role there?
I wasn’t because a couple of days before the draft Cowher told me that if I was there they’d take me. Denver I know was interested in me too. I didn’t visit with the Steelers but Cowher also came down to talk to me and told me they wanted to draft me.
Before the draft I tore my quad – about one-and-a-half months before the combine. So I couldn’t run for the combine. The Raiders I know were interested in me too but they took Ritchie in round three – I just couldn’t run and give teams a time. I was honored and surprised after the injury that I was drafted – because of the injury.
After I was drafted the Steelers told me I needed to make the team on special teams and work my way up from there.
Anyone take you under their wing when e you got there and show you the ropes?
DeWayne Washington did – he was an NC State guy. Jerome talked to me a bit early on too – Witman too. It was like a big family. The rookie class was close too – we all stayed together.
What did those guys help you with?
Just showing me where to go – where to line up. And how to watch film. Coach Hoak- he helped me a lot. I really liked him – he was a good guy.
Any good rookie hazing memories?
I remember all of the rookies having to do the skits for the veteran players. Me, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala and Morocco Brown imitated Jerome, Lester, and Huntley. I did Lester. They pretended to be angry but they all laughed.
Did they get you guys with the rookie dinner too?
Oh yeah – the rookie dinner was very painful. We went to Morton’s downtown. We knew it would be a lot but those guys just ordered stuff just to order stuff!
What was that first season like for you playing-time wise?
I made the team my first year but was on the practice squad mostly because of some injuries on the team. I moved up and played in a game on special teams and was moved back down.
Lining up in practice against guys like Holmes, my friend Orpheus Roye – it was a great defense.
You carried and caught the ball a decent amount in college. Were you frustrated to be more of standard fullback in Pittsburgh?
I was a ‘tweener coming out of college – I was a pass-catching fullback in my opinion coming out of college. But I was just happy to be there. At NC State I was a tailback at first but they needed someone to play fullback so I volunteered. Anything to help the team.
What happened after that second season that saw you leave Pittsburgh?
I was on the practice squad. My job was to help simulate other team’s offenses to the best of our ability – to run the plays as close to how the other teams ran them as possible to prepare the defense. That was my role.
Denver called my agent though – Lynn and Griffith were retiring there and they needed a fullback so they wanted to sign me off of the practice squad. So I agreed to go to Denver to get on the roster there. But I got injured early in preseason there.
What did the Steelers say to you?
They just wished me good luck. It’s a business.
You like the way the game has changed since you played?
I think it’s mostly for the better. I know they are trying to take some hits out of the game. I’d still like to see more contact though. But I understand why they are doing it. But as a fullback – I would like to see more physical pounding of the ball. More contact.
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