First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL, including your camp, and how you got started in your new ventures?
At this time I’m a Loss Mitigation Manager at Ally Financial Service in the auto division. I also have two other ventures that I do for fun. One is personal football training. I coach speed and agility training as well as personal defensive back or wider receiver training. The second is my football camp that I have been organizing for the past four years. I grew up in a single parent home and couldn’t afford to attend many basketball and football camps that others attended. I wanted to give back to the community that help raise me, and also make it affordable.
My camp is in my hometown of Cleburne, Texas. For $40 campers get a two day football camp, a T-shirt, instructions, food, drinks, and get to meet 20 former NFL players. Former Steeler Troy Edwards has brought his kids all 4 years as well as coach the receivers. Codie’s Kidz Sportz Campz has really been a blessing and I look forward to bigger and better things.
How did your time in the NFL help you in this new direction, and how hard was it for you to adjust to life post NFL?
Adjusting to life after the NFL was very difficult for me as well as others. I had to sit down and reevaluate things to see what I really wanted to do with my life. I chose the financial industry and have been very pleased with it. I took advantage of college and received my degree before I entered the NFL, and that has been a true blessing.
You came to Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2000 after playing at Baylor. What made you decide to sign with the Steelers, and what did they tell you your role would be there?
I came to Pittsburgh after being with the Lions organization. The Player Personnel guy in Detroit, Kevin, told me about the great opportunity in Pittsburgh when he left Detroit for a job with the Steelers. They were in need of some defensive backs and I fit there scheme very well, a big hard hitting DB.
Who on that team helped mentor you and helped you to adjust to life in the NFL – both on and off the field. And how did they do so?
Pittsburgh is a great organization and we had some great leaders on the team that really help us stay focus. I had a great core group of friends that included Joey Porter, Deshea Townsend, Jason Simms, Heinz Ward, Will Blackwell, Clark Haggins, Earl Holmes and Bobby Shaw. One of the most influential mentors on the team was Jerome Bettis. He really mentored everyone and if you were willing to listen he taught you how to be a professional on and off the field.
The team was deep at cornerback in 2000 -with Scott, Simmons, Washington, Townsend and others on the squad. How competitive was it between those guys and how frustrating was it for you vying for playing time?
Those were a great core group of guys and Hank Poteat was there as well during that time. There was a lot of knowledge and experience within the core of players, but we all worked to better each other on a daily basis.
What was your biggest adjustment to the NFL?
The biggest adjustment was the mental aspect of the game. Everyone in the NFL is very talented, but to be the best you must understand the mental part of the game. Study the team you are playing, as well as the players you will see on game day. Not just mentally on the field but also the grind that fans, and media put you through off the field. People don’t understand but rookies in the NFL are still kids. Twenty-one year old kids who are trying to find their way in life, and now just happen to have the means to do almost anything they want. That is an eye opening experience.
How much did humor play a part on those teams, and how so? Can you give a couple of examples of some funny things that occurred, on or off the field?
We were really a family in the locker room. Coach Cowher made sure defensive players and offensive players lockers were by each other and not separate. Any family needs humor to get through and make things work. I would love to give some specific examples, but that would give up too much info. I will say one of the funniest people on the team to me was Clark Haggans. Great guy, great athlete, and a great personality.
You saw some time that rookie season, including an interception. Tell us how that occurred and what that meant to you to contribute during game days?
One person that kept telling me my time was coming was Earl ‘hitman” Holmes. Earl was and is like a big brother to me, and we have always been close. The first time I were on the field and I looked in front of me and there was Earl, Jason Gildon, Joey Porter, and Levon Kirkland; that was a jaw dropping experience.
My first interception was in San Diego against Ryan Leaf, and we were playing two-man. Dewayne Washington was underneath inside man to man and I were playing outside over the top to protect the deep ball. I’ll never forget seeing that ball traveling wondering why would he throw that knowing we were in perfect coverage. Very memorable moment.
What do you think of the way the game has changed since you played/ Better or worse, and why?
The rules now a days really benefit the offense and with me being known as a hitter, it would be a difficult adjustment. Helmet to helmet is the call that would be hard to adjust to. When a player is full speed and you are going to hit a receiver it is difficult to adjust your helmet to where it doesn’t hit theirs. I’d rather see a great hard fought defensive game.
Any last thoughts for readers?
I will say that there is not a better organization than the Steelers. Starting from the owner on down. Everyone in the organization treats you with respect and all have the same common goal, and that is winning the right way. The community and fans are very loyal and make the players really feel welcome. If you are a defensive player it is your dream to wear that black and yellow. I was blessed enough to put on that uniform and it has changed my life in a positive manner
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