First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, I’m still around football. I’m helping raise my family – I have a son who just finished playing football at Maryland. I was coaching but I took off the past four years to officiate games at the high school, middle school and college and semi-pro level.

Does being an official give you a new appreciation for what NFL officials go through?

It definitely does. It gives you a different perspective. You learn a lot of things you can get away with – things you wish you knew when you were playing. Like what the officials do and don’t look at on the field and with players.

How hard was that post-NFL adjustment?

It was tough. Those first three years you still had those feelings of wanting to play. It starts around training camp and you start to get fired up.  It’s a routine after playing for years. My thing, I always liked helping kids learn about football. That’s what helped me to become a coach. But I missed too many of my sons games on Fridays so I stopped coaching to support him until he went to college.

Now, we have another addition to my family. Officiating allows me to spend time with my family – especially with a four year old.

Taking a step back – let’s talk abut the draft. Were you surprised to be drafted by Pittsburgh?

It was a surprise. I grew up a huge Steelers fan. At the combine my first meeting was with the Steelers. Cowher was there along with a lot of the personnel It was overwhelming – then I went there and got my Steelers gear!

The Giants, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay all seemed more interested before the draft. I had no clue the Steelers were interested. It was a dream come true. The day of the draft, as the draft went on, Kiper had me going to San Francisco in the second round. But playing out of position, I fell to the fourth round. Denver was on the clock when the Steelers called. Everyone in the room thought Denver was drafting me.

Why do you think Pittsburgh liked you – how did that combine meeting go?

I remember Art Rooney told me that I didn’t seem too excited. I was just in awe. I told them that if they only knew…. The Steelers were my favorite team. When I was drafted I couldn’t wait to get there. I watched the Steel Curtain – Greene, Lambert, Blount, Shell. I loved the intensity of the defense. I knew I had to go there with a purpose.

Who helped you adjust to the NFL when you got there – and how?

That was the thing. In high school I was labelled a linebacker but I was really a defensive end. In Nebraska I was a linebacker but we ran a 4-3 and we were really mimicking Miami and Florida State in just putting a bunch of athletes on the field. Strong safeties were linebackers and linebackers were defensive ends. So when I got to the NFL that’s when I learned to play linebacker. Marvin Lewis was my linebackers coach and he did a great  job with the whole process.

Greg Lloyd was my fraternity brother and he taught me a lot. Kevin Greene too.

What did they show you?

Just things like hand placement and reading your keys. Knowing where your help is coming from was a main thing. And doing your assignment and knowing your role. In a 3-4 defense if you don’t do your assignment it leaves a big hole in the defense. It shows.

What made the coaches like you enough to keep you on the team, do you think?

Especially as a young player and the only linebacker drafted – the rest of the guys were veterans. So my focus was on special teams. I was able to lead the special teams in tackles. That really helped keep me on the team those four years.

Any good stories over those four years?

I remember Greg Lloyd and those karate chops. In practice one day, I remember I kept hearing this wind buzzing in my ear, but it wasn’t a windy day. I kept hearing it and I finally turned around to see Llloyd practicing his round kicks, getting loser to my head each time, perfecting his craft. I’m glad I didn’t turn around sooner or he could have knocked me out!

Kirkland came up to me later and told me I was lucky – Lloyd broke Kirkland’s once wrist in practice. He was such an intense guy. We all learned that intensity and to take care of our jobs.

There are times we’d all get hurt. One time I went in to play for Greg when he hurt his shoulder – it completely popped out of his shoulder socket. But he went out just one play. I felt this  tap on my shoulder and Lloyd told me I had my fun rookie, but he was coming back in. I just felt like, come on, let me play!

How hard was it when free agency came up for you?

It was extremely hard. The Steelers draft so well, they don’t have to pay players those big salaries. Maybe some select players they do,  but most of they players they can let leave and have the next guy come in and play at the same level.

The team I played for was always my favorite team. But on Sundays now my friends make fun of me and tell me they never hear me talk about other teams. I only wear Steelers stuff. Steelers for life.

Any last thoughts for about the way the game has changed?

I hate the target calling scenarios and hate when people who don’t play the game see it as black and white. As opposed to when guys who on defense are in proper position but an offensive player may duck and it turns into a helmet-to-helmet hit, like there was malicious intent to hit helmet-to-helmet.

I’m glad they changed some of the rules. A lot of guys in my era are suffering. I have had migraines and blackouts from those helmet-to-helmet hits. But the game still has to be played at an intense level. Players shouldn’t be penalized when an offensive player moves and that causes the helmet-to-helmet contact.

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