First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?
The biggest thing is starting a family and having two great kids. That’s the highlight of it all. My daughter is 22 and my son is in college playing baseball – he went a different direction than I did.
I dipped my toe in the training business and corporate world a bit first. I’ve managed Taylor Sports Performance now for 26 years, working with high school and college athletes to help them improve their football skills and be great people. It’s been fun – it keeps me around the game and learning. It’s my way of staying close to the game and giving back to the next generation.
Were there coaches that helped shape the way you approach training now?
I think so, but even moreso the players I was around. R.C. Slocum gave me my opportunity – I was a small town kid and didn’t have a huge following of recruiters. He gave me the opportunity at Texas A&M.
Steve Kragthorpe was the receivers coach – he helped me build my skillset. I was a quarterback in high school – I never played wide receiver before college. He helped me to learn the position and it helped me grow to be a good receiver.
Ken Rucker at Texas A&M also had a great impact on me from the mental standpoint of the game.
When I got to the Rams Henry Ellard was big – I watched his play. And in Pittsburgh Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Bobby Shaw – being in a wide receiver room like that was big. Hines is a future Hall of Famer and Bobby was a great technician. Derrick Mason in Tennessee was a competitor – a real professional. Then being around Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt and Ricky Proehl…seeing how they approached their work…those guys were impactful for a reason.
And lastly, even though he was a rookie, Andre Johnson – the way he approached the game. All of those guys shaped the way I approach and teach guys now.
Were you surprised when the Steelers drafted you?
I think it was a surprise to them! I was sitting at my parents’ house – I was disappointed that I wasn’t drafted sooner. I got a call from the Steelers and the first question they asked me was whether I was drafted yet. When I said “No.” they told me they were taking me next.
Did any of those Steelers receivers help you out when you got there?
Hines was in his fifth season – he just signed his new contract. I appreciated the way he approached business. Plaxico was only in his second season so he was still learning.
They both gave me little tips – “If you see this then push it here….” You have to be observant as a young player. When I was released I sat down with the GM who told me he wanted to sign me to the practice squad, but then they signed someone else instead.
Knowing how deep that receivers room was, would it have been better to have maybe not been drafted and to have been able to select a team as an undrafted free agent?
I think being drafted is important – I don’t want to downplay that. Only so many guys get drafted every year. As I’ve gotten older and I look at that roster – Bobby Shaw, Plaxico, Hines and Will Blackwell too – and a run-heavy team with Jerome Bettis and Amos Zereoue – I wonder how I could have made the team. Sometimes they bring you in as a camp body. In hindsight maybe it would have been a better situation for me to have been an undrafted free agent. I went to Tennessee week four and was there the rest of the season, but getting there late and being behind guys on the learning curve made it harder. I loved being in Pittsburgh though – I loved every minute. So it’s hard to say.
What stands out most to you over your time in Pittsburgh?
I think about going to camp that first time – I had no idea what to expect. You’re fighting for a spot but you still want to take it all in.
Troy Edwards was there and he and I clicked and hung out a lot outside the building. Those times are special. I remember that feeling when I got on the plane to go to rookie mini-camp. That stays with you.
Meeting Cowher, Bettis…those were legendary guys. You want to take it all in but you’re fighting for your life. I’m from Texas and knew all about the Black and Gold and Dallas rivalry. Being a part of that was special.
Who was your roommate then?
I didn’t actually have a roommate, which was unheard of then. My roommate never came to camp – he quit before he came I guess. So I didn’t have a roommate. But all the rookies bonded and shared a lot of those experiences together.
I remember the rookie show – Kenny Jackson was our receivers coach and he was a newer coach. His fingers were all jacked up – he was a former player – he used to wear this baseball cap backwards – he was always a mess but he worked his butt off. I imitated him in the rookie show and it was a good laugh.
What did they say to you when they released you?
It was the standard thing “Bring your playbook….” The canned answer. They told me I worked my butt off but they needed to go in a different direction. They told me they wanted me on the practice squad. I’m not sure what happened between cut day and when I cleared waivers, but they signed another guy and I went to Buffalo for a brief stint then Tennessee.
It’s a business. I love seeing players today fight for money.
What do you think about the way the game has changed since you played? Would you have liked to play today?
I have a good buddy -Francis St. Paul – he and I played together and he’s the Assistant Director of College Scouting now for Chicago. We played together in St. Louis and have had a friendship since 2003.
He actually played in Pittsburgh for a short stint…
That’s right – for a brief sting yeah. He and I always talk about today’s game. We were the type of receivers that would have succeeded in today’s game. There’s so much more space now in today’s game. With our speed and skillsets I think we could have had an impact. And the money today is insane! I think out skillset translated more to today’s game than it did then.
But, I’m fortunate to have gotten the opportunity I had that’s led me to where I am today. I have 35 athletes I’m working with – whos’ families are trusting me with their kids. So I’m happy with how it all turned out.