First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since you’ve retired from the NFL?

After retiring, I got my MBA from Vanderbilt and graduated in May. I now work for Asurion doing strategic pricing for them. In football, leadership and looking at trends of the teams and players you faced was essential to predict the offense. That’s the role I’m doing here – looking into pricing results to create opportunities to price offerings that ensure customer satisfaction.

What caused you to retire and how hard was that adjustment?

It was more because of the news on brain injuries. I wanted to play football but not too long that I couldn’t start another career. I enjoyed it but the young guys starting getting faster and faster. I could catch them but i wanted to use my mind to take on other challenges.

Talking about challenges…how hard was it making it to the NFKL as an undrafted free agent?

After the draft two teams talked to me and were interested in signing me. What Tomlin told me – he said that this was a group of competitors and that he believed I was a competitor too. That he wanted me to come compete with them. As a younger player that’s what you wanted to hear. It was one of the truest things I heard – his words meant a lot in me making my decision.

Who helped mentor you as a rookie – both on and off the field?

James Harrison was helpful – he taught me how to take care of my body. Heath Miller, Aaron Smith. Hokie, and Farrior I respected as well. The kept me focused on the game and prepared.

Farrior helped me with tendencies – what to look for on film. Heath helped me off the field. He and Hokie were family men. They showed me how to be there for my kids while playing in the NFL.

You were voted rookie of the year for the Steelers – how surprised were you to receive that honor?

It was definitely an honor.I didn’t go into the season thinking that’s where I’d end up. I was concentrating on the moment.

A reporter on the plane back from a game told me I was probably going to be named rookie of the year and I was like “What?” It was awesome , but we still had a couple more games and then the playoffs then. I was wrapping myself more around what was going on with the team. But it was an awesome honor.

You made it to the Super Bowl as a rookie – were you able to appreciate that at such a young point in your career?

That Super Bowl – it was interesting to me because I pulled my hamstring in the championship game versus the Ravens. I was too busy trying to get myself ready to play. They had benchmarks that I needed to reach to be able to play – I had to run a certain distance and at a certain speed to be able to play.

I realize now how lucky I was, thinking back on it. But then I was caught in the immediacy of it all. I do remember walking on the field with all of the different banners, looking up where my family was sitting. How loud it was. It was special – I have vivid memories. Running out as a team always left an impression.

Tell me a bit about the locker room culture and some of the fonder memories you have?

As an athlete you know you are always being competitive. We found ways though to compete at anything – even things we were terrible at.

We played trash can basketball- took a can and taped a rim on it. We played with used Gatorade bottles, tape from our ankles, and bet on ourselves to  make shots. We would shoot farther away each time. It was just the simplest things that we turned into a competition. That made the locker room fun. I really miss those kinds of things. I miss that competition.

How hard was it when you were let go in 2009 – and what were you told?

It was difficult – it was the only place I played.I didn’t know what the future had for us or where I’d end up. I respected the coaches and they me.They just told me they were going in a different direction. I understood it.

I left the room and had to turn in my playbook. It was the first time I ever parted with my playbook. It was the longest couple of days. My now wife asked if we were going to have to break up or what…I proposed to her after and got a call from the Titans. They told me I had to get on a plane at 4;00 – they claimed me on waivers. It was a good thing I had already packed!

It was a whirlwind – I had to learn a new playbook in a week. When we played the Steelers I think it was the only time they used trick plays. They ran a reverse on the kickoff which frustrated me – I would have made the tackle if they didn’t do the reverse.

Any advice you’d give to young players entering the NFL today?

I’m a big proponent of getting an education. As an athlete we tend to do a lot of things well, but you have to listen to your coaches and teachers. They’ll give you excellent advice. If I didn’t listen, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did. You have to give up some pride, but coaches put you in a position to succeed.

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