Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 115 – More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.

Greg Hawthorne, Steelers Running Back/Receiver, 1979-1983

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

Well, when I retired I went back to school to get my teaching certificate. I probably will go into coaching. I started a couple of other businesses too – just trying to stay busy. I’m still in Texas – I went back to Baylor and, thirty years later, I’ll get my degree one week before my son does!

How hard was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

I think being in the league for nine years – playing as long as I played ….. it was hard to find a way to stay busy. My wife is still in Pittsburgh and my son will graduate from Duquesne. I drove a semi for eight years. It helped me to be able to see my kids – I could take the truck and leave any time. One went to school in Michigan too so it helped keep me going. It would have been hard to keep traveling to see them otherwise.

I also had some drug issues. I regrouped – got myself back together. I try to stay busy still. I don’t need to work but I want to. I think I’m qualified to coach. I’ll stay here in Texas – I have a cousin who is a head coach. I’d like to do something that got me here in the first place.

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The Steelers Passive Aggressive offense

The Steelers were fourth in the NFL in points scored per game in 2015, averaging 26.4 points per game. To look at that number, you’d think the offense needs only continue with that performance moving into the 20166 season, and with defensive tweaks to the secondary and pass rush, this team is Super Bowl bound.

Possibly.

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Long Shots…

Takeaways from tonight’s game:

Give the team credit for contending despite numerous injuries to key personnel. Playing with a backup left tackle, backup center, third string running back, and second string receiver – that they were able to contend as they had spoke well to the team leadership that held the team together, the front office that built the team for depth, and to the players who kept their faith in their ability to win.

Having said that, they could have won. I won’t say should, But could.

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Tyler Palko, Pitt/Steelers Quarterback, 2009

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, I got to spend five years in the NFL fulfilling a childhood dream. I had good parents – it all started there, My dad was my high school coach and he told me I had a chance to go to college for free – that I should take advantage of that. Which I did.. I have s dual degree from Pitt and got a chance to play in the NFL. My dad said that at some point my NFL career will end – I needed a fallback plan. I took advantage of some internships though the NFL. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I felt I could have the most impact working on leadership development and was introduced to the CEO of the company I work for now, Buddy Hobart at Solutions21. My thoughts on leadership were pretty much aligned with the business. .

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On Implosions and Freeing Ben

I’ll start off by saying, the Bengals paid the price for employing low-character players. Guys they knew were bad characters – yet they kept them out there, and by doing so, lost a game they should have won.

Feel sorry for Marvin Lewis? No. He employs those guys. Keeps them on the field. And he paid the price as his team imploded in seemingly impossible fashion.

The positive – the world got to see who Vontez Burfict is.

As Boomer Esiason – a former Bengal – said, this game was an embarrassment for the Bengals. “Disgraceful” he said. From the fans throwing bottles at a hurt Roethlisberger as he’s carted off the field, to the thuggery of Burfict and Jones. And to the radio station that broadcasted rape stories about Roethliberger leading up to the game.

The Bengals have some serious soul-searching to do. And some serious damage-control to do to their fans and NFL.

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Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, Steelers Safety, 2010-2014

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself now?

I’m working out and staying healthy. I’m still a free agent. Right now I’m working with high school kids – I’ve been hosting a kids skills camp for about two weeks now. It’s for local area kids and semi-pro guys looing to live the football dream. The main focus is on the high school kids, working on seven-on-sevens, which is big now. I’m trying to help keep them active in the offseason. Giving back to the community – and I can taking this experience with me when I’m done with football.

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There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world

There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world. It’s a reflection of a larger issue across all media as it relates to online journalism and publishing.

It’s a hushed conversation because it involves a number of legal issues and ambiguity; ethics and job security; victimization and finger-pointing.

It’s about theft.

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All this talk about cornerbacks….

Come draft time there will be a lot of discussion again about the cornerback needs for this Steelers team. But I’m going to throw an antithetical comment out there for you to chew on: I’m not convinced this team needs another cornerback.

This team has a menagerie of cornerbacks on the roster – Gay, Cockrell, Blake, Boykin, Grant, and on IR, Golson.

No, no Rod Woodsons on this roster. But do you know that Gay – not Revis, Norman, or Sherman – is the one cornerback who hasn’t let up a touchdown pass this season? He’s a fixture – and should be. While without the physical skills of some – the elite speed or size – he has enough of both and the intelligence to play the position at a high level. And has.

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But what do the Steelers players think of Tomlin?

Taken from our interviews, here are some Steelers players words on Coach Tomlin:

Max Starks: “He was too tough the first year. He had us in pads through week thirteen – proving himself too much maybe. We were wound down – maybe that’s why we lost in the playoffs to Jacksonville that season despite being well-positioned in the playoffs. It was just too rough – we had nothing left. But, he made the change the next season. He took care of us during the week and told us he’d take the chains off us dogs on game day. We won the Super Bowl that season. He also set up an advisory board of veteran players so we could express our grievances to him. It wasn’t a dictatorship. He was willing to bend. That led to our success.”

Antwaan Randle El: “Tomlin had the same style as Cowher – the same fire. They were both great leaders. Tomlin was more of a player’s coach and hung out with the players more. He’d have lunch with the players every day. They were different, but still very similar.”

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Thomas Everett, Steelers Safety, 1987-1991

First, can you let readers know what you’ve doing with yourself since you’re time in the NFL?

I’ve been involved in training and coaching – working with younger men to help with their athletic development – across all sports, but of course a lot of football. I did some combine work but not as much lately. It’s mostly working with kids at the high school level and in youth programs.

I also did some coaching at the high school level as well.

What coaches and coaching influences affected you most as a coach and trainer?

I wouldn’t say just one. It’s a combination. You learn something from every coach – even my high school coach. In Pittsburgh, Dungy, Noll….and Jimmy Johnson in Dallas. And a lot from the assistant coaches.

One of the most influential coaches was my secondary coach at Baylor – Rick Johnson. He was one of the most intelligent coaches I ever had – I learned so much from him. I was ready to go at the collegiate level because of him. He showed me how to approach the game – how to prepare. That was my edge in the NFL – it’s what kept me around as long as I did in the NFL. That’s one of the things missing in today’s coaches and programs. You have to get it across to players, or teach them to do it themselves. But getting prepared for the game was my edge.

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