First, what have you been doing with yourself since you retired in 2017?
Since I’ve been done playing – it’s been over five years now – I’m still trying to figure out what to do full-time. I’ve dabbled in coaching – helping receivers prepare for the combine and pro days – that sort of thing.
The last couple of seasons I’ve been doing some media stuff too – working for the local NBC affiliate doing a weekly spot on TV. There may be more opportunity there. I don’t want to coach at the NFL or college level. I always told myself while I was playing that the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time on football after I played than when I played. That can happen as a coach. I have three young kids and I don’t want them to not see me at all.
Any other ideas?
I’m also intrigued by the idea of working in personnel. There may be something there in New Orleans – or maybe in Atlanta too now that Fontenot has moved to Atlanta. That would be more intriguing than coaching. Mainly because of time. Scouting is something that will let me do something I’m still passionate about. There are few former players that get into scouting for some reason – I’m not sure why. But I think we can give something extra to the work – a unique perspective.
I also have a few entrepreneurial things too – and my wife owns her own business and has a full time job helping people to organize their homes and work, and sells products around that too.
But for now, I’m mostly enjoying being a stay-at-home dad. I’ve got three kids and love being around my family. I was a single guy for a long time and now I’ve learned what life was about. As you can tell family is super-important to me!
How difficult was the post-NFL adjustment for you? What made it easier?
Initially it was tough. I wasn’t mentally ready to retire. I went to my last camp – I was signed 10 days into camp so I was already there late. I realized a short while after that I just didn’t want to go through that anymore.
I played in New Orleans for nine years – going to Atlanta honestly was just weird. When I retired, I was fortunate that I didn’t have to panic and find a job. I was super-smart with finances. I was happy to see what was next for me. It was exciting.
I just wish I did a better job of planning before I retired to know what I wanted to do when I was done playing. I remember that 2016 season watching games when the season started and I started shaking – the anxiety was crazy. I competed my entire life and over 11 years in the NFL.
Not having that brotherhood – that comradery – it took a while to realize that I needed to find something – recreational, a job….something. I told my wife, what helped me most was when I went to a local gym and some guys asked me if I wanted to play some pickup basketball. I said yes – basketball was my first love. I loved it more than football. I didn’t realize how bad I needed to compete again – that helped me.
I also didn’t realize how mentally you get used to the scheduling of the NFL. Luckily I’ve always been self-motivated – I grew up in a dojo – my dad still owns a karate studio. So I always knew how to work out on my own. That helped me too.
As an UDFA – what was the key that enabled you to make it in the NFL? What helped you to “separate from the pack”?
It’s how I was brought up. My parents instilled in me a hard work ethic. To make no excuses. Basketball was my first love but I was realistic – I was vertically challenged and knew it wasn’t in the cards. But I was good at football.
In high school I became All-State – but I didn’t get a scholarship until two weeks before high school ended. My junior year at Toledo I thought I may have a chance to play in the NFL – but I wasn’t running a 4.2 and I played at a smaller MAC school. So again I was realistic about what it would take to succeed. I knew what it would take.
You signed on with the Steelers in 2014 – what made you sign with them in free agency?
Honestly, I was disappointed in how my time in New Orleans ended. It ended so abruptly. I got a text from a friend asking if I saw what was on Twitter. I looked and saw the team was shopping me, Sproles and some other guys. I texted Sean Payton the article link and asked what was going on. He told me to hold on and called me.
He told me I had been great for them but they were going younger and cheaper. The kind of thing coaches tell players they care about, but that it was a business. I had been there for nine years and was the team’s man of the year the season before and had a 1,000 yard season. Now they wanted to get younger and cheaper.
I was hurt. I wanted to go after that to another team and win. I visited New England and at the time Edelman was signed to an offer sheet by the Browns. I was their Plan B. But New England matched the offer.
Pittsburgh was also interested, and as an Ohio kid who had family in Columbus it was an exciting opportunity. I was a fan of Tomlin and Ben was a MAC guy like myself. LeVeon was a Columbus guy too and AB was up-and-coming. And Coach Mann – sitting in the room with him chatting it up and watching film – I realized it was a good spot for me.
My agent told me Pittsburgh wanted to sign me before I got on the plane but I told him I needed some time to talk to my family. But I signed later on. It felt like a good chance for redemption and revitalizing my career. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way – but that’s the NFL. I don’t regret signing though. It was a great locker room and the fanbase was crazy. I got to play in New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit – four incredible fanbases. I was very lucky to have had that.
A lot of young receivers on the squad – was it tough trying to get established especially after the early groin injury? What were the coaches telling you?
In the offseason I felt I had incredible OTAs and camp. Not just as a slot receiver- they had me play everywhere. That’s how they had receivers play in New Orleans – we all played every position – it made defenses think more. But when training camp began they moved me to slot only.
I felt I had a decent training camp. But before the third preseason game I stayed late for practice to run some extra routes and tweaked my groin. I didn’t worry much about it – I thought it was a minor thing. The team took it slow with me. But when I got back Ben and I just couldn’t get on the same page. A lot of the problem was just not having time to practice together. He only has so many throws and he can’t stay late every practice wearing down his arm.
I know you said you didn’t “click with Ben” – what happened do you think?
Honestly, we didn’t have a problem with each other. Just for some reason it didn’t materialize. The timing and connection just stayed off. Justin Brown played well – he deserved to get some reps and I started rotating in with he, Wheaton and Heyward-Bey too. They had a few plays designed for me but that was about it.
Despite the issues – any positive memories or experiences you can share of your time there?
It was a fun-loving, loud, young group. New Orleans was mostly older vets – it was a younger environment in Pittsburgh and a lot of fun.
It helped to have Bruce Gradkowski there as well for me – my college quarterback. It was tough for a while for me. I had 14 catches that season in 14 games – that was unheard of for me. He helped keep me sane. He and Richard Mann. They just reminded me that I should just do what it takes to help the younger guys and be a professional.
Was it hard mentoring the younger guys?
I was never a jealous kind of guy that held secrets back. That happened to me in Cleveland and I didn’t want that for other guys. I felt like I did a good job helping the younger guys.
But before the playoff game versus the Ravens, we had most of the running backs injured. Tomlin came up to me that Saturday night before the game in the dining hall at the hotel before dinner. He told me they needed to put me down – make me inactive for the game – because they needed to dress another running back – Dri Archer. That pissed me off. He just said it so matter-of-factly. Not like he really wanted me out there but had no choice. He could tell I was pissed I think. I’m sure I had a shocked look on my face. That whole week I was practicing at running back and receiver. I was able to play as a third-down back and help there too. But he told me he needed me though- to be an extra set of eyes on the sideline – to be like an extra coach. To be a pro.
What did they say when you asked for your release?
I never spoke with them. After the game I told my agent I needed to get out of there when the time was right. I knew I could have helped them win that game. My trust was broken. I didn’t want to waste another camp next season when I knew I wasn’t in their plans.
I met with Haley in fact right after the season. He told me if there was anything he could do for me to let him know. He knew I was pissed off I think and probably wouldn’t be back. He told me he spoke to Tomlin – that he had wanted me to play over a rookie running back that would be in over his head. He said he jumped on the table to get them to play me – that I had big-game experience and could help the team.
I’ve been cut plenty of times. I was able to put my fate in my own hands and have a better season in Detroit. But I’m thankful to the Rooneys for the opportunity. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
It’s still cool to say I was a Steeler. In fact I have my bumblebee jersey still hanging in my living room! I was upset with Coach Tomlin but he’s an awesome coach and a great motivator. I understand business is business but I had to make the best choices for myself.
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