Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 102 – More than 2,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff PLUS interviews with Pittsburgh actors, musicians, authors and more

Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Terry Wright

First, let us know how you found your way to the Steelers’ practice squad?

Well, I was cut from Seattle, and I was really still waiting to hear from Seattle – hoping maybe they’d re-sign me. But as I was getting ready to move back out of Seattle, my agent called me and said that Pittsburgh called and was interested in bringing me in for a workout or something – they didn’t say for sure yet. But then they called and told me they wanted to bring me in on their practice squad.

That was my childhood team – I was a Steelers fan. Now, I am a Steeler!

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Alameda Ta’amu, 2013-2014

So, first, tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, as far as football, I think that’s fading away. It’s a what have you done for me lately league, and I haven’t done anything lately.

I’m transitioning to the next phase of my life now. I just finished getting my degree at the University of Washington and am working in construction. I’m hoping to pursue that or something in coaching.

How hard has the post-NFL transition been for you?

It’s something I still struggle with. You do something for 27 years then they say you can’t do it any more…I’ve played football since I was eight. All I’ve done Ive done to play in the NFL. I feel like I reached that height and it was a dream come true Now I need to find what else I can do to satisfy that need to compete and impose my will on people.

Construction may be the best fit for me – I get to hang around other people from different walks of life and different backgrounds. I’d want to pursue that and be a superintendent if I don’t end up coaching.

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Exclusive with Former Ravens Wide Receiver Qadry Ismail

First, let me know a bit about what you’ve been doing since your retired from the NFL?

I’ve actually been working in the media since I retired in 2002 – for the WJZ-CBS affiliate in Baltimore covering Ravens games. I also work in sports performance training for people from ages eight to 74. Basically that, and being available to my three kids who all or who have been involved in sports in college.

So I get to be a busy father, enhance people’s lives, and work in the media.

How hard was that post-NFL adjustment for you?

Anyone that goes through doing something they’ve done for a long time and is passionate about to stopping feels something. I looked at it with the balance of knowing that it was all going to end – that I was prepared for it – but at the same time being depressed about it. I was talking to a psychologist and was telling her how I felt and she told me I was depressed. I thought, wow, I really was depressed. Who knew? It was difficult and challenging, and humbling,

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Exclusive with Former Bengals Cornerback Lemar Parrish

First, tell me a bit about your life after you retired from the NFL – what did you do after retirement?

After the NFL. I didn’t get my degree. I ended up getting into drugs and cocaine for a period of time. I got into a drug treatment center though – I recognized that I needed help and wanted to be able to support my family and myself. I decided to get my life together and got treatment. That took six months. But I knew I needed another year to get help – to adjust to mainstream society. While I was doing that I got an offer from the Mayor of Chattanooga and worked with him.

After that I went back to school – to my alma mater, Lincoln University. I got my degree – I was on the Dean’s List. I moved to Florida and taught school, then Lincoln decided it wanted to start up it’s football program again and hired me as a defensive backs coach. I became the defensive coordinator after that, then head coach. I ended up staying there for 10 years before I retired and moved to Atlanta.

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Exclusive with Former Seattle Offensive Tackle Walter Jones

So, first, I know you’ve been busy post-retirement. What have you been up to?

I have been busy. My kids just recently graduated high school so I’m enjoying being with them and this part of my life and helping them to figure out what they should do next.

I have a clothing line – Best to Ever Do It – B2EDI.com. I’m just looking to inspire people to be the best they can be in whatever they do in life. That’s what I tried to do in my life and career and what I’m tying to help others do through the clothing line. We have hoodies, t-shirts, hats…I’ve been enjoying working on this product line and inspiring people.

I also do the post-game show in Seattle on NBC and do radio for the Seahawks. After 22 years, I live in Seattle and am an official Washingtonian!

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Exclusive with Steelers Tight End Christian Scotland-Williamson

First, I know your dad was a big influence on your life. Can you describe how so – how he impacted your development?

I’m lucky. My dad was a former boxer – he would have made it to the Olympics but broke his foot – he would have medaled they say. He was grounded – amateur boxing was as big as professional boxing in England and he chose to keep boxing as an amateur. He was a great role model because he showed me how to balance life – he balanced boxing and his career with getting an education. he later went back to school and became a barrister.

So, he showed me that you could do both – be an elite athlete and have an academic career.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Jason Chery, 2009-2010

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your NFL days?

Right now as a profession – to get money I’m working as a plumber. On top of that I’m training for the MMA and plan to go pro soon. I have a wrestling background from high school where I won the state title.

I’ve stayed in shape after football and needed to find work. My friend was in plumbing so that’s how I got into that. I had a criminal justice degree but that required a regular sit-down job, and I’d just go to sleep doing that! I have a knack for it – I like plumbing and working on AC. It’s the best thing for me.

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Exclusive with Former Patriots LInebacker and Current Announcer Matt Chatham

Matt Chatham, former Patriots linebacker and current host of the REAL THING Patriots Podcast http://blogtalkradio.com/footballbyfootball

First, tell me a bit about your memories of the Steelers-Patriots rivalry. Did you consider it a rivalry then?

Well when I played, I think we did consider it one. But Bill Belichick liked to talk about all 16 opponents in the same way to garner respect from us for all of the teams. But by virtual of the style of play and the respect we had for the Steelers organization and legacy, he stressed more o their physical style and focused on them more. But he had to tiptoe that line – so he usually just emphasized the physical nature of the game. They had guys like Kreider with that seven-foot neck, and that monstrous offensive line and, of course, Jerome Bettis.

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Exclusive with Former Patriots Offensive Lineman Dan Koppen

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since you retired from the NFL?

Well, I’ve been retired for a little over five years now. When you’re in the middle of your career you wake up every day knowing what you’re doing – what you’re working for and what the end goal is. That’s missing when you retire. When I retired I tried to find my second career.

After a few years I talked to a buddy of mine that was a home brewer, and we decided to take a shot at launching out own brewery. Linesilider opened in 2008 – that’s when we got into the craft beer business. It’s been fun going to work every day – we learn something new every day. It’s a lot like the farm to table kind of idea – people want to come to the source. All we sell we make right here in our tap room and brewery. It’s a family friendly environment – it’s not like a bar scene.

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Former Players Remember Sam Davis

Terry Hanratty: “Sam was a wonderful friend and a great teammate. He was very quiet – but when you got him laughing he had one of the greatest laughs of all time. He was a good person – it was just sad to see how it all came to an end.

You’re seeing it end this way for a bunch of guys – too many guys. I’ve seen too many football players end up like this.

As for Sam – he and Jon Kolb were probably the two most under-rated players in the NFL. Neither got enough credit. He was a good captain too – silent but a good leader.”

Larry Gagner: “Although Sam played behind me (and Bruce Van Dyke) for a couple of years, I wasn’t really that close to him. I do remember his first wife, Gladys, as being a wonderful, outgoing personality. Similar to Sam’s, if not a mirror image. I couldn’t have chosen a better individual (and player) to replace me after the Steelers traded me to the Giants following my automobile accident (questionable) recovery. I’m glad for Sam to have played in some Steeler Super Bowls. I’m not so joyful about how his life turned out after football. If they do autopsy on Sam’s brain, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised that a considerable amount of CTE will be found.”

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