First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?
I was coaching football at Piscataway High School and had a number of successful years there – we won a couple of state championships. I also sent a few kids to the NFL as first round draft picks – after a while though I retired and went into pharmaceutical sales. Now I get to watch my daughter in her sports journey – she plays softball at the University of Georgia.
Who were the guys you sent as first round picks?
Malcolm Jenkins, Kyle Wilson and Anthony Davis – they all had great talent. I just touched it up a little and showed them what they should expect to experience when they got to college. They were all great, talented kids.
Were there any coaches that helped shape the way you coached – how so?
I was fortunate – I had great coaches everywhere I went. Don Nehlen at West Virginia is a Hall of Fame coach. Doc Holliday and his style. And when I was drafted by Green Bay they had a lot of great coaches there – Gruden, Mariucci, Reid, Rhodes … they all had great football minds. It showed – they all became head coaches in the NFL.
The same when I got to the Steelers. Cowher, Gailey – there were great coaches there too.
What made all those coaches great and how did they help you?
Their attention to detail. It takes more than just talent – you have to cross your Ts and dot your Is in the NFL. You have to learn the game – you have to study. It’s more about what’s between the ears than physical talent. I was always a student of the game and loved watching film. A lot of guys don’t like to watch film, but if you want to get an edge on the competition you have to watch film. I loved to do it. And it’s not really something you can teach guys to do – you just have to show them that they need to do it.
You spend all week practicing – Sundays are the one fun day you have every week when you play. Every other day is about getting ready for Sunday.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh after being drafted by Green Bay?
I was allocated by Green Bay to the World League. I had a great year there with the Frankfurt Galaxy. A couple of teams showed interest in me after that, but I felt at home with Pittsburgh. They were one hour away from West Virginia and I knew some of the players there. I felt like I could make my mark there but I got hurt. Still, I was there for one-and-a-half years on the practice squad. I thought I could do special things there but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Anyone help take you under their wing in Pittsburgh?
Yancey Thigpen was my guy – Ernie Mills too. They took me under their wings and showed me how to be a pro – on and off the field.
What does that mean, exactly?
They taught me to do all the right things. You can do some bad things on and off the field – but they were pros that showed me the right way to do things. Hastings, Blackwell, Holliday – those guys too – they were all professionals – all good guys, and we had a great receivers coach in David Culley too.
What moments stand out most to you from your time there?
It was just a great time – no one thing stands out. Just the team atmosphere – from the top down. Cowher was all about the team. The comradery. We were a close-knit team. We should have gone to the Super Bowl in ’96 but lost to New England – then we lost to Denver – we should have gone to the Super Bowl that year too.
I just loved competing every day as a practice squad player and helping get the team ready every week. It was a great atmosphere – both in Pittsburgh and Green Bay. That will never leave me – that comradery.
As a practice squad player, was it tough not getting playing time?
It was tough as a practice squad guy. I knew I was one of the top four or five wide receivers on the team. But what hurt me was, well, I could have been better on special teams. As the fourth or fifth receiver you have to play special teams better and I dropped the ball there. They talked to me about it but it was too late by then. It was too late to change their minds at that point.
I had some good battles against Rod Woodson – we went at it. And Levon Kirkland – for such a big guy it was amazing how he could run with receivers and cover them in the slot. I had a lot of good matchups with the first team defense, giving them good looks for Sundays.
You win a lot of those battles?
I would say I won a lot of them! I wouldn’t tell you anything different!
Do you watch the NFL today?
I do – it was hard to at first. But now I do watch Green Bay and Pittsburgh – I’m fans of both.
Any one you like more? I mean, Green Bay a drafted you so…
Yes – Green Bay drafted me, to be fair! But I have an allegiance to both Green Bay and Pittsburgh and am a fan of both teams. Pittsburgh – it’s a class A organization the Rooneys run.
The Green Bay – Steelers Super Bowl must have been tough for you!
Ha – nah I was for Green Bay! I was still mad at Pittsburgh and couldn’t root for them then!
Any advice for young guys entering the NFL today?
Work, work, work! Never stop working. If you do someone will take your spot. You can never sleep on the job!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
