First – can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your time playing football?
I’m still engaged In the sport – I have a 9-5 job in sales but also do a lot of training kids to help them learn how to play football. A lot of speed and agility and other football drills.
Do you lean on some of the lessons you learned as a player?
A lot of them yes. I do pull from a lot of the college and NFL wright and strength training programs I experienced, Garrett Giemont in Pittsburgh – I stole a lot from him – his focus on backpedaling, lunges – his work on hamstrings. I incorporate a lot of that.
Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?
I wouldn’t say it was very difficult but I do miss the competitive nature of it that you don’t get in the 9-5 job. Especially not being a superstar, I had to fight for my job every day. That competitiveness and hanging out with the guys – that comradery – I miss that part. You meet new guys every week and you miss that.
What made you decide to sign with the Steelers in 2010?
Mike Tomlin told me he had looked to sign me after the draft but at the time I went to Miami. But when I signed with Pittsburgh, my agent and I looked at the roster and we felt it gave me the best chance to make a team. We thought I had a legitimate chance to make the roster there.
You played quarterback your final two years at Georgia Southern – how difficult was the transition to wide receiver? What helped?
We didn’t throw a lot at Georgia Southern and the routes we had then weren’t the same. So it was difficult not having played. I took a lot of notes! It wasn’t as much the physical aspect as it was just understanding the plays. I had no idea what many of them were. I had to learn the terminology – Pittsburgh ran a lot of sprints and motion and we didn’t do that a lot at Georgia Southern.
Hines and Santonio helped – they were really good at helping. I think that is ultimately why Pittsburgh as so good – they were really locked on in helping younger players. They watched film with you and the receives coach at then time – Randy Fichtner – he did a great job helping us – angering questions and working with the young guys to get us ready.
Any frustration at being moved to receiver?
No, I wasn’t even sure the NFL was going to be an option at all for me. I was a 5’8″ quarterback – you don’t have quarterbacks that size in the NFL! I knew that would have been a big reach. I talked to my agent and he told me I’d have a chance as a receiver.
After the draft I didn’t know at first if I wanted to try and plain in the NFL. I had some interviews lined up, but I decided to give it a try. Once I got to practice I volunteered to do everything – return kicks, punts, cover kicks….. I changed positions twice over high school and college, so it wasn’t a big deal to me by then.
How did your experience as a quarterback help you as a receiver?
I think it helped me learn the plays more easily. I went to Baltimore after Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh’s playbook was easier. Baltimore had the biggest playbook I ever saw for a tam that didn’t score a lot of points. A lot of motion and terminology. Pittsburgh’s wasn’t that big – it wasn’t short – just not so big. It helped me learn the playbook quicker. When the pressure is on and the play is called, you can’t be sitting there trying to figure out the play.
How did you fare as a converted receiver?
My first stint there I thought I did well. Tomlin after practice told me he saw me do some good things. Practices were like games to me – I thought I was making progress. But injuries to other players affect you as well. Willie Parker and Najee Davenport both got injured so they brought in Justin Vincent. That forced them to release me – that put a damper on the plan.
When they brought me back later on, most of the roles had been set there. So that was a short stint – I didn’t get to show a whole lot then.
What did they tell you when they had to release you?
They said I was doing well – that it wasn’t performance-based. It was just due to injuries at running back. They said to keep up the good work and they’d try to bring me back, which they did. But that’s really when I learned about the business side of the game.
What did winning the Walter Payton Award in college mean to you?
It really showed that it could be done from a small school standpoint. We had a bunch of good players on offense – a lot of transfers that year. I think it showed what can happen when a team comes together. We instilled a new offense that year too. I think it just showed as a team what we were able to a accomplish.
What memories stand out most to you of your time there in Pittsburgh?
I think just how close that locker room was. Guys playing games and hanging out together.
James Harrison – I remember he would work out before practice. He be doing squats – the squat bars were bending – and he had chains on them like you see in the movies! I just thought “What the heck is he doing?” Then after practice he’d do the same thing and work on his upper body. I thought it was crazy but it shoed his drive to be great. When guys tell me they work hard now I tell them they should go watch Harrison work out!
Any fun practice memories?
I had to imitate Antwaan Randle El when I was on the practice squad. I got the play card – it was a reverse pass. I kept my gloves on – I didn’t want to give anything away. Well, the receiver got wide open on the play but I threw it way over his head.
Well, in the meeting room we’re watching film of practice. Tomlin pulls up the play then goes over my passing stats in college, then announces to everyone that the one time I had a chance to throw the ball I missed it! We all got a good laugh at that.
Do you look at the NFL now and wonder if you would have had a better chance today to make the team?
The NFL has really changed – offenses have much more leeway and space. It’s so spread out – receivers were bigger than because the hitting was tougher. I wish I had a shot today. It may not have ended up much different but the game really is much more wide open now.
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