First off, what prompted the move to media after your time in the NFL?
It’s not something I thought about when I walked off the field. I had no idea what I was going to do after football. I started first doing some regional shows covering the Jets – some shorter spots. I credit my wife really for putting the battery in my back. She told me that if I took it seriously it could become something. It could be a good bridge for me.
I was skeptical at first. Mentally I wasn’t retired – I didn’t want to give up on the game at first. My heart and mind were in the game, my body just wasn’t aligned.
My wife gets the credit. I covered the Jets then jumped onto ESPN for a bit, then went to Barstool for a few years and am now on Sirius XM Radio. I’m just trying to maximize my opportunities.
How hard was that post-NFL adjustment knowing injuries affected your career longevity?
It was extremely hard. Like I said my heart and mind were still in the game, but my body wasn’t. I give a lot of credit to Gerry Matalon at the NFL Bootcamp – he was integral for me to meet a lot of the people in this business. I met a lot of folks like James Brown who played professionally before going into the media.
You also have The Willie And Aikisha Colon Foundation – tell us about that as well?
It’s about giving back to the community. I grew up in one of the poorest areas of the country at the time – the South Bronx. It was an underserved area and I wanted to reconnect to my roots and be more than just a familiar face. I wanted to be someone they could rely on.
I think there’s a misnomer that you always have to want to be saved. I had enough people supporting me to help impact the community. Now we do back-to-school drives, Thanksgiving and Christmas drives, and give away HBCU scholarships. People don’t talk about HBCUs enough up North. We also do a comedy show that raises money and have golf outings and a football camp. All the money goes to serve those in need in Jackson, Mississippi where my wife is from and for kids in the South Bronx.
Stepping back – what were your thoughts on getting drafted by the Steelers – surprised? Happy or concerned?
I didn’t think the Steelers were interested at all. They were one of the 21 teams I visited pre-draft. I got there the night before, got up and a car picked me up and took me to the facility. I met with Russ Grimm for I think 10 minutes. He showed me film of my pro day and asked “How much do you think I care about this?” I said “A lot?” He said “I care nothing about this.” Then he asked me “Can you move a guy from A to B? That’s all that matters.” The whole thing took like 10 minutes.
After that I went to Bill Cowher’s office who gave me some quick words of inspiration and then sent me down to get a sandwich. That was it. I called my agent from the car back to the airport and he asked me how it went. I told him I had no idea. It didn’t seem like they had much interest.
I really felt like the Dolphins were going to draft me – I became close with the coaches there. When I was drafted by the Steelers I was shocked. I didn’t even know where Pittsburgh was in the state at the time.
As a smaller school guy – Hofstra – what was the big learning curve for you?
I didn’t get caught up in the that stuff then. The team had just won a Super Bowl and was on a high. They walked around like they were Spartans – they had a bad-ass nature, and rightfully so. I just wanted to belong. I didn’t want to blow the opportunity.
I wasn’t enamored with the big names. I walked around like I was in debt to the team for drafting me as a small school guy. I always wanted to prove I could play against those big school guys – I felt like I could match up against them.
Are there a lot of guys from the Bronx in the NFL? Any special pride in repping New York?
There aren’t a lot of New Yorkers playing in the NFL, no. People were surprised they even played football in New York! I always walked around proud that I was representing the Bronx. People would talk to me and say “Ok, New York!” We only played three months a year in New York – people scoffed at that. So I walked around with a chip on my shoulder because of that.
Who helped you most there- and how?
I was fortunate – I was birthed into a unit that was so well-respected. Marvel Smith, Alan Faneca, Jeff Hartings, Max Starks, Kendall Simmons… they were so accomplished. I wanted to earn their respect and validation.
Max is the Godfather to my son – he was a shoulder for me to lean on. Kendall Simmons was the one who really mentored me. He was huge for me. Alan – I sat next to him in the locker room and I just watched him work. He was the first one in every day – had his breakfast and worked out – he had his regimen. He was always prepared – never late. He was like a five-star general in the locker room. I wanted to be respected like that. I watched how he carried himself and watched film. I had walking examples around me on how to be a pro.
Chris Kemoeatu, Trai Essex, Max Starks and I were all the same age – those are the guys I grew up with there. We were a close-knit unit. I give a lot of credit to the guys before them that created the Band of Brothers culture there.
A lot of the Steelers offensive linemen raved about the off-field connections – the dinners and hanging out – that helped the team bond….
That was huge for us. We were a unique group. We weren’t considered to be that talented. We didn’t get the respect because our defense was so historic. I remember before the playoffs that year there was an article in the paper saying that if we didn’t win a Super Bowl it would be because of “This unit.” There was a picture of the offensive line breaking the huddle. We had a great defense, quarterback, running back, receivers…it felt like if we didn’t win it would be because of us.
That got us closer. That year we didn’t do a great job of protecting Ben. But people didn’t understand what we went through that year. We lost Kendall Simmons and Darnell Stapleton had to come in and start. He was released earlier in the year and started off on the practice squad. We had changes to the center position. Chris Kemoeatu was only in his second year starting. Then we lost Marvel to a back injury so we had to move Max over to left tackle. It was a patchwork offensive line. The whole team was kicking ass and we felt like we were holding the team back.
That’s when we started going to Chris’ house – we watched extra film and ate together. That created bonds that caused us to dig deeper for each other on the field.
Ben’s “Look who’s laughing now offensive line!” comment after the Super Bowl was all about that stuff we went through. It’s not whining – just the way it was. And Darnell – he doesn’t get enough credit. He was only 6’2″ – I was only an inch bigger. We may have been the smallest right side of an NFL team. But we fought like dogs.
Ben was involved in a lot of that- was that rare to have a quarterback that involved in those off-field activities with the line? Was that a big deal to you guys then?
We were all around the same age – I think it was just that we all grew up together. He never wavered with us. We knew how important he was -he was as tough as a rusted bolt. We wanted to keep him upright.
What made Russ Grimm so special as a coach?
Russ helped me feel like I could play in the NFL. I wasn’t the biggest guy and he wasn’t either. We had the same make-up – we’d fight anybody. We were back-alley guys.
At Hofstra I played in a two-point stance. The Steelers wanted me in a three-point stance so I had to learn that. Russ helped slow the game down for me and helped me clean up my mechanics. But he allowed me to be me. He didn’t try and change who I was. He was ok with me staying ultra-aggressive – he wanted me to keep that attitude. That bully mentality. He was huge in that aspect. And it didn’t hurt that he was a Hall of Fame player – he’d been there and done that, so he had a lot to teach me.
What were some of the on-field moments that stand out most to you?
The year we won the Super Bowl, beating the Ravens three times – and the way we did it. That stands out. And playing next to Hall of Fame guys like Ben, Troy, Alan, Hines, Harrison…those aspects for me stand out.
What off-field moments in Pittsburgh stand out to you as well?
Those Thursdays at Chris Kemoeatu’s house – those were special. We watched film together and it morphed into a team thing – you’d look up and see running backs and receivers there. It became a BBQ too. They were fun times playing cards and eating together.
I had the opportunity to go to Mexico City for the draft party there with Deshon Elliott and Keeanu Benton and they asked me what made our team so special. I told them it was because we were like a family. I felt too like the city protected us then. We’d go to bars and come out not in the best of shape sometimes, but the citizens looked out for us. They didn’t try to expose us and take pictures of us. That felt good – Pittsburgh is a small city in its own bubble. The cops and other people respected our privacy but it was like an unwritten contract – they expected us to go and kick ass on Sundays. We could party hard and not worry about being in the tabloids. They supported us and let us blow off steam that way.
Is that something you see today as well?
No. Now social media has affected so much. Players don’t trust people now – it just takes one picture that’s turned into something different to hurt them. Athletes in general – that doesn’t exist anymore.
What about the current Steelers team – any insight on the way they get together to create that culture like you guys did?
I don’t know if the current team does that stuff. Chris lived on the South Side and that helped – he opened his house to us. It was a family culture and the culture was policed by the players. I give a lot of credit to the guys before us like Porter, Ike, Farrior for sure, Hines…they policed things then and kept things like a family.
What did the Steelers tell you when they released you and how strange was it facing your old team as a Jets player?
Oh yeah that was tough. I was on multiple IRs and they had a young player behind me in Ramon Foster who was ready. When I got hurt again I knew it was a wrap. I was due to get a lot of money and they gave it to Ramon. He was an undrafted free agent who fought his way to the starting lineup – he deserved it.
It was a tough call from Coach Tomlin. I wanted to retire a Steeler. I was heartbroken, but I understood it.
When I was with the Jets it was great to at least be able to go and retire in the city I was from. It was surreal playing against the Steelers. I felt like I was outcasted from the tribe I fought with my life for. It took until the second half for me to realize we weren’t brothers any more!